this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2026
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Virtual Reality

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As first spotted by VR analyst and Valve watcher Brad Lynch, Valve appears to be actively working on the backend of Steam Frame’s store page, which now includes evidence the company may be giving away a copy of Half-Life Alyx to anyone who purchases a unit.

Lynch showed off a number of strings containing the following snippets: ‘AccountHardwarePromotions’, ‘HLAlyxPromoButtons’, and ‘Frame Alyx Promo’ among others, suggesting the $60 game will be bundled with Steam Frame as a part of a special promotion.

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[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Ok but when will the Frame release?

[–] grue@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

"I'll tell you, right after we announce Half-Life 3 going into development in 2028." - Gabe

[–] 4Robato@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Pure speculation but the game Gunman Contracts was planned to release the same date as the Frame and while they said they won't now, September 10th seems a good date for the Frame too but we will see hahah

[–] MyOpinion@lemmy.today 1 points 1 week ago

Still unknown!

Was hoping we'd get Alyx 2

Just saying.

[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

I was really hoping they would be giving away something new with it. I already own Alex from the Index I bought.

[–] poVoq@slrpnk.net 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

So they are trying to sweeten a price that will likely come as a shock to many. Not a good sign.

[–] jonathan@piefed.social 28 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It came free with the Index too.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

yeah, it just makes sense to bundle it with any VR headset really, especially valve's own ones. Literally just getting to play it can be the reason many people buy a headset.

[–] lost_faith@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

It comes with the controllers as well, that's how I got it. Still using OG Vive

[–] libewa@feddit.org 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Didn't the Index full set come with HLA as well? Granted, that was 1000€ and a bit…

[–] Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Got it with just the controllers as well. If you upgraded your Vive or something.

So you got it with just about every Index part.

Maybe not the lighthouses.

[–] libewa@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh I don't use an Index. I use the original HTC Vive with the v1 Lighthouses.

[–] lost_faith@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

If you get the Index controllers you will get a copy of Alyx. I use OG Vive as well

[–] fhein@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks to the RAM/SSD shortage, don't expect the Frame to cost less than that ;(

[–] boaratio@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I bought Alyx when it was on sale for cheap, but still don't have a headset I can play it on. And judging by the price of the steam machine, this headset is going to cost a fortune.

[–] plateee@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hi me from last week!

I also was super curious about VR but didn't want to spend a ton of money (I also have really strong prescription glasses and was worried about how I'd handle it).

I ended up buying on ebay a second hand Oculus Quest (2019 version) because they've made progress in de-Meta-ing and unlocking the bootloader.

$200 later, and I've been playing Alyx with some initial struggles, but overall it's been great.

[–] boaratio@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hello again.

When you first said Occulus, I was going to reply that that's a hard nope from me. But then I kept reading and had no idea people were working on unlocking it and getting Meta's crapware out of there. I'll have to take a look - thanks friend!

[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Even before the bootloader was unlocked Quest runs Android, supports sideloading, and can run Steam VR as its interface.

So you were never locked into Meta.

[–] poVoq@slrpnk.net 4 points 1 week ago

It is relatively cheap to buy a second hand HTC Vive or similar and those play Alyx just fine.

[–] WagnasT@piefed.world 3 points 1 week ago

So I could see face hugger crabs come at me in VR? Hurray!

[–] Feyd@programming.dev 3 points 1 week ago

Makes sense. I don't know if I'll get one yet, but half life alyx is probably the first thing I'd play

I wonder what happens if you already own a copy of it like I do. I’d like to gift it to someone else.

[–] Lojcs@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago

So no hl3 :(

[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 2 points 1 week ago

I already have Alyx. Can I get a free copy of Bad Rats instead?