Meta's VR domination on Steam show it's time for a new Valve Index

The latest Steam Hardware Survey has provided a boost for Meta and its VR gaming division, as Meta Quest headsets, including the original Oculus Quest, now account for more than 63% of the headsets being used with Steam. This is all while the Valve Index sits at 13.3%, a drop of 3.61% versus last month. Does this mean it's the perfect time for Valve to unveil what it may be working on in virtual reality?

As worrying as the figures may look, they should come as no great surprise. The Meta Quest 3 still reigns as the best VR headset on our buying guide, and previous Meta or Oculus headsets are still proving popular thanks to Steam Link offering a free route to playing PCVR games without needing a supercharged and expensive specialty headset.

The August 2025 Steam Hardware Survey shows a substantial increase in the number of Meta Quest users, with the figure having floated around 55% across May, June, and July. This increased 63% share consists of the Oculus Quest, Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S, and Quest Pro models.

A big reason for this shift is a 6.99% increase in the number of Quest 3 users, which has propelled it into second place behind the Quest 2, and ahead of the Valve Index.

We heard rumblings about a new Valve VR headset when a Valve Index 2 certification leak happened two years ago, but very little has been mentioned, officially or unofficially, since this leak.

It's unlikely that Valve is concerned about Meta closing in on almost two-thirds of the VR market on Steam, especially given that there are so many headsets and a longer legacy contributing to the overall number.

The Valve Index is also at a disadvantage due to the Quest headsets being usable as a standalone product with a built-in marketplace and entire Meta ecosystem. Looking at the market broadly, any Meta Quest headset being used with Steam is still a win for Valve, as there's technically no need for Quest gamers to use another marketplace to play games, yet it's clear that they are.

Despite this, we're keen to see if the Valve Index's recent drop to third place triggers a response from Valve in regards to sharing its future plans for VR, or it could take the same approach as it has with the Steam Deck 2, where seeds are planted but rarely discussed.

If you're keen to know more about what all the fuss is about with Meta's headsets, you can read our Meta Quest 3S review to see how this budget headset still delivers a great experience despite some hardware compromises.

Are you happy to wait for a Valve Index 2 headset, or have you already joined the huge number of Meta Quest owners already on Steam? Let us know over on our community Discord server.