Valve has been doing a good job of keeping its virtual reality plans low-key for a while, but has now launched Steam VR 2.0. Although its release was initially hinted at in 2020, fans are only getting their hands on the Steam VR 2.0 beta more than three years later.
The new update comes with a new dashboard that introduces various new features and improvements such as an updated keyboard with new language support, integration of Steam Chat and Voice Chat, as well as an improved Store that includes both new and popular VR releases.
“We see this as the first big step toward our goal of bringing everything new to the Steam platform to VR,” the company wrote in the announcement. This means that SteamVR 2.0 is mainly an update to the SteamVR’s user interface.
To get access to all the new features, users will have to opt in for the Steam Client and SteamVR Beta which Valve has explained here. SteamVR 2.0 is also said to be improved over time as the company prepares, “For its eventual full public launch”.
What more to come?
“This is just the beginning of SteamVR 2.0’s journey, and we’ll have more to share in the coming weeks and months as we collect feedback and work on the features mentioned above”, Valve added.
For years, there have been speculations about Valve developing a new wireless headset known as Deckard. Lately, there have been rumours that this device might be followed by the launch of a Valve-branded PC VR console.
The release of SteamVR 2.0 remains the company’s most notable VR development since the release of Valve Index in 2019 and Half-Life: Alyx in 2020. This could be a sign to fans that more developments are on the horizon.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
