SteamOS VR headset could launch this year for $1,200

[Daniel Sims]

Rumor mill: Recent reports suggest that Valve may release upgraded versions of the Steam Controller and Index headset this year. If the latest information is accurate, the company is not looking to compete with the Meta Quest 3 on price but is instead focused on delivering a premium experience.

Content creator "Gabe Follower" claims that Valve's rumored standalone VR headset is set to launch before the end of 2025. The information aligns with recent leaks suggesting the company could soon begin mass-producing an unannounced VR controller.

Like Valve's Index headset, the standalone device would be sold separately or as part of a bundle, with the full package costing $1,200. Although information regarding technical specs remains elusive, the company will take a loss on each unit despite the steep price, suggesting a high-end product.

Several people have confirmed that Valve is aiming to release new standalone, wireless VR headset (codename Deckard) by the end of 2025. The current price for the full bundle is set to be $1200. Including some "in-house" games (or demos) that are already done. Valve want to give… pic.twitter.com/alHzQuwNvc

– ‎Gabe Follower (@gabefollower) February 26, 2025

The bundle would include the headset, two VR controllers, and multiple games that have finished development. It's unclear whether they are small-scale demonstrations like Aperture Desk Job for the Steam Deck or ambitious projects like the well-regarded Half-Life: Alyx.

Valve's new headset would run a version of SteamOS adapted for a VR interface. In addition to VR games, any title that supports the Steam Deck would be playable in flat-screen mode without connecting to a PC. Since SteamOS is a custom Arch Linux distro, the headset's functionality might resemble a fully featured PC with broader potential software support than the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.

References to the device, codenamed "Deckard," initially appeared in a Valve driver file in 2021. Late last year, internal renders for updated VR controllers emerged as the first solid evidence of the company's new VR plans. The designs appear final, suggesting that manufacturing could start this year.

Codenamed "Roy," the controllers resemble Meta Quest 3 controllers with additional buttons and a directional pad. Schematics for a new Steam Controller, tentatively named "Ibex," also leaked, combining the Steam Deck's trackpads with a conventional controller layout.

Meta currently dominates the VR market with the affordable Quest 3, while Apple has ceased production of its $3,500 Vision Pro AR headset. Despite the Quest 3's commercial success, Meta continues to lose billions on its Metaverse research, with total investments now exceeding $100 billion.

Although Valve hasn't confirmed plans to update its VR hardware, the company still maintains SteamVR. If a successor to the Index appears, Valve might be content with a niche product while half of all SteamVR users continue accessing the software with Meta Quest headsets.

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SteamOS VR headset could launch this year for $1,200

 

[Eldrach]

I have a meta quest 3 - it’s a great product, works well with steam. But the game support for VR is slim - at least high budget games.
Ubisoft has withdrawn from VR after the launch of their AC:Creed game. We recently got a Metro VR game which was well recieved - but hasn’t sold to expectations..the Wolfenstein game was a one-off and they have withdrawn.

Half Life Alyx still remains the only universally praised high budget VR game - and it’s quite old at this point.
Not sure what Valve can do in order to turn it around

 

[The Talking Tech]

Sorry Valve, $1,200 dollars is a bit too much for such a niche market.

The sweet spot is between $300.00 & $500.00 dollars

 

[Kotters]

Sorry Valve, $1,200 dollars is a bit too much much such a niche market.

It really isn't. Look at how the rest of the PCVR market looks. Enthusiasts buying the Bigscreen Beyond, MeganeX, and various Pimax headsets. 1200 bucks is pretty fair.

If you need cheap VR, Zucc spent 100b USD to sell you a Quest 3S for 300.

 

[The Talking Tech]

It really isn't. Look at how the rest of the PCVR market looks. Enthusiasts buying the Bigscreen Beyond, MeganeX, and various Pimax headsets. 1200 bucks is pretty fair.

If you need cheap VR, Zucc spent 100b USD to sell you a Quest 3S for 300.

As much as I dislike Zuckerberg, he is quite right about VR pricing, anything over 300.00 bucks is just for a smaller amount of consumers.

Most companies ultimate goal is to sell their products in bulk to consumers not to store them in warehouses.

 

[passwordistaco]

Please, no fresnel lenses.

 

[Kotters]

As much as I dislike Zuckerberg, he is quite right about VR pricing, anything over 300.00 bucks is just for a smaller amount of consumers.

Most companies ultimate goal is to sell their products in bulk to consumers not to store them in warehouses.

The Beyond has literally never had stock sitting on shelves, and only once was delivering within 3 weeks of your order. That's a 1000 dollar headset. The audio solution is 200 more. A pair of lighthouses another 400. Controllers, 300.

The enthusiast VR market exists, regardless of what Facebook would like you to believe. 1200 for a full kit isn't unreasonable at all, and is actually fairly affordable, compared to the rest of that market.

 

[LetTheWookieWin]

Half Life Alyx still remains the only universally praised high budget VR game - and it’s quite old at this point.
Not sure what Valve can do in order to turn it around

Depends what you play. I bought a Quest 3 a few months ago and have had a great time with it. I use it mostly for working out (Beat Saber, Pistol Whip), but I’ve also enjoyed regular gaming (HL:Alyx, Blade & Sorcery with the outer rim Star Wars mod, the Batman game that came with it), and flight sims (MSFS 2020, IL-2 Sturmovik). None of these are really groundbreaking or new, but they’re all fun. That said, I’d have a really hard time paying 2x what a Quest 3 costs. Maybe I could justify it if I was a hardcore flight sim player and it offered a wider FOV and better resolution. My dad falls into that category- he’s a former private pilot and has a PiMax crystal light for those reasons. There’s definitely a market for upselling to VR flight sim aficionados, but it’s a smaller one.

 

[jeffmc60450]

I originally bought the first Vive for $1,000. I later bought a Valve Index. I also own two Meta Quest 2s. I'm a teacher and I use the Quests for incentives with students. I much prefer the Index, so much so that when my original one died I almost immediately went looking for a used replacement. I did not like digging the old Vive out of storage and using it.

I am going to make a prediction that the Valve Switch controllers will work with this new headset. I will bet that even the lighthouses will work with this new headset.

This new Valve headset by itself will probably be in the $600 range by itself. Maybe $700 or $800.

But if I have to pay $1200 for this new device, I probably will. I refused to buy the playstation VR device, or the Meta Quest 3, the Apple thing, or any of the various 3rd generation devices out there because I want something that directly interacts with my Steam Library and is truly a 3rd or 4th generation VR device.

I trusted that if I waited long enough Valve would deliver. I just had to wait until they were done with the Steam Decks.