Valve Reveals Details of Upcoming Steam Frame Ahead of Summer Launch
Valve's Steam Frame, alongside the Steam Machine, is set to debut this summer, and preliminary setup visuals have surfaced, highlighting key features.
Valve has confirmed that the Steam Frame, expected to launch this summer alongside the Steam Machine, will include a user-friendly setup procedure known as the Welcome Tour. Dataminers recently uncovered various references to the Steam Frame within the latest Steam Client Beta, coinciding with the release of the Steam Frame Verified requirements in new Steamworks documentation.
The Welcome Tour will guide users through the initial setup of their Steam Frame on a new device, allowing for seamless pairing of the VR headset with a computer using a 6GHz wireless adapter. Users also have the option to operate the Frame independently, as it is driven by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is believed to be capable of running games like Half-Life: Alyx.
Prominent VR enthusiast Brad Lynch shared early graphics from the Welcome Tour, which are still in development and include placeholder text. The visuals refer to the Steam Frame by its internal codename 'Deckard.' This release marks an important step towards the product's official launch.
As part of the upcoming release, Valve is expanding its Verified program to encompass the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. This initiative aims to provide customers with clarity on the out-of-box experience for games on these new devices, ensuring smooth performance without requiring any complex configurations. Additionally, Valve has opted to maintain brand continuity by using the term 'Dashboard Frame' instead of more conventional names like 'Windows.'