Fans have been eagerly waiting for the release date and price of the Steam Frame. While Valve has yet to make an official announcement, recent activity suggests that the headset is getting closer to launch. Plus, time is ticking away in the promised summer release window. And now, a new leak claims the device could end up costing much more than many would hope.

The latest information comes from Tyler McVicker. He has accurately leaked several Valve-related details in the past, although his track record is not perfect. As such, take it with a pinch of salt until officially confirmed. Either way, McVicker suggests you will have to pay four figures for the new VR headset, though prices are not expected to surpass $1,500.

Steam Frame is expected to cost less than $1,500

In a recent YouTube video (which has since been removed), McVicker said the Steam Frame will reportedly start at well over $1,100, with the final price expected to remain below $1,500. He previously believed the headset would launch at around $1,100, but now says newer information from his sources points to a “much higher” starting price.

This would be a major change from Valve’s original goal. When the Steam Frame was revealed in late 2025, the company said it wanted to price the headset below the $999 Valve Index. However, rising hardware costs may have forced Valve to increase the price.

There are two major factors responsible for the higher price tag. The first is the ongoing increase in memory and RAM prices, which has already affected the pricing of other hardware. The second is Qualcomm’s recent announcement that it would raise processor prices by a double-digit percentage. Since the Steam Frame uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, those higher component costs may have pushed the final retail price up even further.

That said, while Valve has remained silent about its release date, there are several signs that the launch is getting close. For instance, the Steam Frame recently received FCC certification, an important regulatory step that products typically complete before going on sale.

Valve has also been making several preparations over the past few weeks. The company has assigned Steam Frame compatibility ratings to a growing number of games, introduced a new “Great on Frame” section on Steam to highlight supported titles, and made other backend changes that suggest the software side is nearly ready. McVicker also believes the Steam Frame could launch very soon, with a possible announcement taking place this week.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.