Valve’s new VR headset, the Steam Frame, is dropping very soon, and today is the first day you can sign up to purchase one of your own. Much like with the launch of the Steam Machine, the console-like PC that dropped earlier this year, today is the first day you can get added to a randomized list to be selected to purchase a headset of your own. Sign-ups are available now and will be live for 72 hours, ending at 1:00 PM ET on September 17.
“We found the reservation system to be helpful with the launch of Steam Machine by improving the purchase experience and limiting resellers, and are implementing it once again for Steam Frame,” Valve stated in a press release. It’s nice that the practice seemingly limits scalpers (the bane of any tech-buyer in the 2020s), but it is a shame that the process is partially left up to luck. Valve says the first wave of customers will be notified starting on September 18.
The Steam Frame is a wireless VR headset that allows you to play VR and non-VR games on Steam. It comes with two Steam Frame controllers, one for each hand, and can be connected to a Steam Machine or other PC to stream games. It also comes with the critically acclaimed Half-Life: Alyx, but it doesn’t come with a power supply. You can purchase one for $30 on Steam, but any Steam Deck charger or other USB-C charger that supports 45W or higher can work.
The Steam Frame comes in a 256 GB version and a 1 TB version. Here’s how much each costs, according to the press release:
- Steam Frame 256GB: 1,059 USD/ 1,529 CAD/ 1,049 EUR/ 889 GBP/ 1,609 AUD/ 4,539 PLN
- Steam Frame 1TB: 1,299 USD/ 1,859 CAD/ 1,279 EUR/ 1,089 GBP/ 1,969 AUD/ 5,549 PLN
And if you’re wondering about the Steam Frame’s other features or what games it might be able to run, here’s the store page’s rundown of the headset’s hardware specs:
- 4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 – ARM64
- 16GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM
- 256GB UFS storage, microSD card slot
- Rechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery
- 2160 x 2160 LCD (per eye)
- 72-144Hz refresh rate (144Hz experimental)
- Inside-out camera based tracking
- Wi-Fi 7, 2×2 – wireless adapter included
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Dual speaker drivers per ear, dual microphone array
- SteamOS 3
You can sign up to order the Steam Frame and read about the rest of its specs here. For more details and some footage of the headset in action, you can check out the video below:
Alongside the Steam Frame, you can also purchase the ergonomic accessories kit for an extra $59 USD. It includes a strap for each controller, a top strap for the headset, and an extended light blocker. Valve describes the kit as “designed for comfort during extended play sessions.” You can check out a breakdown of the accessories in the video below:
You can sign up to get a Steam Frame today, but don’t forget that sign-ups end at 1:00 PM ET on September 17. If you want to learn more about the Steam Frame’s launch game, check out our review of Half-Life: Alyx.