It looks as though Valve is actually gearing up to release Steam Frame, as user setup videos have leaked showing off unboxing and first-time user experience with Valve’s first standalone VR headset.
As first reported by Steam Hardware Updates on X, the ARM Steam Client got an update this week that contained a number of videos, including an unboxing, sign-in, and setup video of Steam Frame.
Although Valve immediately pulled the videos in a subsequent update, all three video has been reuploaded multiple times by now; here’s one such compilation from YouTube channel VRelity that includes all three:
Notably, Valve has been on the ‘brink’ of Steam Frame’s release for some time now, with the headset receiving FCC certification late last month along with imports of literal tons of units flowing into the US in June.
Meanwhile, Valve is preparing SteamVR for the influx of Steam Frame users with its ‘Great on Frame’ page, showing off all of the best Frame-compatible games, but also quietly lowering requirements for developers looking to release (or otherwise port) native, standalone content on Frame.
And however patently Valve the long wait for Frame’s release might be, you can blame the ongoing memory and storage crisis, which Valve confirmed earlier this year would affect Steam Frame in addition to its console-style mini-PC, Steam Machine, the latter of which launched in June for the not-so-friendly price of $1,050.
But now with chipmaker Qualcomm noting it has to raise prices of mobile chips too, it has likely thrown a second (or third) monkey wrench in Valve’s release plans for Frame, as the headset is centered around a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
Still, with the new fleet of leaked videos in hand, we’re surely closer than ever to learning the most important information left: price and release date.
Looking for more Steam Frame news?
Hands-on: Steam Frame Reveals Valve’s Modern Vision for VR and Growing Hardware Ambitions: We go hands-on with Valve’s latest and greatest VR headset yet.
Valve Says No New First-party VR Game is in Development: Valve launched Half-Life: Alyx (2020) a few months after releasing Index, but no such luck for first-party content on Steam Frame.
Valve is Open to Bringing SteamOS to Third-party VR Headsets: Steam Frame is the first VR headset to run SteamOS, but it may not be the last.
Valve Announces SteamOS Console and New Steam Controller, Designed with Steam Frame Headset in Mind: Find out why Valve’s new SteamOS-running Console and controller will work seamlessly with Steam Frame.
Steam Frame vs. Quest 3 Specs: Better Streaming, Power & Hackability: Quest 3 can do a lot, but can it go toe-to-toe with Steam Frame?
Steam Frame vs. Valve Index Specs: Wireless VR Gameplay That’s Generations Ahead : Valve Index used to be the go-to PC VR headset, but the times have changed.
