Valve Opens Steam Frame Reservations From $1,059

BELLEVUE, Wash. - Valve on Monday opened a three-day reservation window for the Steam Frame, its wireless VR headset, with U.S. pricing starting at $1,059 for a 256-gigabyte model and $1,299 for a 1-terabyte model, and said the first purchase invitation emails would go out beginning Sept. 18.

Sign-ups opened Sept. 14 and close Sept. 17 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Valve is using the same randomized reservation approach it applied to the Steam Machine earlier this year, saying the system improves the purchase experience and limits resellers. After the window closes, applicants are sorted into a reservation queue or a waitlist; those in the reservation queue receive emails to buy as units become available to ship, while waitlisted accounts move up only after the queue is exhausted.

Photo: Valve

Both configurations include two Steam Frame controllers and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx. Reporting around the launch describes Alyx as available in a native ARM build that can run standalone on the headset. Neither model includes a power supply. Valve says a Steam Deck charger or another USB-C supply that can deliver 45 watts or more will work; the company also lists a 45-watt power supply separately for about $29 to $30. Optional first-party kits include an Ergonomic Accessories Kit for $59 - controller straps, a headset top strap and an extended light blocker - and an Accessory Replacement Kit for $49 covering a face gasket, head cushion and standard light blocker.

Photo: Valve

On the hardware sheet published with the store listing, the Steam Frame uses a 4-nanometer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor, 16 gigabytes of unified LPDDR5X memory, 256-gigabyte or 1-terabyte UFS storage plus a microSD slot, a 21.6 watt-hour battery, and dual 2160-by-2160 LCD panels per eye with a 72-to-144-hertz refresh rate (144 hertz marked experimental). Tracking is inside-out and camera-based. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 (2×2) with a wireless adapter in the box, Bluetooth 5.4, dual speakers per ear and a dual-microphone array, running SteamOS 3. The headset is designed for dual use: standalone SteamOS play on verified titles, or wireless streaming from a Steam Machine or other PC.

International list prices published alongside the U.S. figures include €1,049 / C$1,529 / £889 / A$1,609 / 4,539 zł for the 256-gigabyte model and €1,279 / C$1,859 / £1,089 / A$1,969 / 5,549 zł for the 1-terabyte model, according to Game Informer’s summary of Valve’s release. Steam will ship directly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia; Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan are listed via Komodo. Signup lists are regional. Eligibility requires a Steam account in good standing and a Steam purchase made before April 27, 2026, with one signup allowed per household.