Valve has been the talk of the town since whispers about their standalone XR headset, nicknamed ‘Deckard,’ first surfaced in 2021. Thanks to insights from Brad Lynch, a tech analyst and VR industry insider — known online as ‘SadlyItsBradley’ — it seems Valve is now moving towards the production phase of this eagerly awaited device.
While details about Deckard remain scarce, the word on the street is that Valve’s next big thing will be a standalone headset capable of wirelessly streaming PC VR games. This places it squarely in competition with heavyweights like the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.
Lynch, who has a knack for unearthing XR industry secrets, recently revealed that Valve has been shipping in equipment to manufacture VR headset facial interfaces within the United States. According to an X post from Lynch, the supplier is Teleray Group, known for producing parts for the Valve Index and HP G2 Omnicept.
The Valve Index is approaching its six-year mark, so it’s safe to say the folks at Valve aren’t planning on sprucing up an older model. Instead, this production activity hints at a new venture in the XR field.
Speculation is rife about whether Valve’s decision to manufacture parts in the U.S. is a strategic move to circumvent recent tariff increases on Chinese goods imposed by former President Donald Trump. Interestingly, Lynch mentions that Valve is re-purposing a U.S.-based facility that was previously used for producing their Lighthouse 2.0 base stations, a space that’s been idle for the last two years.
Lynch muses, “They could be looking to leverage that facility for new component manufacturing while Deckard is on the market, potentially sidestepping some tariff headaches. Or maybe they’re setting up for future HMD prototypes right at Valve’s doorstep. Although, they likely already have small-scale R&D gear in place.”
After four years of anticipation filled with leaks and hints, it looks like we might not have to wait much longer for Deckard’s big reveal. Recent developments suggest Valve is poised to kick off production soon.
Back in November 2024, some intriguing 3D models hidden within a SteamVR update emerged, showcasing a new VR motion controller known as ‘Roy.’ It veers away from the typical VR controller design, opting for a gamepad-style button setup, which might indicate Deckard aims for a seamless connection with Steam Deck.
Fast forward to February, and another leak from Gabe Follower, a well-known leaker and data miner, hinted that Deckard could debut by the end of 2025 at a price tag of $1,200. Interestingly, Gabe Follower suggests this price would be sold at a loss, with Deckard running a VR version of the SteamOS found on Steam Deck, Valve’s popular handheld gaming device.
