TECH NEWS – Valve will begin selling Steam Frame on September 17, with the entry-level headset priced at €1,049 in Europe. Stock will be allocated through a waiting list, bringing the Steam Machine’s restricted launch model to the company’s new VR hardware.
Steam Frame finally has a date to go with its specifications. Valve’s virtual reality headset, unveiled alongside Steam Controller and Steam Machine in late 2025, launches on September 17, 2026. It marks another step in the company’s return to a broader hardware lineup, although the road to release has been anything but straightforward. The components crisis affecting consumer electronics has also caught up with Valve, leaving its promising new devices with an awkward problem: the amount customers must pay to get them home.
Two storage options will be offered in Europe. The 256 GB model costs €1,049, while upgrading to 1 TB takes the price to €1,279. Those figures do not necessarily cover everything a buyer might want. Valve’s official charger, shared with Steam Deck, is sold separately for €39, and an ergonomic accessory kit adds another €69. That is a substantial commitment in a VR market that is already having a difficult time finding its footing. Choosing the larger drive is therefore only part of the calculation when putting together a complete setup.
There are no last-minute surprises in the hardware specifications. The announced configuration remains as follows:
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 4 nm, ARM64 |
|---|---|
| Memory | 16 GB unified LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256 GB or 1 TB, with microSD expansion |
| Battery and charging | 21.6 Wh lithium-ion battery; rear USB-C 2.0 port for charging and data; 45 W USB-C charging |
| Display and tracking | 2160 × 2160 LCD per eye, 72–144 Hz; motion tracking without external sensors |
| Wireless connections | Wi-Fi 7 2×2 with included adapter; Bluetooth 5.4; dedicated 2.4 GHz controller connection |
| Operating system | SteamOS 3 |
| Audio | Two speakers per ear and a dual-microphone array |
| Included | Steam Frame controllers and Half-Life: Alyx |
According to 3DJuegos’ account of the international press response, Steam Frame sits above the average headset in capability, but its price makes a confident recommendation harder. The starting figure is almost twice that of Meta Quest 3, and the report argues that better performance does not sufficiently justify a roughly €500 premium. These are reported impressions rather than our own hands-on findings; 3DJuegos also notes that it has yet to test the device itself. Even with a capable specification sheet, Valve consequently faces a difficult pitch to prospective buyers.
A place in the queue comes before a purchase
Having the money ready will not guarantee a headset on launch day. Valve is repeating the system used for Steam Machine: interested customers join the waiting list on Steam Frame’s Steam page, then purchase opportunities for the available units are allocated by a draw on September 17. Anyone who misses out stays in the queue until more stock arrives. The idea is to stop resellers from sweeping up the launch allocation and charging inflated prices elsewhere. In practice, the release date opens the first round of sales; it does not mean every registered customer will be able to order immediately.
Source: 3DJuegos
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