Leaked Valve VR Controllers Spark Renewed Optimism for Next-Gen ‘Deckard’ VR Headset

Recently, a fresh buzz has emerged in the VR community as new 3D models uncovered in a SteamVR update hint at a potential Valve VR motion controller. This speculation has reignited hopes surrounding the anticipated ‘Deckard’ standalone VR headset by Valve.

Renowned tech analyst and YouTuber Brad ‘SadlyitsBradley’ Lynch brought attention to the leaked information. The SteamVR drivers unveiled two new controllers: a VR motion controller, dubbed ‘Roy,’ and a gamepad called ‘Ibex.’

Standing apart from traditional VR controllers that usually have two action buttons per device, the Roy controller opts for a classic gamepad design. It features a directional pad on the left, four action buttons on the right, start and select buttons, plus bumper buttons above the trigger on each side.

The images of these controllers, when imported into Blender—a 3D graphics software—display Valve’s shift towards a setup that might offer seamless compatibility with Steam’s extensive library of games, encompassing both VR and traditional flat-screen titles. However, Valve has since removed these files in a recent hotfix of the SteamVR software.

Lynch, who has chronicled a number of Valve developments, notes that every button on the Roy controller is likely to include capacitive touch, designed to support hand skeleton tracking. He also speculates that some user interface interactions might be based on Deckard’s rumored eye-tracking feature.

In the world of VR, many headset manufacturers have modeled their controllers after Meta’s innovative Touch controllers since their 2016 debut with the Oculus Rift. But Valve has always marched to the beat of its own drum. Known for their ‘hands-free’ interaction capabilities, Valve’s Index—or ‘Knuckles’—controllers come equipped with comfort-focused wrist straps and touchpads, which can simulate input for older devices like the HTC Vive wands.

The idea of the Valve Deckard has been circulating ever since data miners found clues in a Steam update back in January 2021. Rumors persist about Deckard’s potential features, such as wireless PC VR streaming, eye-tracking, and passthrough augmented reality, setting it up as a possible rival to the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.

Besides the Roy, another controller design surfaced—mirroring the control scheme of Valve’s popular Steam Deck handheld, identified as Ibex. The leaked render shows off Ibex’s signature dual touchpads, reminding us of the Deck’s control aesthetic.

Despite the excitement, data miners are still eagerly waiting to uncover more about Deckard itself, which Valve has kept tightly under wraps. Their quick action to remove the controller files indicates that Valve might exercise caution against further leaks.

Intentional or not, leaks are commonplace in the tech world. A significant instance was the Valve Index’s early reveal, which showcased the headset six months before its official launch in June 2019.

As we continue to anticipate more news from Valve, these emerging controller models in SteamVR could signal another surprise release—a hallmark move by the company. Keep an eye on the unfolding story, which promises to be quite the adventure in the months ahead.