this post was submitted on 16 May 2026
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Steam Hardware

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A place to discuss and support all Steam Hardware, including Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and SteamOS in general.

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[–] colourlesspony@pawb.social 47 points 6 days ago (5 children)

I'm hype for the steam frame. I want an index upgrade so bad.

[–] Asafum@lemmy.world 18 points 6 days ago

I never even bought a VR set yet, I've been waiting for an index upgrade forever to finally get into VR.

I just hope the price is low enough that it isn't an absurd purchase, but too high for most scalper assholes.

[–] Canuck@sh.itjust.works 10 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Where would you say the Index has fallen behind, and what about the Frame is better? Isn't the lack of room tracking a big drawback of the Frame vs the Index?

[–] spamspeicher@feddit.org 12 points 6 days ago

For me, wireless is the big selling point. As far as I know room scale tracking is still a thing. In the hands on video from tested.com you can see the host walking around, with the play area displayed at a fixed spot

[–] warm@kbin.earth 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This basically top of the line VR now: https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond-2

The Index has fallen behind a lot and a new model would have been amazing.

[–] lefty7283@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Upgraded to the beyond 2e from my reverb G2 and I absolutely love it! Had to go through a couple different face plates since my eyelashes were touching the lenses, but their support was really good about getting a replacement/new face scan.

Imo the weakest area is the audio strap, especially coming from the G2 which has identical speakers to the index, but in the future I’ll probably look into the project beyondex strap to get the index speakers working with it

[–] colourlesspony@pawb.social 1 points 6 days ago

I want the wireless phovated streaming. I'm hoping I can use it in my backyard to have a huge play space. I also like the idea of using it as a linux "spatial computer". IDK how well that's going to work. I might still use my index for seated VR stuff where any drift would be noticeable.

Same. I sold mine nearly a year ago in anticipation. Can't wait to spend a dumb amount of money on a new toy.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 7 points 6 days ago (2 children)

This is more of a side-grade. I was hoping for an actual Index 2.

[–] balgruuf@nord.pub 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I'm glad it isn't Index 2. The frame seems way more accessible.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, dont get me wrong, its nice to see another device in the inside-out space (to avoid fucking Meta), but I think its going to be too expensive to compete with Meta on the main stage.

But I would also have liked to see a takeover of the high end again, to see Valve push the limits.

[–] balgruuf@nord.pub 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I hope you're underestimating the number of people who want vr but refuse to buy a quest because of meta.

I guess valve will decide what comes next when they have an idea for how the frame does. At least the hype makes it sound like it could sell well.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yea, I see why they have done it, its a good move! But I still want an insane high end headset :D

[–] 123@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

A lot of us are tired of high end BS no one can afford and highly proprietary stuff. Hollow Knight is the best game I've played in a long, long time and it could have been played with my 10+ year old midrange computer vs the updated one which was quieter for sure but didn't feel like much of an upgrade given how unoptimized AAA games are now.

Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise and we might see some actual game engine optimizations that don't expect hardware to keep getting better to perform. Plenty of games that were previously seen as a no go are now targeting the steam deck, which makes them more playable overall in every system.

Edit: my point: more sales = more interest = better optimization = better graphics at a lower entry point.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 1 points 1 day ago

Steam Frame is not going to be the entry point you think it is.

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Depends on what's important to you I guess. My Index is collecting dust, mostly because it's heavy and fiddling with the cables always killed immersion for me.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yea, its a good alternative, albeit more expensive, to Meta's Quest devices. I'll pick one up, but I do want to see Valve target the high-end again and push the VR space like they did with the Index.

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

As long as they do that with a wireless version, I will splurge on that as well, I am sure :D

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

I sure, if/when they do an Index 2 it'll be wireless optional at least. They've already developed the tech for it. I don't see any reason it wouldn't be included with the "no compromises" headset.

[–] warm@kbin.earth 1 points 6 days ago

I thought that is what it was going to be, both tracking options in a next-level headset!

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I'm willing to bet it isn't an Index upgrade. That was an absolute top end VR HMD with no compromises. If you're able to run it, with the space for it, then this isn't going to top it. The resolution is lower, and the tracking is internal (which seems to be fine, but not as good if you can do lighthouses instead).

The only parts that are upgrades, I think, is being able to do things standalone without a connection to a computer, and being wireless (pros and cons).

[–] colourlesspony@pawb.social 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The index's resolution kind of sucks at 1440x1600.The steamframe is better at 2160x2160. The index is kind of potato vision IMO. The really high quality tracking from light houses is all the index has.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

I thought the Index was higher than that.

I had an original Vive though. I've used an Index, and it looks mostly totally fine in comparison. It definitely doesn't suck, but higher is almost always better. Notably though, the Frame will not be pushing this resolution everywhere. It'll only be where you're looking, but that's pretty much fine, if not ideal. Using extra energy and creating more heat to render detail we can't perceive isn't good, especially for something mounted to your face.