Valve’s intriguing new ‘Roy’ controllers have been spotted within SteamVR driver files, offering a glimpse into their design and input features.
Earlier this month, sharp-eyed dataminers from XR enthusiast Brad Lynch’s Discord group unearthed code references to the Valve ‘Roy’ controllers. According to their findings, the controllers are set to feature bumpers and a D-pad, effectively allowing them to double as gamepads for traditional flat-screen gaming experiences.
Recently, this dedicated team uncovered 3D models of the Roy controllers, cementing the presence of the bumpers and D-pad, and adding thumbsticks, buttons, index triggers, grip triggers, and system buttons into the mix.
The name “Roy” seems to nod to Blade Runner’s infamous antagonist, a clever link considering the headset’s codename, Deckard, relates directly to the film’s protagonist.
Brad Lynch shared on Twitter the evolutionary journey of Valve Deckard’s Roy controllers from initial prototypes to more advanced production stages, marked by tooling enhancements. Pictures shared by Lynch showcase a sleek, ringless design in the latest iteration. However, early prototype models bore rings reminiscent of those associated with the original Oculus Quest controllers, first seen in a 2022 Valve patent.
These developments suggest that Valve is edging closer to unveiling its much-anticipated next headset, years after launching the Index. But what does this mean for Deckard’s capabilities?
The controller’s configuration and a telling job listing from Valve in 2022 hint that Deckard will leverage computer vision tracking through its onboard cameras, which should cut costs and eliminate the need for external base stations. The controller’s bumpers and D-pad layout additionally point to a setup designed for playing flat-screen Steam games in a virtual environment. Furthermore, just last November, Valve indicated that the headset might focus on wirelessly streaming Steam content directly from your PC, a notion previously unearthed by dataminers.
The big question remains: will Deckard be positioned as a high-end option for VR enthusiasts, much like the Index, or will it aim to compete with the more budget-friendly Meta Quest headsets? Given that Valve’s Steam Link app allows Quest users to enjoy wireless SteamVR with little fuss and for no additional cost, leaning towards a premium offering seems plausible. Still, Valve’s release of the Steam Deck demonstrates it isn’t against subsidizing hardware when strategic.
For now, we’ll watch closely as the SteamVR datamining community continues to investigate, hoping to uncover more about what’s on the horizon from Valve.
