Credit: Steam
Valve has released a new update for the Steam Frame VR headset that significantly improves battery life. With the launch of SteamOS 0.4.3—a version of the system optimized for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC (ARM architecture)—the Steam Frame headset has switched to a more energy-efficient mode, extending battery life by up to 12%.
In addition, the patch adds a new accessibility option for eye tracking, improves wireless streaming stability, and fixes several bugs.
The full list of changes is as follows:
- improved energy efficiency and extended battery life by up to 12% during streaming and local play (actual results depend on frame rate and the content being run)
- added a “Track Dominant Eye Only” option (found under “VR Settings” → “General”), which appears after enabling advanced settings
- fixed an issue where controller button bindings failed to load in certain games, including Google Earth VR and Thumper
- improved focus behavior when interacting with window grab and resize handles
- improved VR streaming reliability, including additional fixes for “Error 17”
- resolved connectivity issues with the wireless adapter experienced by users in certain countries
Updating the headset alone is not enough to resolve “Error 17” during connection; you must also install SteamVR version 2.18.2 or newer on your PC—a version currently available only via the SteamVR beta branch.
As Valve continues to optimize the software stack, further improvements can be expected. The SteamOS version for Steam Frame has not yet reached the 1.0 milestone and is currently running on version 0.4.3. With the release of version 1.0, Valve is expected to perfect the VR headset, and optimization should become virtually flawless.
