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Valve reportedly developing standalone VR headset codenamed ‘Deckard’
According to a recent report by Engadget, Brad Lynch, a YouTube host who reports on virtual reality, has discovered evidence from patent applications and other sources that Valve is currently working on a standalone VR headset codenamed "Deckard." Ars Technica has independently confirmed that the company is developing a device with that codename.
Lynch discovered references to multiple Deckard iterations, including a "proof of concept" in June. Valve is reportedly planning to add the ability to access two SteamVR menu options: prism and standalone system layer. As you might expect, the latter implies that the device can function independently without being connected to a computer.
If you recall, Valve's Index VR headset, which was released in 2019, required a computer to function. Deckard was also mentioned in a SteamVR Linux ARM binary, according to the YouTube host. That evidence points to processing power built into a Valve VR headset, adding to the likelihood that it's a standalone device.
Ars Technica later confirmed with its own sources that much of Lynch's findings are correct and that Valve is working on a second headset prototype. Unlike the company's first VR headset, the Valve Index, which was released in 2019, the new headset has a built-in processor that may allow it to work without being tethered to a PC via a cable. Valve also reportedly wants to be able to track movement without the use of external base stations (also known as "inside-out" tracking).
Reports of a standalone headset seem to be exciting in light of Valve's recent announcement of the Steam Deck handheld console, which runs on a semi-custom AMD processor. The current console is "not optimised" for VR, according to a Valve FAQ, but the company expressed interest in using the processor in a standalone VR headset in an interview.
