# Valve Index
**Valve Index** is a tethered PC [virtual reality headset](https://www.edgepedia.org/virtual-reality-headset) system developed and sold by [Valve Corporation](https://www.edgepedia.org/valve-corporation), first released in 2019 and officially discontinued in October 2026, when Valve announced it was no longer being produced and discounted remaining stock ahead of its successor, the [Steam Frame](https://www.edgepedia.org/steam-frame).[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/) The system consists of a headset, two "Knuckle" controllers with individual finger tracking, and external SteamVR base stations for tracking.[2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Valve Corporation, running on the SteamVR platform[2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) |
| Display | Dual LCD panels canted at 5 degrees, combined 2880 x 1600 resolution (1440 x 1600 per eye)[3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown) |
| Refresh rate and field of view | 120 Hz, upgradeable to 144 Hz; 130-degree field of view with hardware IPD adjustment[3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown) |
| Launch pricing | Headset $499; full VR Kit with controllers and base stations $999[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/) • [2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) |
| Tracking | Outside-in SteamVR Tracking via base stations ($150 each for 2.0 units, at least two required)[2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) |
| Discontinuation | Valve announced production ended in October 2026; remaining headsets sold at $399.20 while supplies last[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/) |
| Successor | Steam Frame, a standalone headset with inside-out tracking and no base stations[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-steam-frame-review/) |
## History and release
Valve confirmed in March 2019 that it was building its own high-end VR headset called Index, after years of supplying tracking technology and software to other manufacturers such as HTC.[5](https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/valve-is-building-its-own-high-end-vr-headset-called-index/) The headset launched in April 2019 at $499 for the headset alone, with a full package bundling controllers and base stations priced at $999.[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/) At launch, reviewers ranked it at the top of the PC VR field: [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer)'s review called its 1440 x 1600 per-eye display at 120 Hz the best visual experience the reviewer had had in VR to date, and Tom's Hardware described it as offering an excellent visual experience and best-in-class tracking.[6](https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-index-review/) • [7](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/valve-index-vr-headset-controllers%2C6205.html)
## Display and optics
The Index uses two LCD panels canted at 5 degrees, which together deliver a 130-degree field of view, wider than the 110 degrees of the HTC Vive Pro and the displays of the Oculus Rift S of the same era.[3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown) The combined resolution of 2880 x 1600 matches the Vive Pro's, but Valve chose LCD panels with more subpixels than typical pentile OLED displays, producing clearer imagery at the cost of contrast: black levels appear as shades of gray in dark scenes, a trade-off reviewers noted while still preferring the Index's overall visuals.[3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown) • [2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) The refresh rate runs at 80, 90, 120, or 144 Hz, with the 120 Hz default able to bump up to 144 Hz for smoother motion.[7](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/valve-index-vr-headset-controllers%2C6205.html) • [3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown) The headset provides a hardware slider for inter-pupillary distance (IPD, the spacing between the eyes) and an adjustable eye relief knob, which reviewers regarded as more effective than the software-only IPD adjustment of the Rift S.[8](https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/store/valve_index/ValveIndexManual032021.pdf) • [3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown)
## Controllers and tracking
The Index controllers, known for their knuckle-shaped straps, track the movement of every finger, enabling natural grasping, releasing, and throwing gestures in supported applications; they sold for $279 a pair.[9](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-vr-headset) • [2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) Positional tracking uses Valve's outside-in SteamVR "lighthouse" system, in which base stations pinpoint the headset and controllers; 2.0 base stations sold for $150 each and at least two are required, with support for up to four to enlarge the play area and reduce occlusion.[2](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/) Valve's setup guide specifies at least 2 m x 1.5 m (6.5 ft x 5 ft) of free space for room-scale VR, and the headset cable is 5 meters long.[10](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/7f7d-77fb-8caa-4329) • [8](https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/store/valve_index/ValveIndexManual032021.pdf) Reviewers judged the base-station tracking highly accurate, though more complicated to set up than the camera-based inside-out tracking of competing headsets.[9](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-vr-headset) • [3](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown)
## Discontinuation and successor
Valve designer Lawrence Yang indicated in 2025 that the Index was no longer being manufactured, but the first official word came in October 2026, when a Steam news item stated, "Valve Index is no longer being produced," and offered remaining headsets, controllers, and accessories at reduced prices while supplies last.[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/) The headset-only price fell from $499 to $399.20; the $999 full-kit bundle was no longer available, and left controller replacements and replacement tethers were listed at $119.20 and $103.20 respectively, with no right controller replacements listed.[1](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/)
The successor is the Steam Frame, launched in 2026, which replaces the Index's external base stations with inside-out tracking using four monochrome cameras and IR illuminators, and runs SteamOS on the headset itself.[4](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-steam-frame-review/) Valve engineers have said that with the Index the company was focused on making the best VR headset possible at the time and accepted compromises to achieve that goal.[11](https://www.tomshardware.com/virtual-reality/valve-engineers-discuss-the-duality-of-the-steam-frame-and-pricing-valves-newest-vr-headset-pivots-steamos-to-arm) Even after discontinuation, the Index continued to rank highly in headset comparisons: a 2026 TechRadar guide placed it second among PC VR headsets, citing its crisp display, wide field of view, high refresh rate, and finger-tracking controllers.[9](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-vr-headset)
## References
1. [Valve is clearing out its discontinued Index VR headsets if you want a cheap piece of history, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-is-clearing-out-its-discontinued-index-vr-headsets-if-you-want-a-cheap-piece-of-history/)
2. [Valve Index Review: Aiming For PC VR's Sweet Spot And Pulling The Trigger, UploadVR](https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-review/)
3. [Valve Index vs HTC Vive Pro vs Oculus Rift S: the VR headset showdown, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/news/valve-index-vs-htc-vive-pro-vs-oculus-rift-s-the-vr-headset-showdown)
4. [Steam Frame review, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/vr-hardware/valve-steam-frame-review/)
5. [Valve is building its own high-end VR headset called 'Index', TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/29/valve-is-building-its-own-high-end-vr-headset-called-index/)
6. [Valve Index review, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-index-review/)
7. [Valve Index VR Headset and Controllers Review: A New Champion, Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/valve-index-vr-headset-controllers%2C6205.html)
8. [Valve Index Virtual Reality Kit manual (PDF), Valve](https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/store/valve_index/ValveIndexManual032021.pdf)
9. [The best VR headsets in 2026, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-vr-headset)
10. [Valve Index Setup Guide, Steam Support](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/7f7d-77fb-8caa-4329)
11. [Valve engineers discuss the duality of the Steam Frame and pricing, Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/virtual-reality/valve-engineers-discuss-the-duality-of-the-steam-frame-and-pricing-valves-newest-vr-headset-pivots-steamos-to-arm)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Platforms and hardware › Handhelds, mobile, and peripherals › VR and mixed-reality headsets*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license