- 0-20%: Unlikely – Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable – Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible – Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable – Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely – Multiple reliable sources
New Valve hardware, potentially including the highly anticipated Steam Frame VR headset and a new Steam Controller, could be announced as early as Wednesday, November 12, according to online rumors. More critically, the timing suggests this could be accompanied by a reveal for the long-rumored HLX project (Half-Life 3).
The rumor originates from Brad Lynch, a known and highly reliable source for Valve hardware and display leaks. Lynch revealed on Discord, as reported on the Gaming Leaks subreddit, that new hardware announcements are imminent. The announcement for the Steam Frame VR headset is expected to precede pre-orders by a week or two, giving Valve time to explain the device’s technical features properly.
Steam Frame: A Considerable Step Forward
The announcement of the long-rumored new Valve headset, previously codenamed “Deckard,” is likely going to be the focus of this possible set of announcements. If its rumored features are true, the Steam Frame represents a fundamental step up from the Index headset, and a significant change in VR philosophy for the company.
According to leaks, the Steam Frame will introduce “Frames,” which are visual elements like floating windows that give the user a new way to interact with applications, similar in concept to the Apple Vision Pro‘s immersive OS. The “Frames” feature is rumored to be backed up by the specifications below.
| Rumored Technical Specifications (Based on Proof of Concept) |
|---|
| CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650) |
| Display: 2160×2160 @ 120 Hz panel from JDI |
| Features: SLAM tracking, eye tracking |
The New Steam Controller and Capsense Feature
The headset announcement is expected could be accompanied by other hardware reveals, including a new Steam Controller. While an image of the new device hasn’t been shared (Brad Lynch shared an AI-made mockup to protect his source), the controller is said to sport a capsense feature similar to the Index controllers, but without full finger tracking.
This capsense feature will allow the device to detect how far the user’s hands are from the handle, which could have some interesting applications in terms of comfort and immersion. The lack of full finger tracking shouldn’t significantly impact the experience, allowing the company to keep the controller’s price as low as possible.
Half-Life 3 Could be the Steam Frame’s Killer App
Even if you are not interested in Valve’s upcoming hardware, the rumored announcements set for this week carry immense weight due to the potential software reveal.
With the HLX project (rumored to be Half-Life 3) having reportedly recently entered a polishing phase , the announcement of the Steam Frame could be accompanied by the reveal of the next entry in the legendary series. Much like Valve did with the Index and Half-Life: Alyx, the new major hardware launch could be tied to the announcement of a game that many had lost hope it would ever see the light of day. Although datamined information suggests the new entry in the series won’t be a VR-only game, its reveal would transform this hardware launch into Valve’s most significant event since 2019, making this Wednesday essential viewing for any fan of the popular company.
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