Leaked photos suggest Valve is working on its own VR headset

Leaked images of an alleged Valve VR prototype headset have appeared online.

The images first appeared on imgur yesterday (thanks, Uploadvr.com), but according to the clock on the desktop computer in the background, they were taken in July 2018. The images are completely unverified, but given their complexity, the number of units shown, and the authentic-looking Valve logo printed on the circuit boards, if they're not genuine headsets, they're incredibly detailed fakes.

Study the images closely, and there appears to be built-in headphones and SteamVR sensors, plus two visible cameras which suggest this headset will provide a larger field of view than the Vive. Uploadvr adds the headset padding "is visually similar" to the padding seen on Valve's prototype "Knuckles" controllers, which I can't help but agree with.

Though Valve has talked openly of the VR games it currently has in development, Valve currently partners with HTC's Vive and Vive Pro for VR hardware and there's been no official word that the developer has been working on its own VR tech. Could this be a new Vive headset that simply has yet to receive HTC branding, or something created entirely independently from HTC?

Uploadvr.com says independent sources have confirmed "these are in fact prototypes for an upcoming Valve HMD", adding it'll provide a 135 degree field of view with "Vive Pro resolution".

The source also allegedly confirms the headset may come bundled with 'Knuckles' controllers, as well as a Half-Life VR game...

We've reached out to Valve for comment.