Valve stops making Index
Valve has stopped making the Index. Its Steam store page now opens with “Valve Index is no longer being produced”, and the remaining headsets, base stations and spare parts are 20% off while supplies last.
| Item | Was | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Valve Index Headset | $499.00 | $399.20 |
| Valve Index Base Station | $149.00 | $119.20 |
| Replacement Left Controller | $149.00 | $119.20 |
| Replacement Tether | $129.00 | $103.20 |
Valve warns that the items “are sold separately and are not a complete kit”, and that a working Index needs the headset, controllers and base stations. On the US store, the only controller listed is a left-hand replacement. If you don’t already own the rest of the system, this sale doesn’t give you a way to build one.
Nothing changes for current owners
Valve says that if you already own an Index, “nothing changes – it is still supported on Steam and SteamVR,” and Steam Support still handles hardware help. Base stations and tethers are the parts most likely to fail over time, so this sale is mainly a last chance at spares.
The Index launched in 2019, and its finger-tracking “Knuckles” controllers still set the bar, Rock Paper Shotgun notes, with even the Steam Frame’s finger sensors not quite matching their accuracy.
Its successor is the Steam Frame, which RPS says now has a waiting list stretching into 2027 even after a memory-driven price rise.
The Index’s off-ear speakers and adjustable strap were among the comforts that kept it relevant for seven years. Image: Valve, via Steam.
Who should buy, and who should wait
- Buy a spare base station or tether now if you run an Index or another Lighthouse-tracked setup and want it to outlive the remaining stock.
- Buy the headset only if you already have working Index controllers and base stations, and want a backup or a second headset for the same space.
- Wait if you’re new to PC VR. A headset without controllers isn’t a starting point, and the Steam Frame is where Valve’s VR development is going.
The headset is now $100 cheaper than it was on its own in 2019. What Valve has stopped selling is the complete system that made it worth buying.
