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Valve's long-awaited standalone VR headset, Steam Frame, officially opened pre-orders and began shipping this week at a starting price of £889 ($900+ configurations), roughly ten months after its initial unveiling. Reviews from PC Gamer and Eurogamer describe it as lightweight, comfortable, and strong for PC-to-headset streaming, though with reservations about its standalone experience given the current slow period for PCVR on Steam. Valve executives detailed the device's development, revealing that earlier next-gen headset prototypes built three to four years ago were scrapped for being too big and bulky, prompting a redesign focused on comfort. The company also acknowledged the ongoing memory chip crisis prevented it from hitting its original target price, and teased a forthcoming accessory strap adding Index-like speakers and hot-swappable batteries. Valve says its broader goal with Steam Frame is to expand VR's overall market by making the hardware more accessible and comfortable.