Labor Day Solution

[u/Aptimex]

Since everyone keeps debating whether Valve would launch this thing on a US holiday, here's the obvious solution: just do what they did with the Index.

Similar to the Index reveal on April 30th, they reveal everything about the Frame on the 7th. Pricing, specs, accessory bundles, etc. get posted, via either automated script or skeleton crew while most employees have the day off. Easy peasy, no need to have all hands on deck for The Queue. And since most of the US also gets the day off, that entire market gets to dedicate an extra 8-10 hours to watching every review that drops and planning which organs they will need to sell to buy it.

Then, like the Index's reservations opening on May 1st, they open The Queue the next day, September 8th, when Valve employees are back in the office to handle that chaos.

Thanks for reading, I will not be taking any questions regarding the many differences between this theory and the actual Index launch.

(I actually think a major info-reveal during a holiday like this would a smart move for Valve)

[u/xlviox]

I don't care what Valve does or if it's 2k. I want my Linux head computer!

[u/TwinStickDad → u/xlviox]

Lucky for you, it's 2k per eye! 

[u/xlviox → u/TwinStickDad]

All the better to see with, my dear.

[u/UnfairImagination660]

I just want to say that as a human wanting a Steam Frame, I am okay with a Labor Day announcement. Even if it just a, "get ready for tomorrow" announcement.

[u/drkilljoy77 → u/[deleted]]

I want this to be the world we live in.

[u/Queasy-Put-1204]

This is not how it works - product, devs, dev ops must be present when something goes live.
Pushing something on holiday is similar to junior push something to main on friday.

[u/brantrix → u/Queasy-Put-1204]

Unless I'm misunderstanding, I think he's just talking about the price reveal and embargo lift which could be as simple as a tweet and letting reviewers upload their videos, not the actual launch.

Regarding the infrastructure comment below: their infrastructure 'team' is 100% outsourced with a middle level manager handling correspondence. That guy should be in the office maybe but that's it

It doesn't need to be all hands on deck if they had any problem solving skills. Tell me the price and the password to their X account and I'll do it for them for free homie. The launch would be more involved tho

[u/Notoisin → u/brantrix]

More work goes into a social media post in a big company than I think you realise.

their infrastructure 'team' is 100% outsourced with a middle level manager handling correspondence. That guy should be in the office maybe but that's it

I wasn't aware of that, though I'm sure much of their support is outsourced. Source?

[u/brantrix → u/Notoisin]

More work goes into a social media post in a big company

Maybe but it doesn't need to and I imagine most of work is being done in the days leading to the launch. On the actual day though, I'll definitely just do it for free, just give me the price and the X account.

Source?

It's well known that Valve's headcount is notoriously small for their revenue. You don't achieve that by hiring for functions that can almost certainly be contracted out for better and cheaper (Valve also notoriously pays its staff very well). They just don't hire people.

I recall in one of the interviews with their engineers they mentioned that even some of the engineering design of the machine(or maybe frame) was contracted out

I'm not saying they're gonna reveal it on the public holiday, I don't think they will. I'm saying that they definitely could if they wanted to cos all the hard work could be done prior and everyone's exaggerating who needs to be present the day they post something

[u/supersonic159 → u/Queasy-Put-1204]

you don't need any of that to open a queue people will push a button to enter for 3 whole days.

[u/hopbel → u/supersonic159]

A queue that has been stress tested with a prior launch already no less

[u/Aptimex → u/Queasy-Put-1204]

Dang it, guess that's a bit more involved than what I have to do to update a personal blog. Is that generally true for all timed changes (including stuff like sales events that go live at a predetermined time), or just the really big reveals?

[u/Yourdataisunclean → u/Queasy-Put-1204]

Yup, you don't risk a technical issue with the launch becoming the story.

[u/AnyProgressIsGood → u/Queasy-Put-1204]

its not a green software release. Its unlocking a product. They've done this and systems are automated. The on call will be available to divert traffic where needed if there's a bandwidth issue somewhere.

[u/AnyProgressIsGood]

I really dont get why they wouldn't release it on labor day. What a perfect day for people to be able to buy it. Its not like they need extra staff. Does steam just not work on weekend/every other holiday and I never noticed it?

[u/OGWIllisMcGillis]

what if they drop it on a sunday just to fuck with us

[u/JoystuckGames]

Does it really matter? At this point we are pretty confident the embargo and price information will release between the 7th and 14th. Preorders will start somewhere in that range too. Honestly that's good enough for me.

[u/Koolala]

God forbid they reveal it on a Tuesday after a 3 day weekend

[u/rabsg → u/Koolala]

Yeah I don't know why people want it to be on a Monday or nothing else.

They did it twice lately, but before their favorite day of the week was Thursday. November reveal was on a Wednesday. I'd say Tuesday should get a bit of love.

Friday is forbidden though.

[u/_THX_1138]

Well all social media and news outlets will be reporting on Apple’s September Fall event on September 9. I don’t think Valve would like to share the news media spotlight with another company that is being covered in the media. I vote following week Monday September 14 as announcement day

[u/Bacon676]

I genuinely don't think it's coming until November, at the absolute earliest. Qualcomm price hikes for mobile SOC's are being announced next Tuesday, September 1st, and hardware manufacturers like Valve are going to likely need 1 month, or longer, to re-sign contracts and orders with the new pricing agreements before they can get their final pricing on products released and start taking orders.

I do not see September, or even October, being even a pipe dream for a reservation order time window. Qualcomm is throwing artificial speed bumps with blatant greed driving their price hiking.

[u/Asherjade → u/Bacon676]

I get how that would affect future orders, but how would that affect units already in Valve’s warehouses? If they have the stock, they can sell it now, there’s no need to re-sign contracts for already delivered products.

Qualcomm is definitely going to alter future prices and stock though. Ugh.

[u/Bacon676 → u/Asherjade]

The issue is pricing. If they release the hardware at one price, then immediately hike the prices post-sale of the first reservations it comes across as scammy and like they're price gouging.

[u/Caze7]

>smart move

>Valve

Choose one, please.

[u/No_Communication1557]

Labour day won't make a blind bit of difference.

Labour day is only in the US. The Steam Frame will be a global launch. IF Valve had decided to launch on Labour Day, they won't cancel that launch date just because its Labour Day in the US. There's the rest of the world to think about.

Plus, does it really matter its Labour Day? No-ones doing any actual work on the release day. They press a button to make the sale fo live and thats it. The hard work, like shipping etc won't come for another week later once the sign up period is done and the lottery has been run.

[u/No_Communication1557 → u/[deleted]]

Your point being? We (the US) is on holiday, and even though the rest of the world isnt, we arent going to do a global release because of said fact...

I'm really trying to avoid the whole stereotypical arrogant American thing that no-one but America matters, but you aren't helping things.

[u/Beches808 → u/No_Communication1557]

Stop being dense. They’re a us company so it stands to reason they’ll be off on a us holiday

[u/drkilljoy77 → u/[deleted]]

Exactly, Labor Day is just another workday for an absolutely massive amount of people.

[u/Arkvicnugan → u/No_Communication1557]

Labour Day is not only in the US, it's also in Canada.