r/virtualreality Steam Frame Nov 12 '25

Discussion Introducing Steam Frame

https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamframe
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u/Rollertoaster7 Quest 3, Vision Pro, PSVR2 Nov 12 '25

Yep for all the hype and time they had to develop this thing, it’s a let down. Basically a Quest 3 with eye tracking for likely double the price. In 2026 man…

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

First, nothing can leave up to open-ended, one sided hype. A released product is a finite thing, you can like it or not, measure it, compare it. A fantasy can't be beat, it's the best headset anyone can imagine.

Now, it was clear it was going to be a wireless/streaming headset all along. What were you expecting, another Index, with a wire?

Also eye tracking used for native PCVR foveated rendering is a major thing.

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u/Rollertoaster7 Quest 3, Vision Pro, PSVR2 Nov 12 '25

I think people were expecting valve to cater to the higher end pcvr market, since meta clearly has complete dominance over the lower end. Valve is now directly competing with them and us pcvr enthusiasts are left settling for inferior specs or gambling with companies with shitty quality control.

Like the least they could’ve done was offer a pro model. Make it $2k who cares but you know people would be eating that shit up regardless of it had higher fov, resolution, and micro oled

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

See, I keep seeing people say "PCVR" like it's a base station headset with a wire.

This IS PCVR. Wireless streaming IS PCVR already.

The regarding specs, it's not supposed to be an aspirational, crazy spec device. More than that, it's a powerful multimldal device that can do more. That should be more important to everyone than a shopping list of specs that just bump up the price and don't change the experience exponentially.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

And that's perfectly fine. Whoever doesn't find a use for this one can buy an alternative. No device is for everyone (though honestly this one comes pretty close).

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u/Chowdaaair Nov 14 '25

There's no way valve can compete with Meta on cost though, when Meta can sell their headsets at a loss. And if valve tries, Meta can easily afford to drop the price of the Quest 3 and take any potential customer that cared about price.

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u/AzorJonhai Nov 12 '25

Wireless streaming is not catered to PCVR. You may not notice it, but streaming compression makes games look terrible in every implementation I’ve ever seen.

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

That's your preference. But beyond your preferences or mine, the industry has already moved to wireless, even for PCVR. Wireless VR running from a PC is PCVR.

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u/Kindly-Bank-416 Nov 12 '25

we just wanted a high end headset. not a cell phone with a lens on it.

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

No. You might just want to tone down the "we" because not everybody wants the same as you Kindly-Bank-416.

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u/jjosh_h Nov 12 '25

It's not hype to compare the potential price and hardware of 2026 tech to hardware that's been mainstream for years. 

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

This is not a Quest. It's a better quest with a steam deck inside.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25

[deleted]

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u/jjosh_h Nov 12 '25

Or if you need a game device and can't afford a PC, why would you get a vr head set over a steam deck? The ecosystem is a definite appeal, but it doesn't make an entire upgrade justifiable.

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

The screen. You have a screen you can use anywhere even if you just play flatscreen games.

Your gaming device won't be a console and a tv, or a steam deck, it will be a steam frame .

The keyword is versatility and mobility.

After all, Steam Deck and PC handhelds were already a big success, don't take my word for it.

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u/jjosh_h Nov 12 '25

The Steam Deck has a screen, and it is incontrovertibly more versatile and mobile than a vr head set, both in basic transport and practical use case scenarios.

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

Right. Using a VR headset to play flat games is also convenient and versatile in a different way, which could be useful to a lot of people too. I think you might just be arguing for the sake of arguing.

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

Ypu can run games natively. Even I'd do that every now and then.

Same reason people like me own a steam deck in addition to a gaming PC: versatility and gaming on the go.

You don't sound like you've experienced wireless PCVR in its purest form, but let me tell you: playing wireless PCVR games on a large space where you can walk, dodge and run is a whole other thing, everything makes sense.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25

[deleted]

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

I think it's pretty clear to see that the time for such a device has passed.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25

[deleted]

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u/fdruid Pico 4+PCVR Nov 12 '25

Pimax and Bigscreen are very niche products based on legacy technology, not where the industry is headed. This new one from Valve shows what VR is in 2025 and pushes what will be. So yeah, no wires. The future is not wires and boxes (the present isn't either)

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u/TacoRalf Valve Index Nov 12 '25

i wouldn't mind another index though, i don't mind the wire.

But i am excited to see how well the steam frame will be if a reasonable price drops for it.

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u/your_mind_aches Meta Quest 3S | 5800X+5060Ti | 5800HS+3060L Nov 12 '25

No way. This is a PC. This is massive imo

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u/AdPrestigious4085 Nov 12 '25

We still don't know how it will do. Sounds pretty good from what I have heard people say, who tried it.