Valve Index VR headset preorders start May 1. Look out PlayStation, Oculus

Valve is known for making hit shooting games like Half-Life and Portal, and the battle strategy game Dota 2. It runs the popular Steam online game store. It's pioneered new virtual reality technology. Now Valve appears to be building a headset too. The Bellevue, Washington, game maker quietly said it's going to start preorders for its own VR headset, called Valve Index, on May 1. Valve said the new device will be sold alongside the company's new "knuckles" controllers that allow for better control of VR games and apps. The new device headset is due ship on June 15, though that date could change. The company hasn't revealed the headset's price yet either."More info will be made available in the coming weeks," a Valve spokesman said. The company's planning a bigger announcement around when preorders begin.Word of Valve's new headset may come as a surprise. Until now, it appeared the company was focused on helping its partner HTC build $499 Vive headsets. Valve is also known for incubating technology like lighthouse sensors that help power HTC's headsets. Valve has also created prototypes like the knuckles controllers, which were first shown a couple years ago.