No prices yet. I may never financially recover from this.
Would love to see Valve do a SteamOS Linux Phone next.
With it coming with an optional phone gaming accessory to use your phone as a controller (with same design/gaming usage as Steam Deck/Steam Controller)
For use with any Valve hardware/software through the connected accessory (Bluetooth/Dongle/Wired)
Don’t have an extra controller? Use your phone with the add-on.
Sidenote: Wonder if PostmarketOS will add support for Steam Frame overtime. Sadly it does not have call support I think but otherwise it would technically be a different kind of device that could function as a phone tok
It’s interesting that the VR headset is ARM based. Maybe that’s a sign that 2027 will be the year of the ARM desktop
Did Valve just announce THREE of something?
When I look at this announcement, the hardware is very exciting, for sure. But it is Valve’s dedication to Linux that really has me smiling. I don’t see three hardware devices to buy. I see two big proclamations for which the hardware is the message:
-
SteamOS on desktop! It seemed inevitable but it’s still great to see.
-
STEAM VR USING LINUX AS ITS TARGET PLATFORM?!?!?
I will grant that it’s very possible I buy all three pieces of the hardware, even though I like building my own PCs. I will also grant that Valve’s support for linux probably would not be what it is without the enshittification of Microsoft’s ecosystem. But in this world I’m gonna go ahead and accept the imperfect good news.
-
Valve remains committed to an open PC ecosystem
happy noises
I’ve been saying for years that VR can get off my lawn until I can buy Linux native hardware. I guess I’m interested in VR, now.
“I may never financially recover from this.”
is well said.
I need to buy all of these.
why is this thing not called Steam Engine?
If Valve makes ARM Linux work properly as a gaming/desktop OS, I will uhh hmm.
I will buy this thing.
I wonder if they’re still using Arch for the basis of this. Its ARM version is kinda not so great, although not terrible either.
Where’s my Steam Phone Gabe ?
Really excited for this and hopefully that means steamvr on Linux will actually start working better! The current Beta build is much better but still lots of work to do.
I’m definitely getting the frame as upgrade from quest 3 which I rarely use due to it being attached to Meta. The controller is no brainer considering that old steamdeck controller is still one of the best controllers on the market. Not sure about steam machine mostly because I just built my own PC - would have totally waited for it if I knew it was coming but it looks so slick.
Very excited for Linux in 2026!
Uh-oh…my wallet is in trouble.
Where steamphone
The VR looks interesting. I had bought the HP reverb G2, but Microsoft pulled the plug on windows mixed reality, and I’ve since moved to Linux, so this might be a good replacement.
That controller makes me swoon.
Swoon worthy indeed. So many features.
Yet still only four face buttons. I don’t know why every controller manufacturer in existence refuses to bring back 6 button pads, even Valve. Instead they all just copy each others’ designs. Even Nintendo—once known for being innovative—is guilty of this. The Switch/Switch 2 Pro controller is literally just a crappy XBOX controller with crappy digital triggers.
Also I’m not a fan of symmetrical joysticks. The left stick is used way more than the D-Pad, and as such, should be placed where the left thumb naturally lies, instead of the D-Pad. I’ll eventually get used to it but I don’t like it.
You can also map the trackpads (on the Steam Deck at least, so I assume for the controller) to use a menu that you can tie to anything. EmuDeck set up plenty of Profiles that can switch the controls and the prompts on the touchpad radial to show so many options it would make my head spin! Hopefully that can fulfill your needs?
With all the inputs on the front of the controller and 4 on the back you have plenty of options.
Plz fucking give us the clear option
How big a deal is this eye tracking that then only shows higher resolution stuff where you’re looking? Is it legit and works well, or is it a gimmick VR uses to say its’ better than it is?
