Valve Ends Index Production as XR Hardware Shifts
Valve ends Index production with discounts as Steam Frame orders extend into 2027. XREAL launches brighter AR glasses at the same price, Meta fixes an unprompted recording bug on Ray-Ban glasses, and Character.AI files for bankruptcy. The past week brought clear shifts across XR hardware and related AI platforms. Valve closed the chapter on its long-running Index headset while new AR glasses arrived and privacy issues surfaced on existing smart glasses. AI chatbot platforms also faced major setbacks. Valve Closes the Index Era Valve announced on October 13 that the Index is no longer being produced. Remaining headsets, controllers, and accessories are available at a 20 percent discount while supplies last. The headset alone lists at $399.20 . Existing owners retain full support through Steam and SteamVR. The move follows the September launch of the Steam Frame , whose reservation queue now stretches into 2027. Kernel code published by Valve also contains references ...