Getting a Steam Frame is not a normal add-to-cart purchase. Valve is handing out its wireless SteamOS headset through a randomized reservation list, so the only thing you need to do right now is add your name before the window closes. After that, a single shuffle decides your place in line.
Quick answer: Sign in on the official Steam Frame page and join the reservation list for the model you want before September 17 at 10:00 AM Pacific. Signing up early gives you no advantage.
Who can sign up for a Steam Frame reservation
Valve checks each entry against a short set of rules, so meeting all of them matters before you bother joining the list.
- You must be 18 years or older.
- You must live in the US, Canada, UK, EU, or Australia.
- Your Steam account must be in good standing.
- You must have made a Steam purchase before April 27, 2026. A brand-new account will not qualify.
- One sign-up per household.
Valve compares payment methods, shipping addresses, and other account signals to strip out duplicate entries, so a second sign-up from another account at the same address is exactly what the system is built to catch.
How to join the reservation list
The randomization is deliberate. A fixed launch time rewards bots, fast connections, and people who can refresh on cue, which is how scalpers cleared out the Steam Controller. The multi-day window also gives Valve time to confirm sign-ups come from real accounts. It is the same system used for the Steam Machine.
When the cutoff hits in your time zone
The list closes at 10:00 AM Pacific on Thursday, September 17. Australia gets the awkward slot, well after midnight, so plan to sign up the evening before.
| Region | Local cutoff |
|---|---|
| Pacific (US) | 10:00 AM, Thu Sep 17 |
| Eastern (US) | 1:00 PM, Thu Sep 17 |
| UTC | 17:00, Thu Sep 17 |
| London | 6:00 PM, Thu Sep 17 |
| Berlin / Paris | 7:00 PM, Thu Sep 17 |
| Sydney / Brisbane | 3:00 AM, Fri Sep 18 |
Which model to pick before you commit
You choose one model at sign-up, and you cannot change storage after your confirmation email. Both kits include the Steam Frame Controllers, a Wi-Fi 6E adapter for PC streaming, and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx.
| Model | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Frame 256GB Kit | 256GB UFS | $1,059 |
| Steam Frame 1TB Kit | 1TB UFS | $1,299 |
The headset has a microSD card slot, so 256GB is not a hard ceiling. The extra $240 buys internal storage, which mainly matters if you plan to install a lot of standalone games on the headset itself. Since Valve calls the Frame streaming-first, games streamed from your PC stay installed on the PC. If most of your play will be streamed, weigh the 1TB kit against the cost of a large card before you pick.
What the two emails mean and the 72-hour window
After the shuffle on September 17, you will receive one of two emails at the address tied to your Steam account. That email is how you know your sign-up went through.
- Reservation queue: a unit of the model you chose is held in your name. You wait for a second email that unlocks the actual purchase.
- Waitlist: your number came up beyond the units currently set aside. You can still move up if people ahead of you cancel, and Valve says future production runs go to the waitlist in order.
Purchase emails start going out on September 18, in shuffle order. Once you receive yours, you have 72 hours to complete checkout before the reservation moves to the next person. No list touches its waitlist until its own queue is used up, so if someone in another region buys before you, it is because their queue cleared first.
Sort out a charger and accessories before checkout
The Frame does not include a power supply. Valve’s first-party accessories are add-to-cart options only, and only for people who received a purchase email. They are not sold separately right now, so decide what you want before your 72 hours start.
| Accessory | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Power Supply Unit | $29 | 45W USB-C charger, 2.5m cable |
| Ergonomic Accessories Kit | $59 | 2 controller hand straps, 1 top strap, 1 extended light blocker |
| Accessory Replacement Kit | $49 | 1 face gasket, 1 head cushion, 1 standard light blocker |
You may not need the $29 unit at all. A Steam Deck charger works, and so does any USB-C charger rated at 45W or higher. Check what you already own before adding it to the cart.
Buying outside the direct Steam regions
Valve ships directly through Steam to the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia. In Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, the Frame is sold through KOMODO, Valve’s authorized distributor, which lists local pricing and ordering details. South Korea is coming later, with no date confirmed.
That is the whole process. Sign up once, for one model, before Thursday morning Pacific, then watch the inbox linked to your Steam account. The 72-hour purchase window moves fast, so the moment your buy email lands is the moment to act.