Valve is already planning a Steam Deck 2, and, throughout an interview about this future gadget, Gabe Newell, the co-founder and president of Valve, stated that some sort of VR functionality might make its strategy to the Steam Deck. Beyond the Steam Deck itself, the expertise powering the hand held console would possibly allow Valve to supply a wi-fi VR headset akin to Meta’s Oculus Quest 2. Back in August of final yr, Greg Coomer, a product designer at Valve, answered a query about whether or not the Steam Deck’s customized APU would possibly seem in a standalone VR headset by saying, “We’re not ready to say anything about it, but it would run well in that environment, with the TDP necessary… it’s very relevant to us and our future plans.”
Nonetheless, the pictures and descriptions appear to level to a attainable wi-fi headset. The total design depicted within the photos appears fairly just like Valve’s present wired VR headset, the Valve Index. However, where the Index is open within the again, the design depicted within the patent software features a rear housing. In regards to this extra element, one of many descriptions reads, “The harness may couple to a rear housing disposed at the back of the HMD. The rear housing may accommodate various computing components of the HMD.” Another part of the doc (PDF) says that attainable parts may embody each a battery and processors.
This similar analyst beforehand discovered proof in SteamVR software program that Valve’s subsequent technology VR headset is presently codenamed “Deckard.” Deckard is the final title of the protagonist within the sci-fi novel, later tailored right into a film, Blade Runner. The title additionally contains “Deck,” doubtlessly indicating that the headset will certainly be powered by the Steam Deck’s customized APU.
Top picture courtesy of Valve