![]() ![]() ![]() The first-gen Valve Index has a complicated set-up, requiring at least two Base Station devices for head trackingĪnother theory is that the Valve Index 2 will drop the requirement for setting up and plugging in Base Station devices, which are used for head tracking with the original Valve Index, the HTC Vive, and some other older headsets. Will the Valve Index 2 use Base Stations for tracking? However, this is just speculation, and although it seems plausible, and we're really hoping that it's true, Valve is yet to confirm or deny it, so stay tuned for official information as soon as we have it. Will the Valve Index 2 be standalone and wireless?Īs mentioned above, there are speculations that Valve could make the Valve Index 2 standalone, like the Meta Quest 2, which would also give it the ability to work wirelessly, whether while running Android-based VR games, or PC VR games streamed from a computer over the internet. The Quest 2's operating system is based on Android, which is also the most plausible option Valve could go with, if the company decides to make its next headset similarly standalone, and with an option to have PC VR content streamed right to it wirelessly. A built-in battery, storage, and its own operating system, among others. If Valve were to make the Valve Index 2 capable of working wireless, and let's face it – the first Index relies on way too many wires – the headset will need more intricate tech inside. We're hoping that the Valve Index 2 will be a big step forward from the original, as using the Valve Index after the Quest 2 for our recent comparison of the two made it clear just how far ahead Meta's headsets have gone. If Valve is to not move away from the use of Base Stations, its new VR headset would just fall behind the competition in terms of ease of use and general convenience. Note that those are still just rumors and speculations, but plausible ones nonetheless. So we speculate that the Valve Index 2 could be a major step forward from the original, finally dropping the Base Stations and relying on its cameras for tracking. In contrast, the Meta Quest 2, and its upcoming successor, the Quest 3, don't require any special tracking hardware, and can work perfectly well by just using their built-in cameras. While doing our recent Meta Quest 2 vs Valve Index comparison, we concluded that the Index's method of tracking is starting to feel pretty archaic in 2023, requiring plugged-in Base Station devices, which on top of adding to the mess of cables the user has to deal with, even make a high-pitched whining noise. ![]() What we would like to see is a more ergonomic and compact head strap, something more akin to the Quest 2 one, but whether Valve goes simpler or not is still up for speculation, as any official details on the Valve Index 2's design and head strap are yet to be revealed. ![]() The face strap in particular might remain exactly the same as on the first Valve Index, at least judging by the image above, which was taken from a recent Valve patent application file. We don't expect any major redesigns for the Valve Index 2, speculating that the company behind Steam and Half-Life will stick to its sleek, dark look, and most notably – the rigid and intricate face strap. Image from a Valve patent application document, potentially showing a Valve Index 2 With that in mind, whether Valve will also raise the price of its next headset, or will instead aim to make it cheaper, so it can compete with the Quest 3's "around $500" price is anyone's guess right now. The Meta Quest 3, for example, which is one headset that's definitely coming out later this year, has been announced to be getting a $100 price increase over its predecessor. The Valve Index was never the most affordable VR headset out there, at $999 for the full VR kit, and we currently speculate the Valve Index 2 to boast a similar price.Īlthough Valve might stop using some now-archaic accessories, namely the Base Stations, which could theoretically make the headset package cheaper, the market trends may actually call for a potential price increase. Stay tuned for any updates as soon as official news or leaks give us insight on a potential Valve Index 2 release date. The original Valve Index made its debut all the way back in 2019, and with its specs now falling behind more affordable options like the Quest 2, and more importantly, with the Meta Quest 3 now on the horizon, Valve will probably want to release a competitor too later this year. ![]()
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