Valve is preparing to return to the virtual reality market.
The Chinese analytical group XR Research Institute reported that Valve's next VR helmet, called Deckard, has entered mass production. According to their estimates, the company will release between 400,000 and 600,000 devices in the first year.
The information was disseminated by UploadVR, and also confirmed by well-known Valve insiders — Tyler McVicker and Brad Lynch (known as SadlyItsBradley). The latter noted that the latest SteamVR update mentions two models at once — Deckard DV1 and Deckard DV2. According to Valve's internal marking, the DV index indicates the final stage of testing before the release of retail versions, which are usually marked as PV.
This may indicate that the company is preparing two devices or, at least, two modifications of the future helmet. Earlier sources reported that Deckard will be released at the end of 2025 with an estimated price of about $1200, but this data has not yet been confirmed.
Deckard will be Valve's second VR device after Index, which was released in June 2019. Index came bundled with Half-Life: Alyx — the first new installment in the cult series in many years.
It is not yet known whether Valve is preparing a new game to support the launch of Deckard, but many analysts believe this is likely. Brad Lynch suggests that the official announcement of the helmet may take place in the near future — this or next month.
