What you need to know
Valve has ended Index production after seven years, with discounted headsets and accessories available while supplies last. Existing units remain supported on Steam and SteamVR. The move follows the Steam Frame launch, though whether Valve will make another Index-style headset is unknown.
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Valve has officially ended production of the Index VR headset, confirming that no new units will be made. Valve is selling remaining stock of headsets, controllers, and accessories at discounted prices while supplies last.
The Index launched in June 2019, marking a seven-year run for what was widely regarded as one of the best PC VR headsets ever made. Valve’s message on the Index store page reads:
- Read more: Valve’s Steam Frame launches at $1,059, but stock is limited, and waitlists are expected
- Read more: Linus Tech Tips leaks Steam Frame first impressions, and Valve may be working on native Half-Life: Alyx support
- Read more: Only 19,000 people have successfully reserved Valve’s Steam Frame, with many still on the waitlist
Valve Index is no longer being produced. Remaining Index headsets, controllers, and accessories are still available at the new prices below while supplies last. If you already own an Index, nothing changes, it is still supported on Steam and SteamVR.
The headset has dropped from $499 to $399.20, the replacement left controller from $149 to $119.20, and the replacement tether from $129 to $103.20. Valve has removed the full bundle, including base stations, as well as the Knuckles controller bundle, leaving only the individual left controller available.
The timing follows Valve’s launch of the Steam Frame, its new standalone VR headset built around a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 1TB of storage, priced at $1,060. As we recently covered, the Steam Frame reservation queue is already stretching into 2027 for many buyers, giving some sense of the demand Valve is managing.
The two headsets are meaningfully different products. The Index is a tethered PC headset with external Lighthouse tracking, while the Steam Frame is a standalone device with inside-out tracking that also supports PC streaming. Valve engineers have previously said they still see a future for externally tracked VR, and the company continues to use Lighthouse internally.
Can Index owners use their Knuckles controllers and Lighthouse base stations with Steam Frame?
The Index uses external Lighthouse tracking, while Steam Frame uses inside-out tracking. Whether Index owners can use their Knuckles controllers or Lighthouse base stations with Steam Frame is not confirmed.
How does Index Lighthouse tracking compare with Steam Frame inside-out tracking for setup and room-scale play?
The Index is a tethered PC headset with external Lighthouse tracking, while Steam Frame is standalone with inside-out tracking and also supports PC streaming. Valve no longer offers the full Index bundle that included base stations. No setup steps or room-scale tracking comparison are given for the two headsets.
What PC and network requirements does Steam Frame have for streaming VR games?
Steam Frame supports PC streaming, but no minimum PC specifications are specified. No network speed, router, or connection requirements for streaming VR games are given either.
Can Steam Frame run VR games locally without a PC, and what does standalone play support?
Yes. Steam Frame is a standalone VR headset with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 16GB of RAM, onboard storage, and inside-out tracking, so it can be used without a PC. It also supports PC streaming, but the story does not specify which VR games can run locally.
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Whether another Index-style headset follows remains an open question. However, code found in the Steam Frame’s public Linux kernelno, featuring panels at 3552×3840 per eye compared to the current model’s 2160×2160 LCD
