Valve Steam Frame Preorders May Open Next Week

Still no word on pricing

News

By RC Staff

12 September 2026

Key Points

A leaked unboxing video indicates Valve’s embargo on the Steam Frame is about to lift
Valve has not confirmed a price but industry leaks point to a range around $1,000 to $1,200 for the headset alone
The randomized waitlist used for Steam Machine preorders is not expected to return

After years of waiting, gamers might be able to get their hands on Valve’s latest VR headset very soon. The Steam Frame is the last date circled on Valve’s 2026 hardware release schedule, following up sold-out drops for the new Steam Controller and Steam Machine home console. There are still quite a few answers surrounding these headsets, but some recent leaks indicate that Valve may lift the curtain as soon as next week.

New Steam Frame Leak Details

The Steam Frame has carried a vague “Summer 2026” release window for months while Valve stayed mostly silent. Reviewers reportedly got units in late August under a two to three week embargo, and today Linus Tech Tips accidentally posted, then deleted, a full unboxing. Oopsies.

The most repeated preorder date going around is Monday, September 14, although any day is equally likely. All we know (and we don’r really know for sure) is that preorders should be opening very soon.

Pricing is still a mystery. The Valve Index launched at $499 in 2019, and given how much VR and PC hardware has climbed since then, $1,000 to $1,200 for the headset alone feels realistic. LTT’s leaked video skipped pricing but mentioned a separate $60 ergonomics kit with extra straps and cushions.

Will The Steam Frame Sell Out?

Valve’s preorder format is the real wildcard here. The Steam Controller launched first-come, first-served and got hammered by bots, which pushed Valve toward a randomized waitlist for the Steam Machine instead.

Dataminer Brad Lynch noted in now-deleted tweets that Valve’s backend email language has dropped lottery references, pointing back toward a traditional first-come, first-serve sale rather than a waitlist.

Steam Frame Preorder Waitlist Lottery Reseller

Valve’s hardware return policy currently covers Valve Index and Steam Deck products with a 14 day window from delivery, even if opened and used, as long as the item is in like-new condition. Expect the Steam Frame to fall under the same terms, but confirm that the moment preorders go live.

The Index dealt with a real supply crunch at launch and resold for up to double retail. VR headsets pull from a small but obsessed buyer pool, and Valve tends to ship these in modest numbers with slow restocks. That’s a solid setup for resellers, but the ceiling depends on a supply number nobody outside Valve actually knows yet.

Bottom Line

If Valve follows the pattern from its last two launches, there won’t be much warning between the price reveal and preorders closing. For Steam Machine preorders, Valve required customers to have a Steam account in good standing and at one or more purchases placed at least a month before to place an order. They will likely have a similar requirement for the Steam Frame.

We’ll update this article when/if Valve publishes more concrete details on the Steam Frame, especially pricing.