Valve has just introduced its new wireless VR headset, the Steam Frame, and it’s set to support Android games.
In an interview with The Verge, Valve shared its goal: they want to make it easy for players. You won’t need to worry about whether a game is native to Steam or Android. You can simply download your titles from Steam and hit play.
The Steam Frame can utilize existing Android APKs, the same ones developers use to adapt mobile games for devices like Meta Quest. To aid this transition, Valve is launching a developer kit program. They’ve stated that even though SteamOS is different from Android, it can run Android apps on its Qualcomm Snapdragon chip without any extra steps.
Jeremy Selan, a Valve engineer, noted that developers familiar with creating games for Meta Quest and Android phones will find it straightforward. They can bring their Android titles to Steam Frame easily.
In addition to the headset, Valve unveiled a new set of hardware, including updated controllers and a next-gen Steam Machine. These will be available in areas where the Steam Deck is already sold, like the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and certain Asian regions like Japan and South Korea. Pricing and release dates are still in the works.
The VR gaming landscape is evolving. According to a report from Statista, the global virtual reality market is expected to grow significantly, reaching around $57 billion by 2027. This seems to indicate a booming interest in immersive gaming experiences.
User reactions on social media have been mixed but largely positive, with many excited about the potential for cross-platform gaming. As VR technology continues to improve, it could change how we interact with games entirely, making this an exciting time for gamers.
