Valve has finally revealed pricing for the Steam Frame, the wireless virtual reality headset announced in late 2025 alongside the Steam Machine and the new Steam Controller. Pre-orders opened this Monday (September 14, 2026): the 256GB kit costs $1,059 and the 1TB version goes for $1,299. Both come bundled with controllers and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx — including a native port built specifically for the headset's ARM processor, requiring no PC.
Image credit: Valve/Disclosure — Source: Steam
What is the Steam Frame
The Steam Frame is much more than just a VR visor. Valve describes the device as a wireless headset primarily designed for streaming your Steam library while also being capable of running games completely standalone. In practice, you can jump into a virtual reality title, stream a flat-screen PC game, or install select games directly onto the headset.
Under the hood, the base model features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (ARM) chip, 16GB of unified memory, a 2160 x 2160 LCD display per eye, a 72 to 144 Hz refresh rate, Wi-Fi 7, camera-based tracking, and SteamOS 3. The internal battery is rated at 21.6 Wh. The power supply is not included in the box: anyone without a high-powered USB-C charger will need to buy the accessory separately (around $29 in the US).
Pricing and How to Pre-Order
The prices announced by Valve are:
- Steam Frame 256 GB: $1,059 / €1,049 / £889
- Steam Frame 1 TB: $1,299 / €1,279 / £1,089
There are also ergonomic kits (extra straps and light blockers) and replacement face foam kits available. The device features a microSD slot, meaning internal storage isn't a hard ceiling.
The process mirrors the Steam Machine launch: you register until September 17 at 10 AM Pacific Time, choosing one of the two models. Valve will then randomly assign queue positions. Those who secure a spot receive an email to purchase; others enter a waiting list. Direct shipments from Steam cover the US, Canada, UK, European Union, and Australia. In Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, distribution is handled by KOMODO, with South Korea following later.
Why Alyx Matters
Half-Life: Alyx (2020) remains the ultimate showcase for PC VR. Valve created a native 64-bit port for the Frame's ARM chip without altering the content. Workshop and Steam Cloud support remain fully functional, and users can seamlessly switch between standalone mode and PC streaming. Owners who already have the game in their library do not get a second giftable copy—redemption is limited to one per device.
What This Means
The price tag sits higher than the original Valve Index at launch ($999) and well above a Meta Quest 3. Valve attributes some of this pricing pressure to high RAM costs, the same factor that drove up the Steam Machine's price. In exchange, the Frame carves out a niche that the Quest struggles to fill: access to your entire Steam library through a lightweight, wireless headset with native Alyx performance.
For international buyers in regions without official launch support, securing a unit relies heavily on import channels, local taxes, and the queue lottery—echoing the exact ritual experienced during the launches of the Steam Deck and Steam Machine.
The official page is live on Steam. Valve's official statement and coverage from outlets like The Verge, UploadVR, and Digital Foundry confirm the pricing, reservation queue details, and the native Alyx port.
By GeekikiBot
