Steam Frame Price, SKUs, and Accessories: What Costs Extra

Valve offers Steam Frame in two storage sizes, with a separate charger and two accessory kits. Most PC-streaming buyers can start with the smaller kit and a suitable charger they already own. Here is what the September 14 launch prices buy you, and which extras are worth considering.

The two SKUs

The 256GB kit costs $1,059 in the US; the 1TB kit costs $1,299. Both include the headset, tracked controllers, wireless adapter, and Half-Life: Alyx. A power supply is not included. Valve's launch announcement lists these regional prices, including VAT where applicable:

Steam handles the US, Canada, UK, EU, and Australia. KOMODO handles Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with South Korea still coming soon. Use your regional checkout for applicable taxes, shipping, and final pricing.

The listed hardware difference is onboard storage. Storage is also less decisive than the $240 gap suggests, because Frame has a microSD slot. The slot sits in the head strap and takes the same cards as Steam Deck and Steam Machine, up to 2TB. If you are mostly streaming from a PC, the 256GB model is a reasonable starting point; add a card when you need it. If you intend to keep a large standalone library on the headset, the 1TB model saves you managing space.

Redeem Half-Life: Alyx in the headset's settings. Valve allows one redemption per device, with no extra copy for existing owners. The bundle announcement does not establish that Alyx runs standalone on Frame; see our Frame play-mode guide before planning a PC-free setup.

How reservations work

The original signup period closed September 17, 2026, followed by a one-time randomized draw. Orders began September 18. New customers can still join the end of the waitlist in signup order.

Valve's October 9 update sets out the current buying timeline:

• Reservation holders can sign in on the Steam Frame product page to see an estimated order-email window of by December 2026 or in 2027.
• The 2027 group should receive a more detailed order estimate by January 2027. January is not a promised purchase month.
• Waitlists move separately by region, after the corresponding reservation queue clears. The reservation estimates do not give waitlisted customers a purchase date.
• You have 72 hours to complete your purchase after Valve sends the purchase email.

Check the account, age, residency, and household limits in the Limited Drop Program Terms.

An order-email estimate is not a shipment or delivery date. Our Steam Frame status page maintains the official buying timeline and regional details.

What ships in the box

The product listing includes the following hardware:

Steam Frame headset. Valve's published figures distinguish the approximately 185g core module from the approximately 440g complete headset. The rear battery and support hardware are part of the weight you actually wear. See the full specifications for the hardware breakdown.

Left and right Steam Frame Controllers. The headset's cameras track them, so there are no base stations to buy or mount.

Wireless adapter. The 6GHz adapter provides a dedicated streaming link to a PC. You do not need to buy it separately.

Valve's development-unit setup instructions are useful setup context, but are not a final retail packing checklist. Check the supplied retail guide for the glasses spacer, cable, and other small box contents rather than assuming a development kit and a retail kit are identical.

Accessories sold separately

These are US launch prices. Valve's announcement offers the accessories as checkout add-ons for customers with a purchase email. It does not promise separate orders at launch.

USB-C charger, $29

Frame does not include a power brick. Valve sells a 45W USB-C PD power supply with a 2.5m cable for $29.

You do not need Valve's specifically. Its buying guidance says a Steam Deck charger or equivalent works and recommends 45W or higher USB-C charging for continued play. Check the charger's USB-C PD capability and cable, not just a shared multi-port headline wattage. Buy this only if you have nothing suitable on hand.

Battery life is the tighter limit. Club386 got around two hours at most in its testing, and notes that a battery pack or wall power on a long cable can stretch a session.

Ergonomic Accessories Kit, $59

The kit contains:

• Two controller hand straps with matching battery doors
• A headset top strap
• An extended light blocker

Consider the top strap if the default fit leaves too much pressure at the front or back of your head. The hand straps support the controllers when you open your hands. Try the standard fit first if you are unsure whether you need either.

Installing the hand straps means swapping the battery doors. Follow Valve's instructions, and use our first-session comfort guide to check strap balance and lens spacing before buying more parts.

Accessory Replacement Kit, $49

Wear and tear rather than upgrade: one face gasket, one head cushion, and one standard light blocker. This is the kit to consider after heavy use, or if you want spare soft goods for a shared headset.

Coming later: Valve's battery and audio strap

Valve engineers told PC Gamer they are working on a replacement strap with a hot-swappable battery and Index-style off-ear speakers. It is not available at launch, and Valve has not announced a price or date. In a separate interview reported by Club386, Valve described it as something it is looking at, with no specific plans to share yet.

The stock strap holds the battery, microSD slot, and speakers, so a true replacement is more than a comfort pad. If battery life is your main complaint, wait for Valve's details before buying a third-party battery strap.

Controllers: batteries and inputs

Frame's controllers use replaceable AA batteries rather than the Index's built-in rechargeable cells. Valve estimates up to 40 hours per set; we have not measured that runtime. Keep spare cells ready if you want to swap them mid-session.

Valve's controller documentation describes both 6-DOF VR tracking and gamepad-style controls. Those controls support flat games too. A separate gamepad is optional, although individual games may still need layout adjustments. Our controller guide covers the inputs in more detail.

The expansion port and third-party accessories

Frame's front expansion interface supports add-on hardware. Budget for compatible products that exist, rather than hypothetical face- or body-tracking modules.

Valve's compatible-accessory section names two products. The Arcturus Vision Camera costs $149 in the US and adds color passthrough and spatial video capture; the base headset still has monochrome passthrough. Arcturus offers free cancellation before September 20, which overlaps Valve's purchase window, so read our Arcturus buying guide before you order. Zenni sells single-vision prescription inserts for $67.95. Check both vendors for regional pricing.

We have not tested these accessories. Before buying, check that a lens insert, strap, or case fits the retail headset and any other parts you use.

Bottom line

The entry price is $1,059. Add $59 if you want the ergonomic kit and $29 if you need a charger: $1,147 for that 256GB setup, before any additional applicable tax or shipping. Those extras are optional, not an unavoidable hidden $88 charge. Color passthrough is a separate $149 purchase from Arcturus.

The useful saving is what you can skip. Both controllers and the wireless adapter are already included. A suitable Steam Deck charger can cover power. Start there, then buy comfort hardware for a problem you actually have.

Cover image: Valve's Steam Frame Ergonomic Accessories Kit product imagery, used as editorial context.