Valve officially announced the price of its new standalone VR headset Steam Frame, starting at $1,059 (approximately RMB 7,600), and will include the classic VR masterpiece Half-Life: Alyx with the device.[2]
This is another important product from Valve in the VR field after the Index, and also its first standalone VR headset that does not require a computer connection. It has built-in computing and tracking modules, enabling 6DoF spatial positioning without external base stations.[1]
Specific technical specifications have not been fully announced, but initial foreign media reviews praise its image clarity and tracking performance, and as a standalone VR it does not require cumbersome base station setup.[1]
Engadget pointed out in its review that the hardware experience of Steam Frame itself is quite good, but the biggest problem is its high price and late market release. At a time when the mainstream market is already occupied by early movers, this product seems "born at the wrong time".[1]
The biggest highlight of Steam Frame is its complete SteamVR ecosystem support. Users can directly access the huge VR game library on the Steam platform, an advantage that other standalone VR headsets find hard to match. In addition, bundling Half-Life: Alyx also adds appeal to the launch.[2]
From an industry editor's perspective, Steam Frame is a enthusiast-grade product aimed at hardcore Steam players. It has excellent standalone VR experience, but its price over $1,000 makes it difficult to compete with cheaper mainstream standalone VR products already on the market. If you have a strong dependence on the Valve ecosystem and have a sufficient budget, it is worth considering; but for most consumers, it is an excellent product but arrived too late.[1][2]