The word on the street is that Valve’s long-awaited (and we mean really long) return to the virtual reality (VR) space could be effected before 2025 wraps up. Rumours first began to swirl over the so-called ‘Deckard’ VR headset back in 2021, with more leaks squeaking through Valve’s security earlier this year.
All hands on Deckard
The rumoured headset, unlike Valve’s previous headset, the Valve Index, would be a wireless effort, and the controllers will reportedly ditch the motion-tracking rings in favour of a more ergonomic design — similar to the Meta Quest’s 3S controllers. The rumoured ‘Roy’ controllers aren’t reinventing the wheel, though.
News from XR Research Institute (via UploadVR), which has previously proven itself reliable in the smart glasses space, claims that the Deckard headset has entered mass production, with plans to manufacture between 400,000 and 600,000 units per year. That’s close to the figure Apple perhaps unwisely settled on for the Vision Pro.
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The device won’t, of course, be called the Valve Deckard by the time it’s ready for market. Only last month, Valve applied for a trademark for the name “Steam Frame”, which was also unearthed throughout SteamVR code, likely confirming the headset’s official name.
We’ll find out soon enough if the leaks are credible. Now that the headset has reportedly entered full production, the Chinese analysts punting the rumour reckon the console will be ready for the holiday season, although this appears a little hopeful considering the rather late production push. What it’ll cost at launch remains to be seen, with many preparing themselves for a $1,000+ pricetag.
