Valve launched the Steam Frame VR headset on September 14, 2026, opening a randomized reservation queue for its wireless, streaming-first SteamOS device. The 256GB kit costs $1,059 and the 1TB kit $1,299, each including the controllers, a Wi-Fi 6E streaming adapter, and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx. A power supply costs $29 extra, and vr.org reported that purchase emails have gone out in waves since September 18.
The Steam Frame is Valve’s attempt to make wireless PC VR plug-and-play, and the company applied the same sales playbook it used for the Steam Machine: instead of open preorders, buyers had to sign up for a reservation list that Valve shuffled once to set purchase order. Signups closed September 17 at 10:00 AM Pacific, three days after launch, and vr.org reported that every signup received either a reservation or a waitlist result by email that day.
Valve allocates units through regional queues
To qualify for a signup, a Steam account had to be in good standing with a purchase made before April 27, 2026, with one signup allowed per household. Reservation holders receive a purchase email when their unit is ready and have 72 hours to check out; those emails began September 18 and have continued in waves. On October 9, Valve advised reservation holders to visit the product page for an order window falling by December or sometime in 2027. Waitlisted accounts have no date: Valve draws from a region’s waitlist only after its reservation queue is finished, though vr.org noted that around September 30 some waitlisted buyers reported emails moving them into the reservation queue.
What the $1,059 and $1,299 kits include
Both kits ship with the headset, the Steam Frame Controllers, the Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter for PC streaming, and Half-Life: Alyx, redeemable in the headset’s settings one per device. The 45W power supply is not included and sells separately for $29; a Steam Deck charger or any 45W or higher USB-C charger also works. Two other accessories are available only at checkout after a purchase email: the Ergonomic Accessories Kit at $59 and the Accessory Replacement Kit at $49. Color passthrough is not built in — Valve lists the Arcturus Vision camera as a compatible add-on, which UploadVR reports at $149.
Steam Frame is here! Our wireless VR headset + controllers, available now in the following models: Steam Frame 256GB Steam Frame 1TB Sign up now and learn more on @Steam https://t.co/N9IvWskQRP pic.twitter.com/9sfIUSjiwL
The hardware inside the headset
Dual 2160×2160 LCD displays with pancake lenses refresh at 72 to 144Hz, with 144Hz experimental. Eye tracking drives Foveated Streaming, which Valve says typically offers over a 10x improvement in image quality and effective bandwidth. The headset ships with a Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter that plugs into the PC on a dedicated 6GHz link for streaming. Battery life runs roughly one to two hours in independent reviews, since Valve publishes none.
Where you can buy the Steam Frame
Valve ships directly through Steam to the U.S., Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia. Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong buy through KOMODO, Valve’s authorized distributor, and South Korea follows later. The two kits are priced regionally at 1,529 and 1,859 CAD, 1,049 and 1,279 EUR, 889 and 1,089 GBP, 1,609 and 1,969 AUD, and 4,539 and 5,549 PLN, with VAT included where applicable.
Games verified at launch
There is no new marquee exclusive: a Steam Frame team member told Road to VR at the announcement that Valve has no VR content in development, and the launch confirmed it. Instead, every headset includes Half-Life: Alyx, which UploadVR reports Valve rebuilt as a native 64-bit ARM version that runs standalone with Steam Cloud saves shared between headset and PC. Valve counts over 100 games as Steam Frame Standalone Verified at launch, and third-party titles including PAYDAY: Aces High and Gunman Contracts: Stand Alone earned Great on Frame ratings ahead of and after launch.
Steam Frame purchase questions answered
When did the Steam Frame come out? Valve announced “Steam Frame is here!” at 10:01 AM Pacific on September 14, 2026, and opened reservations in the same post. The launch landed inside the window Valve set on June 4, when a Steamworks post said the headset would ship that summer.
How do I get one now? New sign-ups join the back of the waitlist, which has no published date. If you hold a reservation, watch for a purchase email with a 72-hour checkout window; Valve said on October 9 that order emails will arrive by December or in 2027.
What does it cost in total? $1,059 for the 256GB kit or $1,299 for the 1TB kit, plus $29 for the power supply if you don’t already own a 45W USB-C charger.
Does it need a PC? Over 100 games carry the Standalone Verified badge, and the included Wi-Fi 6E adapter is the intended path for PC VR streaming.
Keep reading