Since whispers first surfaced in 2021, Valve’s anticipated standalone XR headset, currently under the code name ‘Deckard,’ has fueled plenty of speculation. Now, insights from tech analyst and VR enthusiast Brad Lynch, also known as ‘SadlyItsBradley’, hint that Valve might be moving into production for this much-discussed device.
Though details on Deckard remain scant, rumor has it that this new headset will be a standalone gadget capable of wirelessly streaming PC VR games. If that’s true, it would place it in direct competition with the likes of Meta Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro.
Lynch, no stranger to XR industry leaks, has revealed that Valve has started bringing in “equipment to manufacture VR headset facial interfaces inside the USA.” This information was shared by Lynch via a post on X, where he elaborated that this equipment comes from Teleray Group, the same company that manufactured gaskets for the Valve Index and HP’s G2 Omnicept.
With the Valve Index nearing its sixth year, it seems unlikely that Valve is merely updating features for their older PC VR headset. The logical conclusion points towards the next big thing for Valve’s XR lineup.
The decision by Valve to produce key components in the United States could perhaps be a strategy to avoid the stiff tariffs on Chinese imports, introduced under the administration of then-President Donald Trump.
Continuing with his analysis, Lynch notes that Valve is utilizing a previously idle US facility. This venue was once used to produce Lighthouse 2.0 base stations but has been dormant for almost two years.
Speculation is rife among VR enthusiasts: perhaps this facility will play a role in creating new components as Deckard hits the market, potentially dodging some tariff issues. While some guesswork leans towards Valve developing new VR headset designs right at its US base, Lynch believes the company has long had R&D equipment for such purposes.
The suspense around Deckard has drummed up countless rumors over the past four years. However, with recent reports suggesting that production could soon be underway, we might be nearing an official unveiling.
In November 2024, those keeping an eye out spotted a leak in a SteamVR update showing new 3D models. These models revealed a new VR motion controller, dubbed ‘Roy,’ which interestingly ditched the usual VR controller aesthetics for a more conventional gamepad layout, instead of the familiar Touch setup. If Valve embraces this design direction, Deckard could potentially offer the same input experience as the Steam Deck.
Fast-forward to February: serial leaker and data miner ‘Gabe Follower’ hinted at a late-2025 launch for Deckard, purportedly set at a $1,200 price tag. According to Gabe, Valve plans to sell Deckard at a loss and predicts it will run on a tweaked VR-friendly version of SteamOS, mirroring what we’ve seen in the Steam Deck handheld.
