Valve Developing Essential XR Components, Indicating ‘Deckard’ Standalone is Advancing Toward Production

Since 2021, whispers of Valve’s standalone XR headset, known as ‘Deckard’, have been circulating, and it seems like those murmurs are finally turning into something more concrete. Reports from VR expert Brad Lynch, or ‘SadlyItsBradley’ as he’s often called, suggest that Valve is ramping up production for this much-anticipated device.

Details about Deckard remain sparse, but word on the street is that Valve’s latest project is gearing up to be a standalone headset, capable of wirelessly streaming PC VR games. This would put it in direct competition with the likes of Meta Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro.

Lynch, who frequently shares insights from the XR industry, recently noted that Valve has been bringing in equipment to produce VR headset facial interfaces in the US. “The gear is coming from Teleray Group, the same folks behind the gaskets for the Valve Index and HP G2 Omnicept,” Lynch shared in a recent social media update.

With the Valve Index now nearly six years old, it’s not likely the company is focusing on new facial interfaces for it. Instead, the buzz is all about this new XR endeavor.

There’s some speculation about why Valve might be choosing to manufacture key elements domestically. It could be a strategic move to avoid the tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by former President Donald Trump.

Lynch mentions that Valve is using the same US facility that was once home to the manufacturing of the company’s Lighthouse 2.0 base stations, a site they left idle about two years back. “Perhaps they want to utilize this facility for Deckard components to sidestep some tariff issues or maybe for prototyping future headset designs right at Valve HQ. But I’d bet they already have all the small-scale R&D setups they need,” Lynch mused.

Deckard has been stirring up the rumor mill for nearly four years, with a wealth of leaks and reports. However, the latest updates hint that production is indeed underway, suggesting that we might not be far from seeing an official reveal.

Back in November 2024, an interesting addition surfaced—3D models hidden within a SteamVR update showcased a new motion controller, nicknamed ‘Roy’. This deviates from the typical VR controller designs, opting instead for a traditional gamepad-style layout. If Valve sticks with this design, it might mean Deckard users can expect a seamless input experience akin to that of the Steam Deck.

Fast forward to February, where another regular leaker ‘Gabe Follower’ hinted that Valve might release Deckard by the end of 2025, pricing it at $1,200. Gabe claims that despite this hefty price, Deckard would be sold at a loss, further noting it will run on an adapted version of SteamOS, familiar to those who use the Steam Deck.