Steam gets a new “Great on Frame” section ahead of the headset launch

Valve's next major hardware release is shaping up to be the Steam Frame, a standalone VR headset capable of running games locally or wirelessly streaming more demanding titles from a gaming PC. Ahead of its launch, Valve has quietly added a new "Great on Frame" page to Steam, first spotted by Brad Lynch, highlighting games that are optimized for the upcoming headset.

For now, the list is rather short, featuring just four titles: Portal 2, Into Black, Aperture Hand Lab, and The Lab. Two of those are Valve's own VR tech demos, while Portal 2 stands out as a traditional flatscreen game rather than a VR title. It's a small selection, but it's almost certainly just the beginning, with more supported games expected to appear over time.

The "Great on Frame" badge shouldn't be confused with a list of every compatible game. Much like the Steam Deck, the Steam Frame is designed to run a far wider library than what's officially highlighted. The headset can install and play many standard PC games directly on its built-in hardware, displaying them on a large virtual screen inside the headset. On top of that, many VR titles optimized for its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor will also run natively.

For players who want even more performance, the Steam Frame also supports wireless PC VR streaming, allowing demanding games to run on a gaming PC while the headset handles the display. Valve is even offering a dedicated wireless adapter to provide a stable, low-latency connection, aiming to deliver a smoother experience than relying on a standard home Wi-Fi network.

Beyond performance, Valve is making some user-friendly hardware choices. One standout feature is microSD storage expansion, something Meta still doesn't offer on its Quest headsets. For anyone who likes keeping a large game library installed without paying a premium for higher-capacity models, that's a welcome addition.

The biggest remaining question, however, is price. Valve hasn't announced how much the Steam Frame will cost, but recent hardware launches suggest it may not come cheap. The Steam Machine, which launched last month, started at $1,050 (1,039€ / £879), with Valve citing ongoing RAM and storage shortages as a major reason for the unusually high price. Hopefully the Steam Frame avoids the same level of sticker shock - but given today's hardware market, it wouldn't be surprising if this ends up being another premium-priced piece of Valve hardware.

As always, for the latest news on VR headsets, Steam hardware, Valve announcements, and developments across the PC gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.