Updated
Updated · The Shortcut · Jul 20
Valve Delays Steam Frame Release to Finish Gamepad Mode for 2D Games
Updated
Updated · The Shortcut · Jul 20

Valve Delays Steam Frame Release to Finish Gamepad Mode for 2D Games

2 articles · Updated · The Shortcut · Jul 20

Summary

  • Valve is still holding back Steam Frame’s launch while it completes “Gamepad Mode,” a feature uncovered in the latest SteamVR beta that supports standard gamepads and non-VR play on the headset.
  • Portal 2 already points to how that mode works: it became Steam Frame’s first certified title as a 2D game rather than a native VR release, and the datamined update suggests the mode has its own user interface.
  • Valve is also expanding the software lineup through its new “Great on Frame” category, adding titles including Ancient Dungeons and Titan Isles, while certifying VR demos such as Aperture Hand Labs and The Lab.
  • Nearly 2 tonnes of headsets and controllers have recently reached Valve’s U.S. warehouse, adding to steady shipments that suggest the company is building inventory ahead of an expected pre-order reveal.

Insights

Is playing flatscreen games on a VR headset the killer app that will make Steam Frame a success?
As the AI boom drives up costs, will Valve's Steam Frame be priced out of the consumer market?
Can an open library compete with rivals' exclusive VR content in the battle for headset dominance?