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

Valve has been raising eyebrows in the tech world once again with whispers of its standalone XR headset, known by its codename ‘Deckard’. These murmurs have been swirling since 2021, and now, some intriguing details have emerged thanks to tech analyst and VR commentator Brad Lynch, also known as ‘SadlyItsBradley’. According to Lynch, the long-anticipated device seems to be inching its way towards production.

So, what’s the deal with Deckard? Details remain elusive, but the buzz suggests this new gadget from Valve is set to be a standalone headset, potentially capable of wirelessly streaming VR games from a PC. If this holds true, it would pit Deckard directly against heavyweights like Meta Quest and Apple’s Vision Pro in the market.

Lynch, who has a knack for uncovering XR industry secrets, points out that Valve has been bringing in equipment to manufacture VR headset facial interfaces right in the United States. He mentions in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that these components are coming from Teleray Group, the same company behind the gaskets for the Valve Index and HP G2 Omnicept.

Considering the Valve Index is approaching its six-year mark, it seems unlikely that Valve is focusing its efforts on revamping components for an aging device. This suggests that the spotlight is firmly on what comes next in their XR lineup.

A curious twist in the tale is Valve’s choice to produce key parts stateside. Could this move be a strategic effort to navigate around the higher tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, a policy recently reinforced by former President Donald Trump’s administration?

Interestingly, Lynch reports that Valve is using the very facility that once churned out the company’s Lighthouse 2.0 base stations. This facility has been quiet for a couple of years now, but it seems Deckard might just bring it back to life. Lynch speculates this could be an attempt to dodge tariff pressures by manufacturing new components in the US, although he’s skeptical they’d need to prototype future HMD designs on site, given Valve’s likely well-equipped R&D capabilities.

As the rumor mill keeps churning, the chatter around Deckard has been relentless for almost four years. However, these latest hints suggest we might not be too far away from seeing Valve finally lift the curtain on this mysterious device.

Last November, a SteamVR update leak included tantalizing 3D models that showcased a brand-new VR motion controller. Codenamed ‘Roy’, this controller seems to feature a gamepad-style button layout, diverging from the more typical Touch setup commonly seen in VR today. If Valve sticks with this design, it could mean a seamless input experience between Deckard and the Steam Deck.

Fast forward to February, and frequent leaker and data miner ‘Gabe Follower’ added more fuel to the fire. The buzz now is that Valve might roll out Deckard by the end of 2025 with a price tag around $1,200. Curiously, Gabe Follower suggests this is a loss-leading price, surmising that Deckard will run a VR-adapted version of Steam Deck’s SteamOS.

All this suggests Deckard is not just a pipe dream—it’s a tantalizing reality slowly coming into focus.