Back in 2021, curiosity around Valve’s standalone XR headset, known internally as ‘Deckard’, first surfaced. Recently, tech analyst and VR enthusiast Brad Lynch, or as some know him, ‘SadlyItsBradley’, has hinted that Valve may be gearing up to produce this much-discussed device.
Details about Deckard remain quite sparse, but word has it that this new headset will operate independently and could potentially stream PC VR games wirelessly. This places it alongside heavyweights like Meta Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro in the competitive landscape.
Lynch, who often shares insights about the XR industry, recently revealed that Valve is importing machinery to produce VR headset facial interfaces within the United States. This equipment, according to an update from Lynch on social media, comes from the Teleray Group, known for manufacturing gaskets for both the Valve Index and HP G2 Omnicept.
Considering the Valve Index is now approaching its sixth birthday, it’s unlikely Valve is looking to update its current VR headset. This indicates that the company is likely focused on this highly anticipated new addition to their product lineup.
There’s some debate about why Valve has chosen to manufacture key components stateside. Some suggest it could be a strategy to avoid heightened tariffs on goods imported from China, following recent policy changes by the U.S. government.
Interestingly, reports also indicate that Valve plans to use the same facility they previously employed for making Lighthouse 2.0 base stations, which has been vacant for nearly two years. Lynch suggests that while this move may help Valve navigate tariff challenges during Deckard’s market presence, he doubts it is solely for prototyping new helmet designs.
Despite being surrounded by mystery for years, the latest updates indicate Valve might finally be ready to unveil Deckard soon, raising anticipation in the gaming community.
In a leak from November 2024, 3D models found in a SteamVR update unveiled a new VR motion controller called ‘Roy’. This device adopts a familiar gamepad-style button layout rather than the popular Touch layout. If Valve sticks with this design, it could mean that Deckard will deliver an experience closely aligned with the input style of the Steam Deck.
Fast forward to February, the well-known leaker ‘Gabe Follower’ suggested that Valve plans to release Deckard by the end of 2025, carrying a price tag of $1,200. Gabe Follower also mentioned that Valve might sell this device at a loss, and it’s likely to run on SteamOS, the same system used by Steam Deck, but modified for virtual reality.
