Valve is preparing to announce a new VR hardware device, potentially called 'Steam Frame' or 'Valve Deckard,' with speculation mounting around a reveal scheduled for September 17, coinciding with or just before Meta's annual Connect event.

This upcoming headset is expected to feature wireless capabilities, next-generation controllers codenamed 'Roy,' and may support playing Steam games in VR mode, possibly functioning as a stationary gaming console.

The timing of the leak and influencer teasers strongly suggest Valve's announcement will occur on September 17, aligning with the company's history of unveiling hardware during major tech events.

Influencers such as NathieVR, Habie147, and MRTV have posted cryptic signals hinting at a reveal scheduled for September 17, with some speculation pointing to an announcement on the morning of that day.

Valve's history of surprise reveals and leaks indicates the announcement could come unexpectedly, possibly through a shadow drop, but current evidence favors a reveal on September 17.

Supporting evidence from Valve dataminer Brad Lynch suggests that components of SteamVR have been renamed 'Frames' in the code, bolstering the idea of a new headset.

This development follows rumors of a Valve console codenamed Fremont, supported by patent filings related to gaming controllers, indicating Valve's ongoing efforts in dedicated gaming hardware.

Industry analysts remain skeptical about the success of Valve's new effort, given the limited success of past hardware ventures and the dominance of established players in the market.

The new device could represent Valve's strategic move to create a gaming hardware platform that offers ease of use and minimal setup, similar to traditional consoles.

Valve's previous attempt to enter hardware with Steam Machines faced limited success, but its Steam OS remains in use, and the new device might aim to succeed in a format similar to traditional gaming consoles.

The coordinated timing and activity suggest Valve's announcement might be designed to overshadow or coincide with Meta's event, which is also expected to reveal next-gen Ray-Ban Meta Display specs.

Meanwhile, Microsoft appears to be shifting focus toward developing the Xbox as a reference device in collaboration with partners, which could influence Valve's hardware ambitions.