Recent revelations have sparked excitement within the gaming community, with Valve’s enigmatic ‘Roy’ controllers making headlines. These discoveries emerged from the dedicated SteamVR datamining group led by Brad Lynch on Discord. Early findings indicated that the Roy controllers were set to feature both bumpers and a D-pad, transforming them into effective gamepads for traditional flatscreen gaming experiences.
Intriguingly, recent updates have unveiled 3D models of the Roy controllers, which not only reiterate the presence of bumpers and a D-pad but also showcase additional features. These include thumbsticks, an array of buttons, index triggers, grip triggers, and system buttons. The overall design of Roy seems to nod to the iconic antagonist from Blade Runner, adding an interesting layer, as its codename, Deckard, draws a parallel to the film’s lead character.
In a tweet shared by Brad Lynch, glimpses of the controllers’ evolution from prototype to advanced production stages were shared, sparking discussions in the online gaming community. Although the recent models sport a sleek, ringless design, earlier prototypes featured rings reminiscent of the original Oculus Quest controllers, an aspect initially seen in a 2022 Valve patent.
These developments hint at Valve nearing the release of a new headset, following six years since the Valve Index hit the market. The big question remains: What direction will Deckard take? Public hints and job listings from 2022 suggest Deckard might employ computer vision tracking via onboard cameras, potentially reducing costs and eliminating the need for external base stations. Further clues pointing towards the headset’s capabilities include its likely emphasis on delivering flatscreen Steam games through a virtual display. Last November, Valve alluded to Deckard’s focus on wirelessly streaming experiences from PCs, aligning with previous datamining evidence.
The real debate among enthusiasts now revolves around positioning. Could Deckard be a high-end offering like the Index, targeting dedicated VR enthusiasts, or will it be a competitive entry against Meta’s Quest line? Given that Valve’s Steam Link app already transforms Quest devices into seamless wireless SteamVR headsets at no cost, a premium approach could be plausible. Yet, looking at the Steam Deck, which demonstrates Valve’s potential interest in affordable hardware, the industry is left guessing.
As the scene develops, we’re keeping a keen eye on future datamining insights from this resourceful community, eager to uncover more about Valve’s possible next move in the VR landscape.
