Leaked Valve VR Controllers Spark Renewed Optimism for Next-Gen ‘Deckard’ Headset

In a surprise twist, a recent SteamVR update has unveiled 3D models suggesting Valve might soon introduce a new VR motion controller. This discovery has rekindled excitement about the long-awaited ‘Deckard’ VR standalone headset rumored to be in the works by Valve.

Tech analyst and YouTuber, Brad ‘SadlyitsBradley’ Lynch, broke the news, uncovering two new controllers nestled within the latest SteamVR drivers. These include a VR motion controller dubbed ‘Roy’ and a gamepad codenamed ‘Ibex.’

Venturing away from the norm, the Roy controller reveals a more classic gamepad-style design. Instead of the usual two action buttons per VR controller, it features a directional pad on the left, four action buttons on the right, along with start, select, and bumper buttons above each trigger. This setup suggests a potential for seamless compatibility with Steam’s vast catalog of flatscreen games, enhancing the Deckard’s appeal beyond traditional VR experiences.

The image, when imported into Blender, demonstrates the leaked models. However, if you’re hoping to snag these files now, it seems Valve has since removed them in a swift SteamVR software hotfix.

A veteran in analyzing Valve leaks, Lynch elaborates that the files indicated each button on the Roy controller includes capacitive touch, a feature likely intended to assist in creating hand skeletons. He speculates some of the user interface inputs might leverage Deckard’s anticipated eye-tracking technology.

Since 2016, many VR headset makers have adopted designs similar to Meta’s Touch controllers, initially introduced with the Oculus Rift. But Valve often charts its own course. Their Index (or ‘Knuckles’) controllers, for instance, allow users to interact without holding onto the device, thanks to an adjustable wrist strap and touchpads, which also provide game input emulation for older HTC Vive wand controllers.

Deckard first stirred interest in January 2021 when a Steam update contained a mysterious reference to the standalone VR system. Rumors abound that Deckard could feature wireless PC VR streaming, eye-tracking, and passthrough AR, putting it in competition with devices like Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.

The leak also included another controller model, similar in style to Valve’s Steam Deck, labeled ‘Ibex.’ Below is a thumbnail render showing Ibex’s key feature: the dual touchpads akin to the Steam Deck.

There’s still anticipation among data miners for a glimpse of Deckard itself, though Valve has kept details tightly secured. The swift removal of the controller models might indicate their cautious approach to potential leaks, recollecting how the Valve Index was leaked six months before its official 2019 release.

Regardless of whether these leaks were deliberate, software and supply chain breaches happen frequently, as evidenced by the premature reveal of the Valve Index. We’ll keep a close watch on Valve, as this development might hint at another sudden product announcement, staying true to the company’s often unpredictable nature.