Valve has opened reservations for the Steam Frame, its new wireless VR headset, through a randomized sign-up system that runs for 72 hours and closes at 1:00 PM ET on September 17. The headset starts at $1,059 for the 256GB model, with a 1TB version priced at $1,299, according to the company’s press release.
The Steam Frame can play VR and non-VR games from Steam either on its own or streamed from a Steam Machine or other PC. Each unit ships with two Steam Frame controllers and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx, though a power supply is not included.
- Sign-ups for the reservation list opened September 14 and close at 1:00 PM ET on September 17.
- Valve says the first wave of selected customers will be notified starting September 18.
- The Steam Frame costs $1,059 for 256GB and $1,299 for 1TB in the US.
- The wireless headset includes two controllers and Half-Life: Alyx, but no power supply; Valve sells a compatible 45W USB-C charger for $30.
- Hardware includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 16GB of RAM, 2160 x 2160 displays per eye, and a 72–144Hz refresh rate.
How the Reservation System Works
Rather than opening orders on a first-come basis, Valve is using the same randomized reservation list it introduced with the Steam Machine earlier this year. Interested buyers sign up during the 72-hour window, and Valve selects who gets to purchase from the list.
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, press release
The approach is designed to limit scalpers, though it leaves purchase timing partly up to chance. Valve says notifications for the first wave of customers begin September 18.
Pricing and What’s in the Box
The Steam Frame comes in two storage configurations. International pricing, as listed in 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
Every headset includes the two handheld Steam Frame controllers and Half-Life: Alyx. Notably absent is a power supply Valve sells one on Steam for $30, but says any USB-C charger rated at 45W or higher, including a Steam Deck charger, will work.
An optional ergonomic accessories kit sells for $59. It includes a strap for each controller, a top strap for the headset, and an extended light blocker, which Valve describes as “designed for comfort during extended play sessions.”
Hardware Specifications
The store page lists a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 built on a 4nm process, 16GB of unified LPDDR5X RAM, and a rechargeable 21.6 Wh battery. Storage is expandable through a microSD card slot on the 256GB model.
- 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (ARM64)
- 16GB unified LPDDR5X RAM
- 256GB UFS storage with microSD card slot
- 2160 x 2160 LCD per eye
- 72–144Hz refresh rate (144Hz experimental)
- Inside-out, camera-based tracking
- Wi-Fi 7 (2×2) with wireless adapter included; Bluetooth 5.4
- Dual speaker drivers per ear, dual microphone array
- SteamOS 3
What the Steam Frame Actually Does
The Steam Frame is positioned as a wireless headset for the Steam library as a whole, not just VR titles. It can run games natively on the headset hardware or stream them from a Steam Machine or other PC on the same network the streaming-first approach that defined Valve’s earlier Steam Machine launch this year.
The inclusion of Half-Life: Alyx, Valve’s 2020 VR title, gives new owners a flagship VR game out of the box. Whether the headset’s standalone hardware can run demanding non-VR Steam titles at acceptable performance remains a practical question the specifications alone don’t answer a point independent reviews will likely focus on once units ship.
Buyers who want in on the first wave have until 1:00 PM ET on September 17 to enter the reservation list, with the first notifications going out the following day.