“We’re nonetheless engaged on digital actuality.”

Examined’s Norman Chan just lately spoke with two Valve workers concerning the newly introduced Steam Deck OLED system: {hardware} engineer Yazan Aldehayat and product designer Lawrence Yang.

Chan requested how insights from Steam Deck’s growth might be utilized to VR {hardware}, and Yang responded:

“Quite a lot of that. Working with an APU, with the miniaturization of computer systems. We do not have something to announce at present by way of VR apart from we’re nonetheless engaged on VR and we’re nonetheless shifting ahead with that. However similar to the Steam Deck is the results of studying a bunch From the stuff of Steam Controller, Steam Hyperlink, and VR, future merchandise will proceed to be taught from all the things we did with Steam Deck as properly.

Al-Dahiyat added the next:

“Clearly there’s plenty of overlap, and items of know-how that we will reuse. Wi-fi streaming for instance may be very relevant to VR. That has benefited Steam Deck as properly, enhancing the wi-fi streaming expertise. But in addition simply establishing relationships with suppliers Components and Different {Hardware} Companions The Steam Deck crew and the VR crew, we work collectively, so there’s plenty of studying of concepts, elements, and know-how.

In 2022, Valve CEO Gabe Newell additionally hinted that Steam Deck may affect Valve’s upcoming VR {hardware}.

Valve’s lengthy VR hiatus

Valve’s final VR headset, the Valve Index, was launched in 2019, and Half-Life: Alyx the next yr. Since then, nothing large has come from the VR pattern, which might be additionally attributable to the truth that Steam Deck took plenty of Valve’s consideration.

However for a while now, there have been hints that Valve is engaged on a wi-fi VR headset that may both stream content material from a PC or function as a standalone system utilizing an built-in chip just like the Steam Deck. A job publish from late 2022 stated Valve needed to “take the subsequent steps in digital actuality” and “attain tens of millions of consumers world wide,” and just lately launched SteamVR 2.0, a much-needed interface replace for Valve’s PC VR platform.

For a corporation like Valve that has gained plenty of expertise in VR and operates a big VR platform, it is smart that analysis into VR is ongoing in a single type or one other. The query, in fact, is when a brand new VR headset and software program shall be launched. As everyone knows, Valve takes its time.

Of their statements, the employees hinted on the path the upcoming headset may take and confirmed earlier rumors: just like the Steam Deck, it may have an built-in APU that renders PC VR video games as a standalone system, or alternatively stream them from a PC outfitted with a wi-fi resolution. Extremely optimized. A number of valve patents additionally assist this concept.