Valve has released the CAD files for the Steam Frame, allowing modders the perfect opportunity to get to work on their own creations for the VR headset.
The light blocker—the bit that sits between the bridge of your nose and the headset—is primed for user replacement, as are the head strap, battery housing, facial interface and more. This CAD release includes the lot, along with the core module and controllers.
Valve has confirmed it is working on an upgraded head strap with interchangeable batteries and off-ear speakers for the Steam Frame. That's "coming soon". With this CAD release, perhaps we'll see more options for third parties in future, too.
The docs also detail how to interface with the expansion port, or auxiliary port as Valve calls it. This sits just to the front of the user's nose and is a way for a user to add in powered accessories, ie the Arcturus Vision RGB camera—I've been playing around with that for a couple of weeks and it's a pretty wicked upgrade. With one Gen4 PCIe lane alongside power and camera functionality, all laid out in the docs, there's a bunch more that could be done with the port. I'm just hoping someone runs with it.
With this release, Valve has a full sweep of CAD files available for all of its most recent products. There's the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and now Steam Frame. That's how it should be done, people.
1. Best overall: Steam Frame
2. Best budget: Meta Quest 3S
3. Best standalone: Meta Quest 3
4. Best high-resolution: Pimax Dream Air
