Valve’s Steam Frame virtual-reality headset is now priced above $1,000, with reservations open for eligible Steam users in Australia and several other regions.
Steam Frame pricing and what is included
The 256GB Steam Frame is listed at $1,059, while the 1TB version costs $1,299. That places the entry model $10 above the least expensive Steam Machine model.
Both configurations include two Steam Frame Controllers, 16GB of unified LPDDR5X memory and a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor. Each headset also comes with a copy of Half-Life: Alyx. Valve’s Steam store listing has the complete specification details.
A power supply is not included. Valve says a Steam Deck charger, or an equivalent charger, can be used. A separate 45W power supply is listed at $29.
- Ergonomic Accessories Kit: $59, including two controller hand straps and battery doors, a headset top strap and an extended light blocker.
- Accessory Replacement Kit: $49, including a face gasket, head cushion and standard light blocker.
How Steam Frame reservations work
Valve is using a reservation process similar to the one used for Steam Machine. Customers must nominate one Steam Frame model by Thursday, 17 September, at 1pm EDT. Valve will then divide sign-ups between people who receive a reservation and those placed on a waiting list.
Customers in the reservation group will receive purchase emails as units become ready to ship, with the first emails due from 18 September. Waiting-list customers will need to wait for further notification if they move into the reservation queue. Valve outlined the process in a news post.
Steam will ship the headset directly to customers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union and Australia. In Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan, fulfilment will be handled through Komodo. Reservation lists are separated by region, so Australian applicants join the queue for Australia.
Who can register?
Applicants need a Steam account in good standing and must have made a Steam purchase before 27 April 2026. Only one registration is permitted per household.
Steam Frame is more than a VR headset
Steam Frame can run VR games and stream a user’s wider Steam library. Games intended to run standalone receive verification ratings, and Valve has created a Great on Frame collection for compatible titles.
Like Steam Deck and Steam Machine, Steam Frame is a SteamOS-based PC. Users can install other applications and customise the software rather than being limited to a closed console-style experience.
At the time of the announcement, Steam Deck was in stock. Customers wanting a Steam Machine or Steam Controller alongside the headset also had to register for those products.
For readers weighing a new gaming setup against a traditional cabinet, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the main considerations, while arcade machines and arcade news offer other ways to explore dedicated gaming hardware.
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