How much is the Steam Frame? $1,059, a lottery and one catch if you don't live where Valve ships
Valve finally put a price on its headset: two models, a reservation lottery that closes Thursday and a short list of countries. Here's everything confirmed as of September 15.
Steam Frame price: $1,059 and $1,299
On September 14, Valve ended months of leaks and published the Steam Frame's price. There are two models, and the only difference is storage: 256GB for $1,059 and 1TB for $1,299. In Europe that's €1,049 and €1,279, and in the UK £889 and £1,089, VAT included.
For context: analysts expected somewhere between $899 and $1,199, and Valve's original goal was to come in under the full Valve Index kit, which cost $999. It didn't. Valve had been warning since February that rising RAM prices would hit the price tag, the same pressure that pushed the Steam Machine to launch in June at $1,049.
What's in the box (and what costs extra)
Every kit includes the headset, both controllers, a Wi-Fi 6E USB adapter for streaming from your PC and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx. Valve built a native version that runs directly on the headset, but that standalone edition won't be ready on day one. Until it lands, Alyx plays over PC streaming.
What's missing is a charger: the USB-C power supply is $29. There's also an ergonomic kit (straps, battery door and light blocker) for $59, a replacement kit for $49 and an optional 10-gram camera module for $149. Add the charger and the ergonomic kit and the cheapest Frame is already close to $1,150.
How to buy one: Valve's lottery, date by date
Speed won't help. Valve opened a sign-up where you pick one model, and on Thursday, September 17 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific the list closes and Valve randomizes the order. It's the same system it used for the Steam Machine, designed to keep scalpers out.
Purchase emails start going out on Friday, September 18, based on your spot in the queue and how many units Valve can build. If you get the email you have 72 hours to check out; otherwise your turn passes to the next person. There's no single ship date: units go out as stock arrives.
The catch: most of the world isn't on the list
Valve sells the Steam Frame directly in the US, Canada, the UK, the European Union and Australia. Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong get it through the distributor Komodo, and South Korea comes later.
In practice, anyone outside those regions needs an address in a supported country (and a lottery win there), a freight forwarder, import taxes and the acceptance that the warranty lives on another continent. The $1,059 sticker is where the math starts, not where it ends.
Is it worth it? What the money buys
On paper it's the most powerful standalone headset you can buy: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 16GB of RAM, 2160×2160 displays per eye running 72 to 144Hz, eye tracking for foveated streaming and SteamOS, which opens your Steam library without needing a PC. It weighs about 440 grams with the strap and battery.
What we still don't know is battery life: Valve lists the capacity (21.6Wh) but not hours of play, and there are no independent reviews yet. If your plan is to play the Steam library you already own, it's the obvious pick. If you just want to get into VR, a Meta Quest 3 is $599.99 and the Quest 3S starts at $349.99. We break the three down in Steam Frame vs Quest 3 vs Quest 4.
Before you spend a thousand dollars, feel it first
VR doesn't make sense in photos or spec sheets. It makes sense with a headset on. If you've never used one, borrow a friend's Quest for an evening before you commit $1,059: you'll learn whether you get motion sick and how long you're comfortable wearing a headset.
FAQ
How much does the Steam Frame cost?
$1,059 for the 256GB model and $1,299 for the 1TB model. The USB-C power supply ($29) is sold separately.
When does the Steam Frame come out?
Valve launched it on September 14, 2026, with lottery reservations open until the 17th. The first purchase emails go out on the 18th and units ship as stock allows.
Where can you buy the Steam Frame?
Directly from Valve in the US, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia, and through Komodo in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. South Korea is coming later.
Does the Steam Frame come with Half-Life: Alyx?
Yes, every kit includes a copy. The version that runs natively on the headset arrives after launch; until then you can play it by streaming from a PC.
