Valve Also Unveils A VR Steam Frame Headset And A Futuristic Steam Controller That Will Make Sony And Microsoft Cry

The family is growing. In the wake of the surprise announcement of the new Steam Machine home console, Valve has also added two new accessories to its gaming ecosystem. Peripherals with revolutionary ambitions, which are already very desirable.

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Steam Frame: a wireless, powerful and modular VR headset

The Steam Frame could well revolutionize VR gaming, finally propelling the practice into a mainstream dimension. Powered by a Snapdragon SoC and SteamOS, it does not require a PC to operate, a freedom highly anticipated by VR headset users. The manufacturer highlights its versatility, a strong argument since the headset will be capable of running both virtual reality games and classic titles from the Steam catalog, for particularly promising hybrid use.

Compared to the rest of the competition (PSVR and Meta Quest in sight), the headset also stands out for its clever design: equipped with compact pancake lenses capable of displaying a resolution of 2160 X 2160 pixels per eye, it promises a sharp image while maintaining a balanced weight and a light format. The Steam Frame benefits from advanced modularity, with a strap, battery and speakers that can be detached from the main module, thus facilitating its customization and maintenance. Under the hood, we also find some cutting-edge technologies such as eye tracking and bandwidth optimization for wireless gaming.

Steam Controller: a controller designed to streamline the gaming experience

Continuing the experience offered by the Steam Deck, Valve has developed the Steam Controller, a new peripheral designed to replace both the mouse and the traditional controller. The controller innovates, with two precision magnetic sticks, a gyroscope sensor and tactile surfaces, offering very flexible control possibilities suitable for a wide variety of games.

The controller connects both via Bluetooth and wired, with an announced autonomy of 35 hours, a point which remains to be confirmed in real conditions. We also find complete haptic feedback, which the manufacturer promises to be particularly immersive. Fans of the Steam Deck should not be disoriented, since the controller also features rear buttons and touch pads inspired by the portable console.

An integrated and connected ecosystem

More than just a hardware announcement, Valve is laying the foundations of a true Steam ecosystem, where the different devices – Steam Frame, Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Deck aim to play in synergy. All of these products will share a unified game library on PC, and enable seamless transfer from one device to another, for maximum cross-platform flexibility.

This integration will be supported by an evolution of the certification program Steam Deck Verified, now renamed Steam Verifiedwhich will evaluate compatibility and game quality on all Valve devices.

When is it available?

Regarding availability, Valve plans to launch these new products in early 2026 in several regions, including Europe, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and other key markets. The Price, however, remains to be specified. Expect to have to put in a small ticket to complete your ecosystem. Still, the promise is tempting: these new peripherals could well redefine the contours of PC and VR gaming in the years to come, by offering a fluid and accessible experience, without platform restrictions.