Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

Is there any forwards/backwards-compatibility between old and new hardware? For example, using the Valve Index controllers with the Steam Frame and vice-versa.

No

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

While the Base Stations were made for the Valve Index, does the Steam Frame have the same compatibility with them?

No

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

will there be a Base Station 3.0 specifically for Steam Frame

No

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

The "puck" is the new controllers personal charger. Can the puck be used with the Steam Frame controllers?

No

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

can/will there be separate devices be added to the puck to allow it to be a charger for the other hardware?

No

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• Given the battery pack on the Steam Frame is located directly on the back of your head, how much pressure can be applied to it? For example, lying down on solid ground, or in bed on a pillow.

They didn’t specify or really mention this as it isn’t really an intended use case; but given the virtual theater for playing “pancake” games I can see why you’re asking. I’m sure it will probably be fine, however it is a battery and probably will need some airflow around it during use so laying on a pillow probably isn’t going to be a good idea.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• When fully charged, how long does the 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery last without the charger?

As with other battery powered headsets, this will vary quite a lot based on what you’re doing / which game(s) you’re playing on it. If I recall correctly I believe they mentioned around 2 hours would be typical.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• The new Steam Hardware is responsive to one another. What about the old hardware such as the controllers or Valve Index? Is there any forwards/backwards-compatibility between old and new hardware? For example, using the Valve Index controllers with the Steam Frame and vice-versa. Or is old controller just as pairable to the new hardware as the new controller?

No there is no compatibility between Steam Frame and Valve Index. Steam Frame does not use Lighthouse tracking at all and has no compatibility with that tracking system. Steam Frame just uses an optical marker-less inside out tracking system (e.g. a camera based system); Index uses Lighthouse 2.0 which is an IR encoded markered inside out tracking system (e.g. using encoded IR laser based system).

The Steam Frame does have IR emitters but they are to illuminate the area in low light conditions so the cameras will still function.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• While the Base Stations were made for the Valve Index, does the Steam Frame have the same compatibility with them? Will they improve Steam Frames interactivity?

No, see above, they are two completely different tracking methodologies and are not compatible.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• If "no" on the Base Stations, will there be a Base Station 3.0 specifically for Steam Frame? Or will the Steam Frame not require additional motion tracking?

No, there will not be Lighthouse 3.0 for Steam Frame as the Steam Frame does not do tracking using that method. Valve does however have several related patents to what would be considered a “Lighthouse 3.0” tracking system that does not use base stations. It uses a newer photo sensor that can determine the angle at which an encoded IR laser is hitting the sensor at; this allows them to have each tracked device have both IR emitters and photo sensors to allow them to calculate the relative position and orientation of the devices. E.g. each tracked device will track its own position and orientation in relation to the other tracked devices (controllers, HMD, etc.). Then the HMD would be able to also use an optical (camera based) system to determine it’s absolute “global” position.

That type of tracking system would likely be backwards compatible with Lighthouse 2.0 base stations; but this is not the tracking system Valve decided to use for Steam Frame. It is possible that Valve could release a future Steam Frame model (or a higher-end version of Steam Frame) that would use that tracking system.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• The "puck" is the new controllers personal charger. Can the puck be used with the Steam Frame controllers? I noticed the puck uses a USB-C port. Does it come with a USB-C, 45W charger?

No, the Steam Controller 2 charging / wireless puck is only for the Steam Controller 2.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• If "no" to the puck, can/will there be separate devices be added to the puck to allow it to be a charger for the other hardware?

Doubtful.

the battery will not be a supportive structure in the deck

and it should support bt, for other controllers, worst case the older steam controller does support bt, if they do not support steams wireless controller protocol

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• Given the battery pack on the Steam Frame is located directly on the back of your head, how much pressure can be applied to it? For example, lying down on solid ground, or in bed on a pillow.

They didn’t specify or really mention this as it isn’t really an intended use case; but given the virtual theater for playing “pancake” games I can see why you’re asking. I’m sure it will probably be fine, however it is a battery and probably will need some airflow around it during use so laying on a pillow probably isn’t going to be a good idea.

I imagine that while VR is more for full-body able gamers, it still appeals to those with immobile conditions such as wheelchair or bedridden where VR could be an outlet for them. But if it's impractical for in-bed play, that would be a bit of an issue.

Not that I'm bedridden, just curious of the extent of physical use the headset can allow.

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• When fully charged, how long does the 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery last without the charger?

As with other battery powered headsets, this will vary quite a lot based on what you’re doing / which game(s) you’re playing on it. If I recall correctly I believe they mentioned around 2 hours would be typical.

I see, so for extended plays, best to leave it plugged into it's charger. Not that's an issue for me. It just wasn't specified on the specs page.

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• The new Steam Hardware is responsive to one another. What about the old hardware such as the controllers or Valve Index? Is there any forwards/backwards-compatibility between old and new hardware? For example, using the Valve Index controllers with the Steam Frame and vice-versa. Or is old controller just as pairable to the new hardware as the new controller?

No there is no compatibility between Steam Frame and Valve Index. Steam Frame does not use Lighthouse tracking at all and has no compatibility with that tracking system. Steam Frame just uses an optical marker-less inside out tracking system (e.g. a camera based system); Index uses Lighthouse 2.0 which is an IR encoded markered inside out tracking system (e.g. using encoded IR laser based system).

The Steam Frame does have IR emitters but they are to illuminate the area in low light conditions so the cameras will still function.

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• While the Base Stations were made for the Valve Index, does the Steam Frame have the same compatibility with them? Will they improve Steam Frames interactivity?

No, see above, they are two completely different tracking methodologies and are not compatible.

I see. I didn't know the Index and Frame were that different.
I've been curious if VALVe has had any plans with their old tech to go along with the new tech, or if the old can help the new at all.

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• If "no" on the Base Stations, will there be a Base Station 3.0 specifically for Steam Frame? Or will the Steam Frame not require additional motion tracking?

No, there will not be Lighthouse 3.0 for Steam Frame as the Steam Frame does not do tracking using that method. Valve does however have several related patents to what would be considered a “Lighthouse 3.0” tracking system that does not use base stations. It uses a newer photo sensor that can determine the angle at which an encoded IR laser is hitting the sensor at; this allows them to have each tracked device have both IR emitters and photo sensors to allow them to calculate the relative position and orientation of the devices. E.g. each tracked device will track its own position and orientation in relation to the other tracked devices (controllers, HMD, etc.). Then the HMD would be able to also use an optical (camera based) system to determine it’s absolute “global” position.

That type of tracking system would likely be backwards compatible with Lighthouse 2.0 base stations; but this is not the tracking system Valve decided to use for Steam Frame. It is possible that Valve could release a future Steam Frame model (or a higher-end version of Steam Frame) that would use that tracking system.

Well, it took ten years for them to release brand-new VR headset over the updating the old one. I think they would've made Steam Frame to last as they expected with the Index.

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• The "puck" is the new controllers personal charger. Can the puck be used with the Steam Frame controllers? I noticed the puck uses a USB-C port. Does it come with a USB-C, 45W charger?

No, the Steam Controller 2 charging / wireless puck is only for the Steam Controller 2.

I see. But the puck does look like it uses a USB-C cable, so the charger itself could potentially be used with the Steam Frame, though I guess if the Steam Frame itself comes with a USB-C, 45W charger it would not need the puck's charger.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

• If "no" to the puck, can/will there be separate devices be added to the puck to allow it to be a charger for the other hardware?

Doubtful. [/quote]I guess so. While I have rechargeable lithium batteries, it would be nice to use the puck to charge the Steam Frame controllers while playing with the Steam controller itself.

Originally posted by _I_:

the battery will not be a supportive structure in the deck

and it should support bt, for other controllers, worst case the older steam controller does support bt, if they do not support steams wireless controller protocol

the Steam Deck is the oldest of the "new hardware", so old hardware may had been in mind for it at the time.

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

No, there will not be Lighthouse 3.0 for Steam Frame as the Steam Frame does not do tracking using that method. Valve does however have several related patents to what would be considered a “Lighthouse 3.0” tracking system that does not use base stations. It uses a newer photo sensor that can determine the angle at which an encoded IR laser is hitting the sensor at; this allows them to have each tracked device have both IR emitters and photo sensors to allow them to calculate the relative position and orientation of the devices. E.g. each tracked device will track its own position and orientation in relation to the other tracked devices (controllers, HMD, etc.). Then the HMD would be able to also use an optical (camera based) system to determine it’s absolute “global” position.

That type of tracking system would likely be backwards compatible with Lighthouse 2.0 base stations; but this is not the tracking system Valve decided to use for Steam Frame. It is possible that Valve could release a future Steam Frame model (or a higher-end version of Steam Frame) that would use that tracking system.

Well, it took ten years for them to release brand-new VR headset over the updating the old one. I think they would've made Steam Frame to last as they expected with the Index.
…

Valve making Steam Frame to last doesn’t preclude them releasing a higher-end model that has more premium features, such as better displays and/or a Lighthouse 3.0 tracking system. Just like they initially launched Steam Deck and then launched Steam Deck OLED models.