All the things we all know to this point and what we need to see

Regardless of launching over 4 years in the past, the Valve Index stays one of the crucial superior PC VR headsets. In fact, there have been loads of headsets since then, together with cheaper choices just like the Quest 3. The excellent news for Valve is that its followers are usually loyal, as evidenced by the very fact extra SteamVR customers are using the Valve Index over the extra mainstream Meta Quest 3 as not too long ago as August of 2024. The dangerous information is that this hole is shrinking quick as competitors heats up. Along with units just like the Meta Quest 3 we’ve additionally see the discharge of the high-end Imaginative and prescient Professional and there are upcoming units just like the Samsung XR across the nook as properly. When will wee see a Valve Index 2, if ever? Right here’s every little thing we all know concerning the Valve Index 2 from present rumors, in addition to what we’d prefer to see from it.

Let’s not beat across the bush, we actually don’t know for positive if there shall be a brand new Valve Index or not, as the corporate hasn’t actually mentioned a lot a technique or one other as of late. There have been small indicators over time to recommend Valve isn’t carried out with VR, but it surely’s additionally not afraid to shelve or retool initiatives that aren’t work fairly hitting the mark. Something can occur. The VR business continues to be a rising and evolving market with its personal distinctive ebb and movement. We regularly see new merchandise just like the PSVR 2 and Meta Quest 3 spark new curiosity from mainstream customers, just for VR to considerably fade into the background as soon as extra. Rinse and repeat. As we talked about briefly above, the market is once more beginning to warmth up once more and the Valve Index is not the shining business instance it as soon as was, which simply would possibly drive Valve into releasing an Index 2.

Whereas there aren’t any official particulars about Valve’s plans, no less than a number of rumors recommend Valve is engaged on one thing. For starters, a South Korean radio certification for a Valve product known as 1030 surfaced in early 2024. This aligns with Valve’s earlier inside labels for merchandise, because the Steam Deck was listed as 1010, and the unique Valve Index was beforehand listed as 1007. Judging by the numbers, that is extra more likely to be tied to the Steam Deck, however once more we are able to’t say for positive. Extra compelling, Steam knowledge miner Brad Lynch famous the Steam consumer’s September replace included a variety of VR-specific strings associated to batteries, supporting the concept Valve is perhaps engaged on a standalone VR headset.

Would this headset substitute the Index or increase it as a less expensive cell choice? That’s more durable to guess. What we do know is that the Valve Index continues to be thought of one of the crucial highly effective options for VR. This makes it not solely widespread with VR fanatics but additionally with companies adopting VR for causes past leisure. That mentioned, possibly they’ve seen the Quest’s success on the low finish and need to go after a extra mainstream viewers.

Given this early proof, we’d say it’s fairly doubtless an Index 2 will occur, it’s simply a lot more durable to gauge whether or not it is going to find yourself titled as a full successor or simply the launch of a brand new product line. For now, we’ll proceed to discuss with it because the Valve Index 2 on this publish, only for simplicity.

What’s the almost certainly Valve Index 2 launch date?

• Valve Index — June 28, 2019

The unique Valve Index arrived in June of 2019 and is the primary and solely member of the Index household to this point, making it laborious to attract any conclusions on when the Valve Index 2 launch date is perhaps. There have been rumors earlier in the summertime of 2023 claiming an Index 2 launch would occur that yr, however nothing ever got here of it. Now with 2024 coming nearer to an finish, it’s very doubtless we gained’t see something till 2025 or past. It’s additionally potential Valve merely has refocused its efforts on the Steam Deck and different initiatives, and isn’t able to go after VR anytime quickly. Both chance appears simply as doubtless at this level, so all we are able to actually do is wait and see.

What specs and options might the Valve Index 2 have?

To date, the rumors haven’t given us too many particulars, apart from the beforehand talked about code system suggesting it may need its personal battery. It’s additionally laborious to say whether or not this might be a real stand-alone or simply one thing that doesn’t require direct tethering.

There have been a number of latest patents for VR headset designs from Valve in 2023, however patents typically are nearly testing new issues and don’t essentially translate into real-world product adjustments. Nonetheless, it’s price noting essentially the most latest patent render didn’t look a lot completely different from the Valve Index — suggesting Valve is both enjoying its playing cards near its vest, or it isn’t doubtless going to rock the boat an excessive amount of on design.

Past that? If Valve is planning a extra moveable choice, it’s potential it’ll make extra modest adjustments to issues just like the show know-how and field-of-view (FoV) to maintain prices from ballooning an excessive amount of. Valve continues to be top-of-the-line with a 130-degree FoV, so it may not be essential to revolutionize this side. Then once more, if Valve goes all in, it would determine that preserving pricing down isn’t as vital as staying on the bleeding fringe of VR.

We additionally think about Valve would no less than need to match or barely exceed the Quest 3’s 2,064 x 2,208 pixels per eye.

Monitoring and controllers are different areas the place Valve is more likely to need to make enhancements, which we’ll speak about a bit extra in our “What we need to see” part.

What would possibly the Valve Index 2 value be?

The Valve Index wasn’t the most affordable choice when it was first launched, and within the present panorama, the value of the Valve Index 2 might be even increased. For one, the financial system has witnessed a rise within the pricing of VR headsets, as seen with units just like the Meta Quest 2, which elevated by $100 lengthy after its preliminary launch.

Moreover, we should bear in mind Apple and its Imaginative and prescient Professional. The Apple VR headset prices $3,499. Why is that this vital? The Valve Index was one of the crucial highly effective VR headsets at its launch, so it’s potential that the corporate would possibly delve even deeper and ship a dearer headset to higher compete with Apple. If that’s the case, the value might simply vary from $1,200 to $1,600 and nonetheless be thought of a extra inexpensive different. It’s additionally price noting the Samsung XR is predicted to even have high-end specs and pricing.

Taking a step again, let’s not neglect the rumors concerning the subsequent Valve Index VR headset having a battery, which might make it extra moveable. Presently, we don’t know if this implies Valve is planning to compete with the brand new Quest 3 or if it’s extra more likely to align with one thing just like the $1,099 Vive XR Elite. If it’s the previous, we might anticipate Valve to maintain the value round $500 to $750. Whether it is planning a extra high-end standalone product just like the XR Elite, a price ticket of $999 or increased would make numerous sense.

In case you are completely within the Valve Index collection, sure, we’d wait. The Valve Index is presently nearly 5 years previous, so it’s not definitely worth the hefty funding when it’s doubtless in its twilight years. There’s additionally the very fact Samsung has its personal system within the works.

When you’re simply in search of a high-end VR headset and don’t need to anticipate one thing that may not come anytime quickly, the HTC Vive Professional 2 ($1251.99 at Amazon) could be a sensible choice because it’s solely two years previous and may have numerous help left. You would additionally might contemplate the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional ($3499 at Apple), although that’s a a lot steeper funding.

What for those who’re hoping extra for a stand-alone choice? The Meta Quest 3 ($499.99 at Finest Purchase) might be definitely worth the buy for those who don’t need one thing high-end. When you’re holding out hope the Index may have a higher-end stand-alone expertise, we might really wait to see what Valve delivers earlier than contemplating one thing just like the Vive Elite XR.

Valve Index 2: What I need to see

The Valve Index was an excellent headset, however VR know-how has superior within the final four-plus years. Base stations and tethers are not widespread. I actually hope to see Valve ditch these older applied sciences with their subsequent headset. Past that, some small controller enhancements could be good. It’s additionally vital to notice that the Valve Index continues to be one of the crucial widespread headsets for arcade experiences, extra so than HTC Vive in 2024. For instance, I used to be simply at an arcade with my youngsters a number of weeks in the past and Beat Saber was obtainable for a fast play, utilizing the Valve Index. Why deliver this up? A number of these enhancements like wi-fi base stations may not be as vital in a managed arcade or enterprise setting. Nonetheless, it’s vital for the Valve Index 2 to maintain up with present tendencies and evolution in VR know-how.

Most trendy VR headsets have built-in cameras that assist orient the system, eliminating the necessity for base stations within the course of. In distinction, the Valve Index requires you to position base stations round an area to ensure that it to trace the headset.

Whereas base station monitoring is arguably a bit extra correct, built-in digital camera options have come a good distance not too long ago. I’m hoping that the Valve Index 2 makes use of a digital camera answer that’s efficient sufficient to switch base stations altogether.

Valve’s controllers are a number of the greatest round, with nice finger-tracking help and a reasonably snug design. That mentioned, they’re a bit bulkier than different VR controllers and a few buttons may be laborious to succeed in for these with smaller arms. Whereas I don’t need to see Valve dramatically change up its enter units, it might be good to see a number of refinements to make them extra snug for all hand sizes. Higher but, Valve might give us two completely different controller sizes for these with bigger or smaller arms.

I’d prefer to see a tetherless design this time, and presumably two fashions

We now have already talked about the rumored Valve Index 2 battery a number of occasions, and for good purpose. A tetherless, battery-driven design is far simpler to make use of than one thing that has tons of wires operating out of it. I used to journey on my HTC Vive’s wire infrequently and dreamt of the day that cords would go away on VR. We’ve already seen stand-alone designs which can be actually tetherless, however we’re hoping that the rumor is true and Valve goes all-in with the tetherless strategy.

On the similar time, I’m actually hoping that the Valve Index 2 isn’t a watered-down Meta Quest-style system. The Valve Index is likely one of the strongest VR headsets even in the present day, and so I hope to see the Valve Index 2 proceed specializing in the high-end market. In fact, one of the best of each worlds could be to have a high-end Index headset that may nonetheless work stand-alone just like the HTC Vive Elite XR, and a less expensive mannequin that works extra just like the Meta Quest 3.