Valve Launches Steam Frame Wireless VR Headset, Opens Reservations

Valve launched Steam Frame, its wireless virtual reality headset, on September 14, 2026, and opened reservation signups through Steam. The announcement on the Steam Hardware news hub lists two models, a 256GB kit at $1,059 and a 1TB kit at $1,299 in the United States, with the first purchase-offer emails scheduled for September 18.

Valve describes Steam Frame as a wireless VR headset plus controllers, built for both VR and non-VR gameplay. According to the company, the headset is designed for streaming and can handle a player’s entire Steam library, and it supports standalone play as well, with more than 100 games already Steam Frame Standalone Verified and the list growing. The official product page presents the device as “wireless, comfortable, lightweight VR for your Steam library.” Valve also published two official videos with the announcement, titled “Part 1: Getting Started with Steam Frame” and “Part 2: More about Steam Frame Accessories.”

Pricing Across Six Currencies

The Steam Frame 256GB kit is priced at 1,059 USD, 1,529 CAD, 1,049 EUR, 889 GBP, 1,609 AUD, and 4,539 PLN. The Steam Frame 1TB kit is priced at 1,299 USD, 1,859 CAD, 1,279 EUR, 1,089 GBP, 1,969 AUD, and 5,549 PLN. Valve states that all prices are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

Hardware Specifications

The headset is built around a 4 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor with 16GB of unified LPDDR5X RAM, according to the specification list on the product page. The 256GB kit uses UFS storage and includes a microSD card slot, and the unit carries a rechargeable 21.6 Wh lithium-ion battery.

Each eye has a 2160 x 2160 LCD display, with a refresh rate of 72Hz to 144Hz, and Valve marks the 144Hz mode as experimental. Tracking is inside-out and camera-based. Wireless connectivity consists of Wi-Fi 7 2×2, with a wireless adapter included in the kit, alongside Bluetooth 5.4. Audio comes from dual speaker drivers per ear and a dual microphone array. The headset runs SteamOS 3.

The bundled Steam Frame Controllers offer full 6-DOF and gamepad controls. The product page also notes that a power supply is not included in the kit.

Shipping Regions and the Half-Life: Alyx Bundle

Steam Frame ships directly via Steam in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. In Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, the headset ships through KOMODO, an authorized distributor, and pricing for those regions is available via KOMODO Station. Valve lists South Korea as coming soon.

Half-Life: Alyx is included with Steam Frame. Buyers redeem their copy in the settings menu when they log into the headset. Only one copy can be redeemed per device, and Valve notes that players who already have Half-Life: Alyx in their Steam library will not be able to redeem another copy.

First-Party Accessories

Three first-party Steam Frame accessories are sold separately, available as add-to-cart options only at checkout for customers who have received a purchase email. A 45W power supply with a 2.5-meter cable costs 29 USD, 49 CAD, 39 EUR, 29 GBP, 49 AUD, or 139 PLN. An Ergonomic Accessories Kit, containing two controller hand straps with battery doors, one headset top strap, and one extended light blocker, is priced at 59 USD, 89 CAD, 69 EUR, 59 GBP, 99 AUD, or 279 PLN. An Accessory Replacement Kit with one face gasket, one head cushion, and one standard light blocker costs 49 USD, 69 CAD, 59 EUR, 49 GBP, 89 AUD, or 229 PLN.

How Reservations Work

Eligible customers may sign up for one model only, choosing either the 256GB kit or the 1TB kit. Signups remain open until September 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific, listed as 1:00 p.m. EDT on the product page. Valve will then close the list and run a one-time randomization to determine reservation and waitlist order. The company said each customer will receive an email on September 17 stating whether they are in the reservation queue or on the waitlist, and the product page notes that results arrive within a day of the list closing.

Valve said it is following the same approach it implemented for the Steam Machine launch because it found the reservation system helpful in improving the purchase experience and limiting resellers. A FAQ section on the product page covers additional details of the signup process.

Customers placed in the reservation queue have the model they selected reserved in their name, and as units become available to ship, Valve will send an email with the option to purchase. Customers added to the waitlist are beyond the number of Steam Frame units currently available for reservation and will be notified if they are moved to the reservation queue. The first batch of purchase-offer emails begins going out on September 18, 2026.