Valve has released SteamOS 0.5.7 Beta for Steam Frame, introducing WebXR support for Chromium, improvements to VR pose prediction, changes to foveated sharpening and several controller and audio fixes. The update also brings SteamVR 2.19.1 to the company’s standalone VR headset and removes support for Advanced Supersampling.
The changes were detailed in Valve’s official Steam Frame update announcement. SteamOS 0.5.7 is currently available through the headset’s Beta update channel, meaning users must opt in to install the new features while they remain in testing.
One of the most significant additions is WebXR support for Chromium version 157 and newer. WebXR is a web technology that allows compatible browsers to deliver immersive virtual reality experiences, including interactive 3D environments and browser-based VR applications. The update enables the necessary platform support on Steam Frame, although individual experiences still depend on browser and application compatibility.
The update also improves vibration filtering used for pose prediction, addressing an issue affecting certain Steam Frame units. Pose prediction helps the VR system estimate headset movement when presenting the next frame, making it an important part of responsive virtual reality tracking. Valve has not provided performance measurements or specified how many headsets were affected by the issue.
SteamOS 0.5.7 changes how foveated sharpening interacts with eye tracking. Previously, disabling Eye Tracking also disabled foveated sharpening. The two features now operate independently, with sharpening defaulting to the center of the display when eye tracking is turned off.
This adjustment is relevant to Valve’s broader work on eye-tracking-dependent VR rendering, including the recent foveated rendering update for Half-Life: Alyx. Foveated rendering and sharpening are separate techniques, however, and the SteamOS update specifically changes the behavior of the headset’s sharpening feature.
Valve has also removed Advanced Supersampling support from Steam Frame. The official patch notes do not explain the reason for its removal or announce a replacement. Users who previously relied on the option will no longer find it supported in this beta release.
Alongside these display changes, Steam Frame now includes SteamVR 2.19.1, a version that also brings improvements to Steam Link streaming and Linux VR compatibility. Additional headset changes include a 30-second display-dimming period before sleep and an adjustment to the guided tour that keeps Steam docked directly in front of the user.
Controller compatibility receives several smaller improvements. Valve has added default Steam Frame controller bindings for Chromalab, Batman Arkham and Doom VFR, reducing the need for users to configure their own bindings for these titles. The update also corrects battery reporting so controllers can properly display a 0% charge level.
Audio reliability is another focus. SteamOS 0.5.7 fixes a bug that could cause audio playback through USB or Bluetooth speakers to stop when an application attempted to access the microphone.
New microphone controls also allow users to disable echo cancellation and noise suppression separately. These options require the current Steam Client Beta in addition to the SteamOS update, so installing SteamOS 0.5.7 alone does not necessarily make the controls available.
Steam Frame owners can install the update by opening Settings, selecting System and switching the System Update Channel to Beta. Users who want the new microphone controls must separately enable the Steam Client Beta through Settings > System > Steam Client Update Channel.
Valve has not announced when SteamOS 0.5.7 will move to the stable update channel. Until then, the new WebXR compatibility, sharpening changes, pose prediction improvements and audio fixes remain part of the Steam Frame Beta release.
