Valve’s newly introduced Steam Body VR headset would be the first working SteamOS, the corporate’s Linux-based working system. However it might not be the final.
In the identical means that Valve is open to different corporations constructing conventional units that run SteamOS—handhelds like Lenovo Legion Go S—the corporate says it’s additionally open to different corporations constructing VR headsets primarily based on SteamOS.
A Valve spokesperson instructed Street to VR that they assume “SteamOS could be nice for different units,” noting nonetheless that the corporate is presently centered on delivery Steam Body in the mean time.
However, sooner or later, Valve says it’s “comfortable to speak with different corporations about delivery it on their VR headsets.”
This makes a great deal of sense, contemplating Valve’s backside line largely relies on Steam software program gross sales, and never {hardware}. Like Steam Deck, Valve’s {hardware} ambitions sometimes are ‘Huge Image’ bets on the way forward for gaming, which has consequently spawned an entire subgenre of gaming units primarily based on Deck’s lead.
Whereas customers can typically obtain and set up SteamOS on unsupported {hardware}, presumably requiring some troubleshooting, it could be a considerably extra difficult with regards to VR headsets although.
A chief candidate for future tinkering might be Samsung Galaxy XR, which has a robust Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 and a conveniently unlocked bootloader, which suggests you’ll be able to technically set up an alternate OS.
Pico 4 Extremely homeowners may additionally give it a go, which is equally unlocked, however runs the older Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. Then, in final place, is Quest 3/3S, which not solely has the identical SoC as Pico 4 Extremely, however incorporates a notoriously locked bootloader.
After all, this relies on a whole lot of elements, chief of which is whether or not Valve truly releases the Body-specific ISO of SteamOS, which possible comprises the required compatibility layers. That will solely be accomplished on a case-by-case foundation with OEMs, since VR headsets are considerably extra sophisticated than handhelds or PCs.
Regardless of the case, we’re anxious to search out out. As a result of at the very least from our hands-on with Body, it’s obvious that Valve is swinging for the fences with its modernized imaginative and prescient for VR. The one query: will anybody else comply with?
Extra Steam Body Announcement Protection
Valve Unveils Steam Body VR headset to Make Your Total Steam Library Moveable: Valve exhibits off Steam Body, the standalone headset that may stream and natively play your total Steam library—with just a few caveats proper now.
Arms-on: Steam Body Reveals Valve’s Fashionable Imaginative and prescient for VR and Rising {Hardware} Ambitions: We go hands-on with Valve’s newest and biggest VR headset but.
Steam Body’s Worth Hasn’t Been Locked in, However Valve Expects it to be ‘cheaper than Index’: No value or launch date but, however Valve implies Steam Body will probably be cheaper than $1,000 for the total Index equipment.
Valve Says No New First-party VR Sport is in Improvement: Valve launched Half-Life: Alyx (2020) just a few months after releasing Index, however no such luck for first-party content material on Steam Body.
Valve Plans to Provide Steam Body Dev Kits to VR Builders: Steam Body isn’t right here but; Valve says it wants extra time with builders first to allow them to optimize their PC VR video games.
Valve Declares SteamOS Console and New Steam Controller, Designed with Steam Body Headset in Thoughts: Discover out why Valve’s new SteamOS-running Console and controller will work seamlessly with Steam Body.
Steam Body vs. Quest 3 Specs: Higher Streaming, Energy & Hackability: Quest 3 can do so much, however can it go toe-to-toe with Steam Body?
Steam Body vs. Valve Index Specs: Wi-fi VR Gameplay That’s Generations Forward : Valve Index was once the go-to PC VR headset, however the instances have modified.
