Valve sets Steam Frame pricing, opens lottery for SteamOS-based VR kit

Valve sets Steam Frame pricing and purchase window

Valve announced on September 14, 2026, that its Steam Frame wireless VR headset, which runs SteamOS, will start at $1,059 for a 256 GB model, with a 1 TB version priced at $1,299. The figures were published in U.S. dollars with regional equivalents in CAD, EUR, GBP, AUD and PLN, and Valve said the prices are "inclusive of VAT where applicable." Every unit ships with a copy of Half-Life: Alyx and ships directly from Valve in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia.

Lottery purchasing replaces open sales

Valve will not sell the Steam Frame directly to consumers; instead, the headset is gated behind a randomized purchase system. Buyers can join the queue list up until Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM UTC, after which Valve will close the list, randomize entries and email results within a day. Those not selected will be placed on a waiting list for later stock, in a process modeled on the earlier Steam Machine rollout. Customers in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong were told to expect an announcement from KOMODO around 10:00 AM JST on September 15.

Hardware design and bundled accessories

The Steam Frame is positioned as a wireless VR headset with controllers built to run both VR and non-VR games, and Valve emphasized dual radios on the headset plus an included Wi-Fi adapter as a dedicated link for streaming. The device uses built-in eye tracking to power a "Foveated Streaming" feature that streams higher-quality imagery where the user's eyes are focused. Each headset ships without a power supply, with a separate Valve PSU listed at $29.

Optional add-ons include an Ergonomic Accessories Kit, priced at $59, with two controller hand straps and battery doors, a headset top strap and an extended light blocker. An Accessory Replacement Kit, containing a face gasket, head cushion and standard light blocker, is listed at $49. Pricing for both kits was also broken out across the same regional currencies used for the headset itself.

Open questions for prospective buyers

It remains unclear how many units Valve will allocate in the initial lottery round or how long waitlisted customers should expect to wait for a subsequent purchasing window. The role of KOMODO in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and whether that partner will run the same lottery model or open sales, is also still to be confirmed.

Next milestone

Valve said randomized lottery results will be emailed within a day of the September 17, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC signup deadline, meaning selected buyers should learn whether they can purchase a Steam Frame by the weekend. A separate KOMODO announcement covering Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong is expected the following day, at 10:00 AM JST on September 15.