Steam Frame: What early reviewers said about the $1,000+ VR headset
The Steam Frame VR headset is here. What do the reviewers think?
Just when it appeared that VR headsets had lost their appeal, Valve unveiled the Steam Frame, a $1,000+ device that can be used for both virtual reality and non-VR gaming. The headset, announced in November 2025, became available for purchase on September 18.
Reviewers praised the Steam Frame for its well-designed product that makes playing VR games easy and straightforward. Jacob Ridley from PC Gamer described the device as comfortable, convenient, and comfortable. The Steam Frame can be used to play traditional non-VR games on a large virtual screen, making it a potential replacement for a gaming monitor.
Zack Zwiezen from Kotaku highlighted the headset's seamless wireless PC gaming experience, which worked better than any other headset he had used for streaming games from his PC. Gaming outlet Aftermath called the Steam Frame "one of the most exciting pieces of hardware I've seen in the space in years."
However, the reviews also brought up several criticisms. Scott Stein from CNET pointed out battery life issues, buggy performance, and the lack of game support at launch. James Archer from Rock Paper Shotgun argued that the device's high price and the declining state of VR would make it a poor purchase for most people. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar emphasized the timing of the release as a major issue, as VR game development has been lackluster and the broader virtual reality world is not a significant force today.
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