Valve has officially revealed pricing and reservation details for its new virtual reality headset, the Steam Frame, giving PC and VR fans a much clearer picture of what to expect. After months of waiting for final cost information, the company confirmed that the entry-level model starts at $1,059 for 256GB of storage. A higher-capacity 1TB version will be available for $1,299. That puts the headset firmly in premium territory and makes it one of Valve’s most expensive consumer gaming devices to date.
Both versions of the Steam Frame include the same core hardware beyond storage differences. Buyers will get two Steam Frame Controllers in the box, along with 16GB of unified LPDDR5X memory and a 4 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor. Valve is positioning the device as more than just a traditional VR headset, aiming to offer a flexible platform that can handle standalone experiences as well as broader access to a player’s Steam ecosystem. The package also includes a copy of Half-Life: Alyx, which remains one of the most recognizable VR titles associated with Valve.
One unusual detail is that neither Steam Frame model includes a power supply. Valve says a Steam Deck charger or an equivalent charger will work, but players who need an official option can buy a 45W power supply separately for $29. Valve is also offering additional first-party accessories for users who want replacement parts or a more customized fit. The Ergonomic Accessories Kit costs $59 and includes two controller hand straps with battery doors, a headset top strap, and an extended light blocker. There is also an Accessory Replacement Kit for $49, which comes with a face gasket, head cushion, and standard light blocker.
For anyone hoping to secure a unit at launch, Valve is once again using a reservation-based system. Interested buyers can sign up for only one model, and reservations must be submitted by Thursday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. After the sign-up window closes, Valve will sort customers into two groups through a randomized process. Some users will receive a reservation, while others will be placed on a waitlist.
According to Valve, customers selected for the reservation group will receive email invitations to complete their purchase as stock becomes available to ship. Those emails are scheduled to begin going out on Sept. 18. People placed on the waitlist will need to wait for a separate notification if they are later moved into the reservation queue. It is a system designed to manage demand and reduce the chaos that often surrounds major hardware launches, though it also means many buyers may not know right away when they will actually be able to place an order.
Regional availability is also an important part of the rollout. Valve says the Steam Frame will ship directly through Steam in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. In Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan, distribution will be handled by Komodo. Reservation and waitlist queues are separated by region, so customers will be competing for stock within their own market rather than in one global pool.
There are also eligibility requirements to join the sign-up process. To reserve a Steam Frame, users must have a Steam account in good standing and must have made a purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026. Valve is also limiting sign-ups to one per household. These restrictions appear intended to discourage scalping and ensure that early reservations go to established Steam customers rather than newly created accounts set up purely to flip hardware for profit.
The Steam Frame is notable not only for its hardware but also for how Valve wants it to fit into the broader PC gaming landscape. The headset is not limited to dedicated VR software. Valve says users will be able to stream their full Steam library to the device, expanding its use beyond native virtual reality titles. In addition, games will receive verification ratings to show which titles are suitable for standalone use on the headset. Valve has already launched a curated “Great on Frame” page on the Steam store to highlight games that are Steam Frame Standalone Verified.
Like other recent Valve hardware, the Steam Frame runs on SteamOS and is essentially a PC platform in a more specialized form factor. That means users can expect a degree of openness and flexibility, including the ability to install other apps and experiment with the software environment. For enthusiasts who enjoy tweaking their devices, that could be one of the headset’s biggest selling points.
The biggest question now is whether players will see enough value in the Steam Frame to justify its high price. With a starting cost above $1,000, plus optional accessories and a separate charger for some users, this is clearly aimed at dedicated VR fans and early adopters rather than casual buyers. Even so, Valve’s ecosystem, software support, and reputation for interesting hardware design could make the Steam Frame one of the most closely watched VR launches in the PC gaming space.
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