Valve's Deckard VR headset reportedly in production for 2025 launch

Valve appears to be gearing up for a return to the virtual reality market with a new headset codenamed Deckard. According to the Chinese analytics group XR Research Institute, the device has already entered production and is expected to launch by the end of 2025. The initial run is estimated at 400–600 thousand units, a scale that signals serious intent and a confident bet in a segment that often advances in bursts.

Insiders Tyler McVicker and Brad Lynch have confirmed the development, pointing to references to two models—Deckard DV1 and Deckard DV2—in the latest SteamVR update. In Valve’s internal terminology, the DV tag denotes the final testing stage before the retail-ready PV phase. That could mean two distinct versions of the headset or different configurations of a single device, a pragmatic way to fine-tune the offering for a broad audience.

Earlier reports suggested a price around $1,200, though there’s still no official confirmation. Deckard would be Valve’s second push into VR after the Index in 2019. Despite its technical strengths and the bonus of Half-Life: Alyx, the Index never became a mainstream hit: by January 2025, only 13.2% of Steam VR users owned the headset. It’s a sober benchmark that underscores the bar Deckard will need to clear.

It’s also possible the company is preparing standout content to draw players in. An official announcement could arrive in the coming months, which should clarify whether Deckard can shift the balance in VR and help solidify Valve’s position in a fast-moving industry. If the reveal lands soon, momentum may prove as important as raw specs.