Saturday, September 12th 2026
Steam Frame First Look Video Accidentally Leaked by Linus Tech Tips
YouTube juggernaut Linus Media Group's secondary channel, ShortCircuit, accidentally published its Steam Frame first impressions video ahead of Valve's embargo, giving us an early hands-on look at the headset before official coverage. The video, framed as the team's first 30 minutes with the device, was live long enough for people to grab copies, and clips are now circulating widely on social media even though the original upload was taken down. The leaked video still doesn't confirm the Steam Frame's final price, which Valve hasn't announced yet. The video does, however, give a detailed look at Valve's new VR headset, and walks through box contents, setup, fit, and a range test.
On the pricing front, Linus revealed that the Ergonomics Accessories Kit will cost $60 as a separate purchase, covering an extra headset strap and straps for the controllers. The video also confirms the Steam Frame's controllers use replaceable batteries rather than the built-in rechargeable cells found on the Valve Index's controllers. Valve has been inching closer to launch for weeks now, updating Steam backend packages and shipping a stable SteamVR update. An insider previously pointed to September 14 as a possible release date, so we may not have to wait long to see if that holds up.
Source:
ShortCircuit on YouTube
On the pricing front, Linus revealed that the Ergonomics Accessories Kit will cost $60 as a separate purchase, covering an extra headset strap and straps for the controllers. The video also confirms the Steam Frame's controllers use replaceable batteries rather than the built-in rechargeable cells found on the Valve Index's controllers. Valve has been inching closer to launch for weeks now, updating Steam backend packages and shipping a stable SteamVR update. An insider previously pointed to September 14 as a possible release date, so we may not have to wait long to see if that holds up.
31 Comments on Steam Frame First Look Video Accidentally Leaked by Linus Tech Tips
These "leaks" have to be intentional marketing tactics for companies.
Bypassing embargo's is the sort of thing that gets you blacklisted.LTT is not taking that risk for a video they have to take down.
Valve has no history of these type of leaks on purpose, if they did would be via their own channels.
What seems more likely is that someone confused dates worked on bad info and pressed publish.
Don't attribute to stupidity what can be attributed to malice
I'm still amazed how some people have such high view numbers with their contents. LTT is one of those miracles.
As Wendel would say "Woopsie-doodle", but then Linus is a perpetual, walking, talking woopsie-doodle..
WHOOPS.
Yeah that must have sucked,he's wearing braces probably has issues with his teeth.
probably a good thing to see someone famous with braces as loads of kids need them and those tend to be very self conscious.
I mean, 2160×2160 LCD panels were already being used in the original HP Reverb G1, released back in 2019 for $599. A year later, HP even offered an eye-tracking version, the Reverb G2 Omnicept, for $1,249. So, aside from being standalone/wireless and using pancake lenses, there really isn't that much here that feels particularly new.
And honestly, all of that would be fine if the price were somewhere between $600 and $800. But anything significantly above that feels like too much, IMO.
Goertek, for example, showed some incredibly small and lightweight standalone/PC hybrid reference designs at CES 2026, weighing under 200g and featuring decent 90° horizontal FOV optics — which have reportedly improved to around 120° horizontal FOV in recent months. If Valve wants to charge north of $1,000 in 2026 and beyond, I'd expect something along those lines.
Valve will undoubtedly sell every Frame they can manufacture at pretty much any price point, especially if production numbers are limited. But I still can't shake the feeling of disappointment.
It almost feels like Valve started working on Frame back in 2020, kept postponing the release for years, and ended up launching a product that feels borderline obsolete by 2026 standards.
I doubt i am in the market for a heavy strap computer thingy on my head when there are handsfree option which will not put pressure on my head.
i do accept such unwell feelings when the pressure is needed to protect my hearing, but for a gaming headset nope.
i do accept such unwell feelings caused by the pressure for the protection googles so no high speed 140km/h protectile goes through, no chemical splatter goes through, but for such a gaming headset, definitely never ever nope.
Such protective gear saved me some worries over the years, but as a gaming gear, n o p e!