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

Recently, the gaming community has been buzzing with excitement after some new 3D models were uncovered in a SteamVR update. These models appear to suggest that Valve is preparing to unveil a brand new VR motion controller, which in turn fuels speculation about the long-anticipated launch of the ‘Deckard’ VR standalone headset. The information comes courtesy of tech analyst and YouTube personality Brad ‘SadlyitsBradley’ Lynch, who revealed that two new controllers were discovered in the latest SteamVR drivers. These include a VR motion controller, intriguingly codenamed ‘Roy,’ alongside a gamepad known as ‘Ibex.’

What’s immediately striking about the Roy controller is its deviation from the typical VR motion controller setup. Instead of the usual two action buttons, Roy has a more familiar gamepad-style configuration. The left controller features a directional pad, while the right sports four action buttons. There are also start, select, and bumper buttons above each trigger. This design choice could be Valve’s move to enhance compatibility with the extensive range of flatscreen games available on Steam, in addition to the platform’s standard VR offerings.

The visual provided above gives us a peek at what these models look like when imported into Blender, the renowned 3D graphics software. However, those hoping to get their hands on the raw files may be disappointed to find that Valve has acted swiftly, patching them out in a recent SteamVR software update.

Lynch, who has a track record of uncovering Valve’s secrets, shared another intriguing detail: every button on the Roy controller is said to have capacitive touch technology, which could play a significant role in creating virtual hand skeletons. There’s also speculation that Deckard’s purported eye-tracking capabilities could be tied into the UI input system.

In the world of VR, many manufacturers have taken cues from the layout of Meta’s Touch controllers since their Oculus Rift debut in 2016. Yet, Valve is known for marching to its own beat. Their Index, also known as the ‘Knuckles’ controllers, encourages ‘hands-off’ interactions with a snug wrist strap and features touch pads that offer seamless UI navigation, potentially emulating controls for older HTC Vive wands.

The whispers about Valve Deckard have been swirling since January 2021, when curious data miners discovered a reference to the standalone VR headset in a Steam update. Rumor has it that Deckard will boast wireless streaming for PC VR, eye-tracking capabilities, and AR passthrough features, possibly positioning it as a formidable competitor to Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.

Adding further mystery to the leak, another controller model, Ibex, has surfaced. Its design seems to echo the control scheme of Valve’s Steam Deck handheld, featuring dual touchpads reminiscent of the Deck’s unique interface.

Currently, those keen to catch a glimpse of Deckard itself will have to wait. For now, it remains a well-guarded secret, with Valve showing no signs of acknowledging its existence publicly. Given Valve’s prompt action in removing the leaked controller models, they may approach future potential leaks with even more caution.

Whether these leaks were part of Valve’s plan or not, it’s no secret that software and supply chain leaks are fairly common. Perhaps the most memorable instance was the leak of the Valve Index six months before its official launch in June 2019, during which the entire exterior design of the VR headset was exposed.

We’ll be keeping a close watch on Valve’s movements in the coming months. The presence of these controller models in the SteamVR software might just hint at another trademark surprise release from Valve—unpredictable as ever!