Steam Frame: A New Way to Play Games

Valve has unveiled the Steam Frame, a new VR headset that balances simplicity and complexity. Unlike the Valve Index, it does not feature advanced finger-tracking controllers but instead opts for a conventional gamepad layout. The primary goal of the Steam Frame is to enable users to play a wide variety of VR and non-VR games directly from the device's onboard storage.

ARM-Based Snapdragon Chip: Challenges and Opportunities

The Steam Frame is powered by an ARM-based Snapdragon chip, presenting both challenges and opportunities. One of the main challenges is that Android games are built for ARM hardware, while PC games are typically designed for x86 architecture. To bridge this gap, Valve is integrating FEX, an x86-to-ARM emulator, into SteamOS. This will allow the Steam Frame to run both PC games and Android VR titles.

Expanding the Gaming Horizon

Valve has also announced plans to allow Android VR titles to be published on Steam, opening up new possibilities for gamers. The company is focused on delivering a seamless and accessible gaming experience, with the Steam Frame offering a familiar interface and a broad range of games.

Developer Support and Open Platform

Valve is sending Steam Frame dev kits to game developers to help identify compatibility issues, a strategy similar to the one used before and after the launch of the Steam Deck. The company is intentionally focusing on the core gaming experience and has not made the Steam Frame ready for mixed reality, although it can handle it with the right hardware additions.

The Steam Frame is an open platform, allowing users to load whatever software they want. This aligns with Valve's philosophy of providing an open and accessible gaming experience.