Here are its features – Metaverse Planet

After a protracted hiatus, Valve has launched its new VR headset. The system, named Steam Body, which might additionally function as a standalone unit, guarantees a complicated VR gaming expertise.

After making a robust return to the {hardware} market with the Steam Deck and its OLED mannequin, Valve is now returning to the digital actuality house with its new headset, Steam Body.

Alongside the VR headset, the corporate additionally launched the brand new Steam Controller and a desktop laptop referred to as the Steam Machine. All three merchandise are set to launch in early 2026, however Valve has not but introduced pricing or particular launch dates. Pre-release kits of the Steam Body have begun delivery to builders.

What does Steam Body supply?

Valve is positioning the absolutely wi-fi Steam Body as a game-streaming-first system. As quickly as you placed on the headset, you’ll be able to immediately leap into video games from a PC or Steam Machine. A particular wi-fi adapter working on the 6 GHz band has been developed for this. The adapter makes use of a dual-radio system to cut back interference: one is devoted to video and audio transmission, the opposite to the Wi-Fi connection.

You don’t have to be linked to a PC to make use of Steam Body. Just like Meta Quest fashions, the system may run video games standalone. The headset includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and as much as 1 TB of UFS storage. It additionally features a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 help. It makes use of SteamOS as its working system.

Valve may also launch a brand new verification system referred to as “Steam Body Verified,” so customers can simply see which video games run standalone on the headset. The system additionally helps Android video games. The objective is to convey video games and experiences developed for Android-based headsets, like Meta Quest, to Steam.

Steam Body is powered by a 21.6 Wh lithium-ion battery. There’s a single USB-C 2.0 port on the again for charging and information switch, supporting 45W quick charging. The battery is situated behind the system’s headband. This eliminates the necessity to carry an exterior battery linked by a cable. This headband might be swapped with a bigger battery model if desired. Regardless of all this, the headset weighs solely 440 grams. The entrance module (optical half) is 185 grams, and the headscarf is 245 grams.

Valve has developed a brand new picture optimization system referred to as Foveated Streaming. This method makes use of information from eye-tracking cameras to use extra element to the realm being checked out. Valve claims this know-how can improve picture high quality and bandwidth effectivity by as much as 10 occasions. This characteristic works on all video games within the Steam library.

The headset options two LCD panels, every with a 2160 x 2160 pixel decision. The panels supply a 144 Hz refresh charge and a 110-degree area of view. The interpupillary distance (IPD) is adjustable between 60 mm–70 mm. Due to the brand new “pancake lens” design, the picture stays sharp to the perimeters.

On the audio aspect, the headset has twin stereo audio system. The audio system are positioned in reverse instructions to cut back vibration, which helps the monitoring system function extra stably.

The system makes use of 4 high-resolution monochrome cameras for each headset and controller monitoring. Moreover, infrared LEDs facilitate monitoring in darkish environments. Video passthrough (monochrome passthrough) help can be accessible.

The Steam Body controllers included with the headset characteristic 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) monitoring and IMU sensors. The controller design is sort of a pair of gamepads: D-pad, analog sticks, ABXY buttons, triggers, and shoulder buttons. Valve has used magnetic analog sticks that help capacitive finger monitoring. Every controller runs for about 40 hours on a single AA battery. It may also be used with the brand new Steam Controller if desired.

Valve beforehand produced the Valve Index headset in 2019 and labored with HTC throughout the early days of the HTC Vive sequence. Nonetheless, these units didn’t attain as large an viewers as Meta’s Quest sequence or Sony’s PlayStation VR platform.

Nonetheless, Valve stands out because the studio that developed Half-Life: Alyx, thought of one of the best recreation in VR historical past. Contemplating the success of SteamOS on the Steam Deck and the will of different producers to make use of this working system on their very own moveable units, the potential for Steam Body to be a severe competitor to Meta Quest appears fairly excessive.

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