It seems Valve has been creating a standalone XR headset, codenamed ‘Deckard’, for a while. Now, an business insider has apparently gotten a peek on the headset’s design, calling it “fairly superb,” additional noting it’s probably arriving someday subsequent yr.
Stan Larroque, Founder and CEO of XR {hardware} firm Lynx, confirmed in a current X submit the he’s really seen the design for Valve’s subsequent XR headset.
Larroque additional confirmed that neither him nor his firm Lynx, which launched the Lynx R-1 combined actuality headset, is beneath any sort non-disclosure settlement (NDA).
Larroque tells Highway to VR that Valve Deckard received’t full towards Lynx’s upcoming {hardware}, as they individually “deal with two completely different markets [and] value factors.”
Nonetheless, beating across the bush considerably, Larroque tells us Valve and Lynx “would possibly share suppliers for some elements,” which positively smells like a provide chain leak.
“I’d be equally pissed if Lynx nextgen ID bought leaked so I received’t share extra,” Larroque says in an X submit. “I’m simply excited for good new XR HMDs. The HMD-making world is so small, all of us share the identical suppliers for some elements.”
Moreover, he tells Highway to VR that he’s heard that mass manufacturing and eventual availability is slated for 2026, which differs barely from a earlier report whereby leaker and knowledge miner ‘Gabe Follower’ alleged Deckard would arrive by the top of 2025, priced at $1,200.
Whereas Valve hasn’t confirmed something but, the rumor mill has been drumming up its justifiable share of hypothesis even because the Deckard naming scheme was found by knowledge miners in January 2021.
There have been leaked prototype designs (seen above) from 2022, in addition to leaked 3D fashions hidden in a SteamVR replace late final yr (seen beneath), which appeared to indicate off a brand new VR movement controller, codenamed ‘Roy’.
Then, final month, tech analyst and VR pundit Brad ‘SadlyItsBradley‘ Lynch reported Valve was gearing up manufacturing for the long-awaited system, evidenced by Valve’s current importation of kit to fabricate VR headset facial interfaces contained in the USA.
Lynch alleges the tools in query “is being offered by Teleray Group who additionally manufactured the gaskets for the Valve Index and HP G2 Omnicept.”
Precisely what and when are nonetheless comparatively massive query marks, though it seems Valve is transferring ahead with its standalone XR headset at an opportune time. Supplied Larroque’s provide chain leaks are true, and it’s certainly coming in 2026, a variety of earlier experiences counsel there will likely be some wholesome competitors on the market when it does.
In July 2024, The Info alleged Meta is planning to launch two flagship client headsets someday in 2026, codenamed ‘Pismo Low’ and ‘Pismo Excessive’. Past that, a competitor to Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, tentatively considered ‘Quest Professional 2’, is reported to reach in 2027. In the meantime, we’re ready for any actual shred of proof to come back from Apple of any forthcoming headset.
By then, Samsung’s Venture Moohan ought to be within the wild, which when it launched in late 2025 will run Google’s upcoming Android XR working system. The system is slated to convey the full-fat Android App Retailer to an XR system for the primary time along with XR content material.
Whereas we’d anticipate Valve to skip the flashy keynotes and easily seed builders first with {hardware} in its traditional lowkey method, you by no means know when a random buy hyperlink would possibly simply pop up on Steam, so we’ll be retaining our eyes peeled from now till every time.
