It feels like a lifetime since Valve released the Index headset – a high-powered (relatively expensive) VR headset initially introduced in 2019. The Index remains an extremely popular headset today. But it’s quickly becoming pretty outdated – that’s where the Valve Deckard comes in.
Rumors started circulating about a successor to the Valve Index way back in 2021. Unfortunately, those rumors haven’t been very illuminating. Unlike many XR headset developers, Valve seems good at keeping things under wraps.
However, we have some insights, from the leaked “prototype” designs discovered in 2022 to the more recent “Roy” controller specifications shared in November 2024.
So, here’s everything we know about the Valve Deckard so far.
What is the Valve Deckard? Overview So Far
The Valve “Deckard” is the standalone headset from Valve, which is rumored to have been in production for the last few years. We know it’s set to be a successor to the popular Valve Index, which attracted the attention of countless gamers.
When leaks first began surfacing about the Valve Deckard in 2021, thanks to popular YouTuber Brad Lynch, many suggested the Deckard would be designed to compete against the Meta Quest 2. Of course, the XR space has come a long way since then. We now have the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, not to mention countless impressive headsets from the likes of HTC VIVE, Pico, and Varjo.
Plus, countless other tech vendors and new XR startups are entering the game, giving Valve more competition than ever before. As a result, it’s probably safe to say that we should take the initial leaks with a pinch of salt. The chances are the Valve Deckard is going to be very different in design and functionality from the prototype images—if it’s ever released.
The Valve Deckard: Headset Specs and Design Rumors
Rumors about the Valve Deckard standalone headset only began heating up after the initial prototype images were leaked in 2022. They showed us a headset that looked similar to the Valve Index. It had a large ski-glasses-style front visor and a sturdy, solid headband with adjustable dials.
The trouble is that the images released and the patent application filed by Valve didn’t share much information about potential materials, technical specifications, or even how much the headset will weigh. When the rumor mill began churning out insights into other upcoming headsets from companies like Apple and, more recently, Samsung, we had a few more insights.
For instance, with Samsung, we knew the partnership with Qualcomm would mean the headset would likely have a Snapdragon processor chip, and it would take advantage of an Android-based OS system. With Valve, all we have is educated guesses.
Rumors suggest that the Valve Deckard will feature high-end graphics (which makes sense given the high visual quality of the Valve Index) and superior audio capabilities. It’s also undoubtedly going to be compatible with Steam library games.
What We Expect to See from the Valve Deckard
First, we know that the Valve Deckard is intended to be a “standalone” headset. The Valve Index, as a PC-based VR headset, took advantage of the computing power of the device it was plugged into. The Deckard will need its own processor chip and a battery.
It seems likely that the headset will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip—simply because those chips power most cutting-edge headsets today, from the Apple Vision Pro to the Meta Quest 3. Still, that’s just speculation. However, initial guesses from XR enthusiasts suggest that the headset will feature an ARM processor architecture.
We’d also guess that Valve would want to maintain some of the functionality that made its Index headset so popular – such as the tracking capabilities and built-in cameras.
It remains to be seen whether it uses internal tracking sensors or continues to ask users to invest in external systems (like the Steam base stations). We think it’s likely that if cameras are included in the headset, they’ll enable mixed-reality functionality.
That would allow Valve to compete more effectively with companies like Meta, Varjo, and HTC VIVE, as they embrace more AR/VR capabilities in their headsets.
As mentioned above, although most people assume the Valve Deckard will be a “premium” headset with high-quality optics, we have no idea what displays it will use. The previous Index headset had Fresnel lenses, but they’ve become outdated lately. Valve may upgrade to a Micro OLED display or pancake lenses to stay competitive.
The Valve Deckard “Roy” Controllers: Latest Leaks
Usually, when more “solid” leaks emerge about an upcoming VR headset, we learn about the chips or displays. With Valve, the first real thing we know the most about is the new controllers.
Once again, VR community leader Brand Lynch is behind this most recent leak. He discovered new references to a wand-like “Roy” controller in Valve’s SteamVR code and said that his sources have confirmed that these controllers are now moving toward mass production.
The rendered images of the “Roy” controllers are pretty similar in design to the types of controllers you’d find with the Meta Quest 3 and similar devices. They look pretty ergonomic and don’t feature any of the pesky tracking rings of old-fashioned devices.
However, some standout features are potentially worth mentioning. For instance, unlike standard VR controllers, which include two action buttons each, the Roy model has more of a standard “gamepad” layout. There’s a directional pad on the left, four action buttons on the right, and standard start and select buttons. There are even bumper buttons above the trigger on each controller.
This design would allow for better support for titles that use traditional gamepads, appealing to gaming fans.
The Controller Experience: What to Expect
Obviously, just like the leaks about the Valve Deckard headset itself, the information about the controllers is limited at best. According to Lynch, who dove into the code files before Steam removed them, every button on the Roy controller will have “capacitive touch.” He said this will help in “hand skeleton creation” for advanced tracking.
Lynch also speculated that the UI input will potentially rely on some eye-tracking capabilities. This suggests that, like with most headsets today, you won’t always need to use the controllers to interact with content. There could be some advanced hand and eye tracking capabilities for more “spatial” experiences too.
Still, if the Roy controllers feature the more design we see in the prototype images, that could be a good sign. They’ll be more effective for complex games and apps than most VR controller systems. This could give Valve a slight edge over other VR headset manufacturers. Most still rely on customers to sync their devices with external Bluetooth controllers when using some apps.
Is the Valve Deckard Coming Soon?
We really can’t say for sure if the Valve Deckard will be released soon. We don’t even know whether it will have the same features we’ve seen distributed across several years of leaks. It does seem, however, that Valve isn’t ready to give up on the XR market yet.
In 2023, Valve Designer Lawrence Yang hinted that the company was working on an XR device when discussing the Steam Deck OLED.
Yang said there was significant overlap between creating the Steam Deck, and designing a VR device. He noted the importance of creating a strong wireless experience for users, working with development partners, and minimizing computer tech for a smaller device. He also said that although the team didn’t have anything to announce about a VR headset, it was still “pushing forward” in the space.
The rumors remain relatively basic for now, and no official release dates are on the horizon. Of course, the controller leak could indicate that Valve will suddenly launch a new device with virtually no warning—that’s pretty “on brand” for the company.
Valve is also clearly in a good position to create a high-quality VR headset. First, the company has the manufacturing capabilities and partnerships to create impressive hardware. That’s evidenced by the Steam Deck and even the previous Valve Index.
Secondly, it has an edge in the software space—something that many XR creators struggle with. The Apple Vision Pro, for instance, struggled to gain adoption at first partially because it was compatible with a limited number of apps.
Looking Ahead with Valve
At this point, we’re left with little more than speculation and basic insights. It seems like Valve will hopefully release a VR headset sometime soon. But it will take a lot of work to ensure the device stands out in an increasingly crowded market.
If Valve hopes to compete with Meta, Apple and Samsung, it must get creative. Impressive controllers, PC VR wireless streaming, and eye-tracking capabilities might be a good first start.
However, the company will also need an exceptionally high-quality and a brilliant tracking system (something it should excel at). We’d also say that some form of AR passthrough capability is essentially a must-have at this point.
Plus, the company must pack a lot of power into a relatively affordable headset. As evidenced by Apple’s issues, consumers aren’t ready to pay thousands for a new device. Since Valve has always targeted consumers more than the enterprise market, a low price tag is likely necessary.
Unfortunately, if the Index’s initial (and current) price tag is any indication, we’re unlikely to see a headset cheap enough to compete with something like the Meta Quest 3S.
For now, we can only wait for more rumors to emerge. Of course, we’ll keep our eye out in the coming months, so watch this space for all the latest news as it breaks.
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