Valve ends Index VR headset production
Valve discounts its remaining Index VR headsets as production ends
Valve has officially confirmed that it has stopped producing its Index VR headset. The company is no longer producing new Index hardware, and it is selling all remaining headsets and accessories at discounted prices. Although the headset has been discontinued, Valve will still support it on Steam and through SteamVR. This means that existing Valve Index owners have nothing to worry about, at least for now.
While Valve’s Steam Frame could be considered a successor to its Index VR headset, it is a very different product. The Valve Index is a PC-only tethered VR headset with external tracking. In contrast, the Steam Frame is a standalone VR headset that supports PC streaming and works untethered with inside-out tracking. For this reason, the Steam Frame is not seen as a true successor to Valve’s high-end Index VR headset.
Valve’s Index is still a great VR headset. That said, its discontinuation could be seen as the last nail in the coffin for mainstream “tethered” VR headsets with external tracking. Most mainstream VR headsets today use inside-out tracking and can operate as both standalone devices and PC-connected products. Yes, VR headsets from Pico, Pimax, and others exist, but they are far from mainstream devices.
Valve Index is no longer being produced. Remaining Index headsets, controllers, and accessories are still available at the new prices below while supplies last.
If you already own an Index, nothing changes – it is still supported on Steam and SteamVR. If you need help with your hardware, Steam Support is here.
– Valve
(Valve’s remaining Index products are now available at discounted prices)
The VR landscape is changing, but game development remains slow
VR headsets never became mainstream products. The Oculus Rift CV1 was released in 2016, and over a decade later, VR remains a niche interest. On Steam, Valve’s list of most popular VR games is mostly 5+-year-old titles. While there is clearly a market for VR, it isn’t a huge market. There’s a reason why there aren’t many AAA VR games.
Join the discussion on Valve’s Index VR headset on the OC3D Forums.
