Valve Developing Essential XR Components, Indicating ‘Deckard’ Standalone May Enter Production Phase

Valve’s mysterious standalone XR headset, known internally as ‘Deckard’, has been fueling speculation since 2021 when early hints about it surfaced. Now, new insights from tech analyst and VR enthusiast Brad Lynch, also known as ‘SadlyItsBradley’, suggest that Valve is ramping up production for this eagerly anticipated gadget.

Although much about Deckard remains shrouded in secrecy, rumors indicate that Valve’s new headset will operate independently while also having the capability to wirelessly stream PC VR games. This places it in direct rivalry with the Meta Quest and the Apple Vision Pro.

Lynch, known for his deep dives into XR industry leaks, recently shared that Valve appears to be importing machinery to create VR headset facial interfaces within the United States. According to a post on X, Lynch mentions that the supplier, Teleray Group, previously worked on gaskets for both the Valve Index and the HP G2 Omnicept.

Given that the Valve Index is approaching six years on the market, it’s unlikely Valve is developing new facial interfaces for it. This suggests the equipment is likely intended for their next foray into the XR space.

There’s also widespread conjecture about Valve’s decision to manufacture key components in the U.S. possibly being a strategic move to dodge the tariffs recently heightened on Chinese imports under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. However, Lynch reveals that Valve is employing a previously utilized U.S. facility that was dedicated to making the company’s Lighthouse 2.0 base stations. This facility has been idle for about two years.

Lynch speculates that Valve might be repurposing this location to produce new components while Deckard is available on the market, potentially as a way to mitigate tariff issues—or perhaps to prototype new HMD gasket designs on-site. Despite these musings, he doubts this is all merely about research and development, given Valve’s established small-scale R&D capabilities.

Deckard has been the subject of rumors for years, and the latest updates seem to solidify that Valve is moving closer to kicking off production. This gives enthusiasts hope that its official unveiling isn’t too far off.

In late 2024, some intriguing leaks came through: 3D models within a SteamVR update revealed a fresh VR motion controller, codenamed ‘Roy’. This device breaks from conventional VR controller layouts by featuring a gamepad-style button configuration, moving away from the popular Touch layout. If Valve proceeds with this design, it could mean Deckard users will enjoy an input experience similar to the Steam Deck.

Earlier this year in February, another leak by ‘Gabe Follower’, a well-known data miner, suggested that Valve might launch Deckard by the end of 2025, with an expected price tag of $1,200. Follower claims this price would be at a loss for Valve and that Deckard will run on an adapted version of SteamOS, as seen in their handheld console, Steam Deck, but tailored for VR.