Steam Frame Gets New Update as Launch Gets Closer

Valve is moving closer to the Steam Frame launch, with a new startup screen appearing in the recent Steam client beta, along with more Steam Frame-ready games and interface changes. The release date is still unknown, but the latest discoveries show that Valve is continuing to prepare the headset and its game library ahead of launch.

Another day brings another Steam Frame update. The release date is still not available, but the new Steam Frame startup screen has now been found in the recent Steam client beta. The startup video appeared in the Steam client beta data mine, giving another look at the presentation Valve is preparing for the headset. It is getting close, but there is still no launch date.

Steam Frame Gets a New Startup Screen

The Steam Frame startup sound and animation also appeared in the beta data. The Steam Frame logo in the new splash screen appears slightly darker than it did in the earlier Steam family splash. Valve is also rapidly building out the Steam Frame standalone game library ahead of launch.

That means users can jump into a standalone library when the headset launches. Valve is pushing both 2D games and VR games for Steam Frame. The headset can also be used to play 2D PC games remotely and wirelessly. The idea is to play blockbuster and AAA games from the comfort of a bed with the headset on.

You don't need a TV, and you can put on the Steam Frame to jump into games like Hades 2. Another Steam Frame verified game has also appeared, with Anno: Mutationem added to the list. The number of games listed as great on Steam Frame has reached 67, while the transcript notes Anno: Mutationem at 60 in the current listing.

Steam Frame and the Upcoming VR Showcase

The VR game showcase is happening on August 13th, and Valve has been teasing the event. The timing has people wondering whether more information about Steam Frame could appear during the event. Steam Frame is one of the most anticipated VR headsets, and people are wondering whether the August 13th event could bring an announcement or more details.

Valve also has its anniversary coming up at the end of the month, giving the community another date to watch as the Steam Frame continues moving toward launch. One community theory is that the Steam Frame could release only after Meta Connect. The reasoning is that Valve may want to see what Meta is preparing and what pricing it's considering before setting the Steam Frame's price.

The Quest 3 is one of Steam Frame's main competitors, and on paper, the two headsets share similarities. Both use pancake lenses and LCD panels, while both support inside-out tracking. The Quest 3 also uses an ARM processor and can connect to a PC for Steam VR. The main difference is that PC connectivity on the Quest 3 is not expected to be as reliable as the wireless PC connection being targeted by Steam Frame.

Steam Frame also has eye tracking, which the Quest 3 lacks. Quest 3 does have color passthrough, giving it a feature that Steam Frame does not have. Aside from that, the two headsets share a similar overall design and approach, though Steam Frame is expected to offer a different balance of features.

Quest 4 Could Change the VR Headset Market

Meta's upcoming Connect event at the end of next month has also raised questions about a possible Quest 4. The big question is what technologies could appear in the successor. Questions remain about whether the next Quest headset will continue using LCD panels with pancake lenses and whether it could introduce a direct wireless connection to a PC for more reliable PC gaming.

The current Quest 3 can already connect wirelessly to a PC, but Steam Frame is expected to provide a more reliable experience. That leaves users with another question: whether to buy Steam Frame at launch or wait to see what Meta is preparing. Pricing will also matter because the Quest 3 is already around $599, while Steam Frame is shaping up to cost more than $1,000.

Snapdragon chip pricing has reportedly increased, while the RAM shortage and SSD demand are also affecting hardware costs. Data centers are absorbing demand for RAM and storage, creating another problem for a headset that needs both components. Steam Frame is therefore arriving at a difficult time for pricing.

The community reaction to the Steam Machine has also raised questions about how people will respond to the Steam Frame price. The Steam Machine had plenty of interest before its price was revealed, but after the price appeared, part of the community decided that it was too expensive.

The same situation could happen with Steam Frame if Valve gets the pricing wrong. Meta's pricing could therefore be important because Valve will have another reference point before setting the final price. We are entering an interesting month for Steam Frame, with the startup screen, growing game library, VR showcase, and upcoming Meta event all adding more pieces to the picture.

VR can see a resurgence because it remains a platform with room to grow.

The Steam VR beta update also introduced a new UI, showing that Valve continues to work on the platform's software. It is great to see VR back in the spotlight. Quest 3 is doing better than before, Steam Frame is coming, and Pimax, along with other companies, are producing new headsets. The form factor is one of the biggest parts of that. If a headset can move the weight away from the face and avoid a heavy device pressing against it, more people may be willing to try it.

The goal is to make VR something you can put on and jump into games comfortably. Steam Frame could be moving toward that kind of experience. Steam Frame startup screen may be a small update, but combined with the growing verified game library and Steam VR beta changes, it shows that Valve is continuing to prepare the platform ahead of launch.