Valve Rejoins VR Hardware Ranks with Steam Frame Standalone Headset
In a move that could potentially upset the competitive landscape of standalone VR headsets, Valve has announced its latest foray into virtual reality hardware: the Steam Frame. The new headset promises to deliver high-quality, low-latency streaming and semi-modular design, setting it apart from other contenders in the market.
According to reports, the Steam Frame is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB of RAM, supporting a 2160 x 2160 resolution display per eye at an “up to 110 degrees” field-of-view and up to 144 Hz refresh rate. The headset also boasts semi-modular design, allowing users to upgrade or customize various components, such as the battery, speakers, and even the head strap.
One of the standout features of the Steam Frame is its wireless streaming capabilities, which utilize a dedicated radio on the headset and new streaming technology called Foveated Streaming. This allows for seamless, low-latency connections to local PCs or other devices, making it an attractive option for gamers who want to enjoy high-quality VR experiences without being tethered to their computers.
However, what's notable about the Steam Frame is its lack of support for wired PC connections, which could raise concerns among some users. Instead, Valve has focused on creating a robust wireless streaming experience that maximizes battery life from the included 21.6 Wh battery. The company claims this approach will provide users with an enjoyable VR experience without the need for constant recharging.
The Steam Frame's design is also noteworthy, with a low-weight modular core weighing in at just 185 grams. This design element allows for potential upgrades or customizations to be made by third-party headset makers or tinkerers, opening up possibilities for more innovative designs and hardware configurations.
With the Steam Frame, Valve has reentered the VR hardware market, addressing concerns about its previous lack of interest in virtual reality gaming. The new headset's focus on wireless streaming and semi-modular design positions it as a serious competitor to other standalone VR headsets on the market.
In a move that could potentially upset the competitive landscape of standalone VR headsets, Valve has announced its latest foray into virtual reality hardware: the Steam Frame. The new headset promises to deliver high-quality, low-latency streaming and semi-modular design, setting it apart from other contenders in the market.
According to reports, the Steam Frame is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB of RAM, supporting a 2160 x 2160 resolution display per eye at an “up to 110 degrees” field-of-view and up to 144 Hz refresh rate. The headset also boasts semi-modular design, allowing users to upgrade or customize various components, such as the battery, speakers, and even the head strap.
One of the standout features of the Steam Frame is its wireless streaming capabilities, which utilize a dedicated radio on the headset and new streaming technology called Foveated Streaming. This allows for seamless, low-latency connections to local PCs or other devices, making it an attractive option for gamers who want to enjoy high-quality VR experiences without being tethered to their computers.
However, what's notable about the Steam Frame is its lack of support for wired PC connections, which could raise concerns among some users. Instead, Valve has focused on creating a robust wireless streaming experience that maximizes battery life from the included 21.6 Wh battery. The company claims this approach will provide users with an enjoyable VR experience without the need for constant recharging.
The Steam Frame's design is also noteworthy, with a low-weight modular core weighing in at just 185 grams. This design element allows for potential upgrades or customizations to be made by third-party headset makers or tinkerers, opening up possibilities for more innovative designs and hardware configurations.
With the Steam Frame, Valve has reentered the VR hardware market, addressing concerns about its previous lack of interest in virtual reality gaming. The new headset's focus on wireless streaming and semi-modular design positions it as a serious competitor to other standalone VR headsets on the market.
I gotta say, this Steam Frame thingy from Valve is pretty cool! 
It's like they're saying, "Hey, we heard you want to play VR without being tied to your desk, and we gotchu!" 
The wireless streaming tech sounds solid, no lag or anything. And the fact that it's semi-modular? That's just genius, dude! 
You can upgrade or customize parts whenever you want. It's like having a Lego set for your head 
. I'm kinda curious how it'll hold up in terms of battery life, though. Do they really think 21.6 Wh will last all day? 
Still, it's a bold move from Valve, and I hope this thing changes the game! 
THEY'RE FINALLY LISTENING TO WHAT GAMERS WANT - LOW LATENCY STREAMING AND WIRELESS CONNECTIONS ARE A GAME CHANGER FOR ANYONE WHO'S EVER TRIED TO STREAM VR GAMES WITHOUT GETTING THOSE UGH BLURRY VISION MOMENTS 
. THE FACT THAT YOU CAN UPGRADE OR CUSTOMIZE PARTS OF THE HEADSET IS ALSO SO COOL - IT'S LIKE THEY'RE GIVING GAMERS A CHANCE TO GET REALLY CREATIVE WITH THEIR OWN CUSTOM VR EXPERIENCES 
. ONE THING I'M NOT TOO THRILLED ABOUT IS THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR WIRELESS PC CONNECTIONS, BUT OVERALL I THINK THE STEAM FRAME HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A HUGE HIT IN THE VR COMMUNITY 
And don't even get me started on the prices. I'm expecting Valve to come in at a pretty steep premium given its name recognition and brand reputation.
just saw that valve is back into vr hardware with steam frame standalone headset... i'm hyped about this, think it's gonna shake things up in the gaming world 
. either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out and how other manufacturers respond 
and still gets the gaming goodness. But at the same time, some people might be all worried about it not having a cord 
, which could be a bit annoying if they need to recharge on the go. On the other hand, I guess that's part of what makes it so cool - it's like you're free to roam around while still getting the VR experience 
. Overall, it's pretty interesting that Valve is back in the game with this new headset...
oh man i'm so stoked for valve to be back in the vr game! i mean who wouldn't want a headset that can stream high-quality graphics wirelessly? 
and the fact that it's semi-modular is like, totally awesome... i love that you can upgrade or customize certain parts of the headset. that's just so cool 
can't wait to try it out! 
. 21.6 wh battery is decent but might be limiting in terms of playtime 
. still, looks like steam frame is a contender 
, no more tangled cords or annoying PC connections. And I'm low-key hyped about the semi-modular design - think of all the sick upgrades and customizations you could do with that thing 
Plus, the battery life sounds pretty solid too. My only concern is that it's gonna be pricey, but hey, you get what you pay for, right? Valve's definitely put in some serious effort to make this thing a contender. Can't wait to get my hands on one and see how it holds up against other VR headsets out there 
valve has finally jumped into the vr hardware game with the steam frame and its got some sick features 
, but hey at least it's wireless so you dont have to deal with those annoying cables 
. and 110 degrees field-of-view is straight fire 
And the fact that it's semi-modular design means we can upgrade or customize parts whenever we want. That's like, super cool dude 
. But, I gotta ask, what's up with no wired PC connection? 
, or else it'll be hard to justify the cost 
. But, probs the biggest selling point for me is that it's so modular - I can upgrade or customize parts whenever I want, which is, like, total win 
Still can't wait to get my hands on one and start experiencing the future of VR! 
can't believe they're back in the vr game! i mean, 110 degrees field of view? that's insane 
️ what really caught me though was the semi-modular design - it's like valve is saying 'hey we're not just making a headset, we're building a platform'