Meta faces pressure to win gamers before Steam Frame arrives

Prime Day is approaching and big discounts on the Meta Quest 3 and 3S seem unlikely, but the sale might be one of Meta’s last clear opportunities to persuade more gamers to buy its hardware. The Steam Frame is set to launch this summer, and its arrival will change the competitive landscape.

The Steam Frame does not appear aimed at the same budget as the Quest 3S; some fear it could cost near $1,000, while another estimate places it in the $500–$800 range. Even so, after a recent $100 price increase to the Quest 3, Valve’s offering may not look as starkly expensive by comparison.

If the Frame carries a stronger gaming focus and lands not far above $600, the market could tip in Valve’s favour. Meta’s earlier Metaverse push gave the Quest line a mainstream tilt, but that strategy has largely ended. Gamers now represent one of the remaining hopes for Reality Labs, which has seen layoffs, game studio closures and further staff reductions, alongside talk that focus may shift toward smart glasses instead of VR headsets.

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