Valve Halts Index VR Headset Production

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Valve has officially announced the release of the Steam Frame, its next-generation VR headset. This device is designed to enhance your gaming experience by allowing gameplay streaming directly from your PC. Thanks to a dedicated streaming stick, users can also run Windows games locally using an integrated Arm chip.

End of an Era for the Valve Index

At the same time, Valve is discontinuing its previous VR headset model, the Valve Index. Lawrence Yang, a designer at Valve, confirmed to The Verge that the company is “no longer manufacturing” the Index. Launched in 2019, the Index was renowned for its tethered setup and reliance on external “lighthouse” base stations for tracking, which have now fallen out of favor.

Shifting Trends in VR Headsets

Since the Index’s debut, the VR landscape has changed significantly. Meta has successfully sold millions of its standalone Quest VR headsets, which require no PC connection, while other premium headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy XR have adopted similar approaches. The Steam Frame, while not a direct successor to the Index, incorporates improvements in its specifications.

Specifications of the Steam Frame

Per-eye resolution: 2160 x 2160, surpassing the Index’s 1440 x 1600 resolution.
Optional straps available for controllers, similar to the Index’s “Knuckles” controllers.
Features a 6GHz wireless streaming adapter for a cord-free experience.

The early demonstrations of the streaming capability have been promising, with performance proving effective. This innovation suggests a potential phasing out of the lighthouse base stations, which first came on the market with the HTC Vive in 2016. Valve has explicitly stated that the Steam Frame will not support lighthouse configurations.

Tracking and Positioning Technology

The Steam Frame utilizes four monochrome cameras and infrared (IR) illuminators for 3D positional tracking. Additionally, the headset has a modular accessory port that may one day accommodate more advanced camera systems.

Launch Date and Pricing

The Steam Frame is slated for release in early 2026. Although Valve has not disclosed a specific price, the company has indicated it will be more affordable than the Index’s $999 price tag. Gamers can look forward to a new era of VR experiences with this innovative device.