Valve's new Steam Controller is unsurprisingly a PC gamepad, but not if you swap out its puck. Yes, the dongle included in the box is designed to pair the pad specifically to ordinary rigs or the Steam Machine, but OpenPuck project aims to break down platform walls and enable compatibility with the PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Serving as a bridge between Valve's Steam Controller and other platforms, the OpenPuck uses a Pro Micro NRF52840 board to emulate the default receiver's abilities. (cheers, Hackaday!) Custom firmware by Safijari then enables the PC controller to connect just like it would with the included dongle, only this accessory can also then mimic other gamepads and pretend to be an official wired set of buttons.

In a short clip, the puck's creator demonstrates how to install the Openpuck microcontroller and get it working with the Steam Controller. The process comes down to getting the board into DFU mode (Device Firmware Update), allowing it to show as a flash drive so you can upload the software. That should be the case for fresh boards, but the modder includes instructions on which pins to bridge if not.

I am blown away by how easy the process of making your own Steam Controller puck appears to be. Even if you're not looking to turn Valve's accessory into a makeshift PS5 or Switch pad, the fact that the microcontroller is available for $8 should save you some pennies should you lose the real deal. You won't even need to mess around with anything complicated should you make use of the Openpuck's abilities, as there's a web interface for switching USB mode or customizing inputs. Not to mention there's a 3D printable shell just to help it feel a bit more like a real accessory.

The retro console collecting goblin is now curious whether there's a way to get the puck working with old systems. Naturally, you'd need specific gameport connectors to turn it into a best retro controller contender, but perhaps there is a way to make a dongle with even wider compatibility.

If I can perhaps persuade someone to let me kindly borrow their Steam Controller, I'll maybe grab one of these boards and try making an OpenPuck. If you beat me to it, feel free to let me know how you get on and whether Valve's buttons make for a great PS5 or Switch pad.

Check out the best gaming handhelds if you're looking to take your backlog with you.

Valve is once again in the limelight thanks to its generosity – a generosity I know very well as a Steam sale frequenter myself – after apparently granting a fan any free "standard-edition" game of their choice due to a misdelivery.

It's been a pretty positive week for Valve, judging by the reception its new Steam update has received and big launches on its storefront like the long-awaited Subnautica 2 release – and it's also seemingly been a good week for users, too… even those who didn't get their orders from Steam, amusingly enough.

As one person reports on Reddit, they ordered a neat Steam Controller only for it to never arrive. So, what's good about that?

Well, Steam Support's response to the user in question is. "We're very sorry for the issue with your shipment," it reads. "The carrier has informed us that a small number of packages were mistakenly routed to the UK. They are actively working to redirect your shipment to the shipping address you provided. ​​To thank you for your patience, we would like to offer to add a game to your library."

Yes, that's right – Steam apparently offered them a game.

Average valve W from r/SteamController

Any game, too – albeit not some super expensive ultra mega edition, of course. "Please pick any standard-edition title available for purchase in your region and reply here with your selection," Steam's message concludes.

That's a pretty solid deal, if you ask me, and it means that the Redditor would get both their controller (eventually) as well as a fresh game to play. You might be wondering – as is every commenter – what game they'd like.

Well, according to the user, they "got the new Forza game." In other words, Forza Horizon 6, which is a nice choice. I mean, our own Forza Horizon 6 review describes it as "sublime," and it appears other folks think it was a brilliant option as well – the upvotes speak for themselves, after all.

Although, if I'm honest, I'd have probably gone for something like Final Fantasy 7 Remake myself… not just because it's, erm, expensive, either.

Obviously, there's no confirmation from Steam or Valve that this story is true, anyway, but I'd argue there's a very good chance it is. The poster does include a screenshot of the interaction, and it feels silly to fake – plus, I'm a fan of the positive vibes.

The Steam Controller doesn't just scream for its life, it will also sing its little haptic heart out

By now, you've likely seen a million videos of the Steam Controller screaming classic movie-style as it drops from a height. It's exactly the kind of fun easter egg that makes Valve's gamepad so special, especially since it uses haptics rather than a speaker. However, rather than making it cry out as it plummets, you can instead use an app to make it chirp a bunch of MIDI tracks.

First highlighted by Beebreadtech on TikTok, you can effectively make the Steam Controller sing using an app. Creatively dubbed SteamHapticsSinger, the GitHub program is actually forked from code for Valve's first gamepad, but has since been revamped by developer CrazyCritic89.

The clip demos the Steam Controller singing tunes like "Still Alive" from Portal, which feels right on a Valve gamepad. The Wii Shop music also sounds pretty sensational coming out of the haptic motors, although it's worth noting that if you leave it belting its heart out on a desk, it might get carried away and rumble off your surface, potentially resulting in one of those aforementioned Wilhelm screams.

Of course, this isn't the first ever instance of motors making a chorus they're not designed to. In fact, there's a good chance you've already bear witnessed to The Floppotron at some point on the internet, a "computer hardware orchestra" that uses a whole lineup of old Hard Discs, Floppy Drives, and flatbed scanner motors to play whole tracks.

In theory, you could get a whole bunch of Steam Controllers and get it to play different "instruments" as part of an orchestra. That's going to be an expensive show given the gamepad's $99 / £89 price tag, though, so keep that in mind before planning any talent show entries. If you're just looking to mess around, all you have to do is install USBDK alongside the SteamHapticsSinger app, acquire some MIDI tracks, and then drag and drop them in.

It's worth noting that if you have a Steam Deck OLED, it should work with Valve's gaming handheld too. I unfortunately left my portable pal at home, so I can't make it sing for its supper right now. I will be trying it when I'm back at my desk, however, and if I manage to get a Steam Machine later this year, I'll be putting the pad on a stage for my amusement.

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Got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck docks and turn the portable into a hybrid.

Until I got my hands on Valve's Steam Controller, I thought, "there's no way in hell something that bulky is going to be comfortable to hold for long stretches of time". I'll be the first to say that I underestimated Valve's approach, because for a brand that hasn't taken a crack at making a PC controller since its first (bizarre) 2016 outing, it has nailed gamepad ergonomics in ways specialist brands sometimes fail to.

Of course, this controller is intended to be part of a new Valve hardware ecosystem that isn't here yet. It's designed almost entirely for the Steam Deck, Steam Frame, and Steam Machine, but 2026's new Steam Controller is so much more than that. In years of reviewing gaming controllers, I've never encountered anything that's attempted to bridge the gap between mouse functionality in quite the same way as this does. It makes for a controller that can actually help you navigate a PC from a couch, or without reaching for the mouse on your desk.

This is undoubtedly the best part of the Steam Controller, and although I can name several others that tackle competitive gameplay a bit better than it, I can't name any other controllers that utilize trackpads to make playing any and all PC-optimized games this easy. Is it right for you? You'll need to decide if $99 / £85 is too much to justify for the privilege of those pads, because there are certainly cheaper controllers out there that can do just as much, if not more, for your gameplay.

Design

The Steam Controller's design is pretty clever because it builds on the things people like about the brand's most successful piece of hardware ever, the Steam Deck. In essence, the controller is the two sides of a Steam Deck without its screen. Alongside some symmetrical thumbsticks set below the D-pad and face buttons, there are also two trackpads which extend the controller's face into a much bulkier-looking block shape.

It's for this reason the Steam Controller looks so far from comfortable at first glance, but the design has been handled with care so that it fits surprisingly well in the hands. Valve has used a clearly accented, rounded grip shape that spans the full length of the controller - something that even specialist brands sometimes get wrong. This means the larger body doesn't get in the way of how you hold it and, if anything, the bigger size just means my pinkies feel accommodated.

It feels as though Valve has done its utmost to cling to the design language of the Steam Deck here, which is true of the upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame as well. While I'm a big fan of the consistency across the range, I do feel like this ethos holds the controller back slightly. The Steam Controller has a very unique, iconic design, but its graphite texture sometimes risks it looking a bit plain compared to other options on the shelves and, in a practical sense, it has some issues.

For example, the membrane face buttons on the Steam Controller are a fingerprint smudge magnet. I've tested white controllers that feel better defended against sweat and grime from your hands. There are glossed surfaces to the buttons that just mean any moisture on your skin makes itself immediately known, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies where dust and mess can build up.

There are four back buttons around the back. I take issue with these, though. They're placed well enough, but their fairly rigid plastic build quality makes them a little tough to actuate. They take some fairly precise pressure, and a decent amount of that pressure, to push in, which isn't ideal if you map them to a button you need to press often. That brings fatigue into play, and doesn't feel as immediately satisfying as back buttons on rival controllers, like the Flydigi Apex 5 or the Gulikit KK3 Max.

While it also suffers slightly from its graphite texture in terms of grippiness, it's hard not to like the Steam Controller's design, especially when you feel how ergonomic it is in the hands. Not all gaming hardware needs to have loads of personality or scream at you with RGB, and there's definitely an understated look to be appreciated here.

Features

The Steam Controller sports TMR thumbsticks, making it one of a growing number of emergent TMR controllers on the shelves. I applaud Valve for opting for the futureproofing of Tunnel Magnetoresistance modules. I imagine the big draw for most gamers will be their immunity to stick drift but, in truth, the advancement in polling speed and resolution over Hall sensor tech is the thing to get excited about.

Be warned though, the polling rate of the Stream Controller currently rests at 250Hz, which is really, really underwhelming against the competition. For reference, most Xbox Series X controllers these days are launching with a polling rate of 1,000Hz, and although they're locked to a pretty lacklustre 250Hz rate on the console itself, maxing out at 1,000Hz on PC is enough to dispel any real latency concerns. A lot of mice and keyboards have a polling rate of 8,000Hz. While I don't expect the Steam Controller to reach for those kinds of numbers and match the GameSir G7 Pro 8K model launching this week, a middle ground polling rate would have been appreciated.

I'm not going to claim that I have superhuman reflexes and can tell the differences in these tiny instances of latency, but know that there is a marked difference in the responsiveness when going back and forth between a 1,000Hz controller and the Steam Controller. It's not bothered me in a game yet, but it's certainly a noticeable drop in response time if you're looking for the snappiest feel from your gaming peripherals.

The good news is, this may be tunable through software updates. I have seen controllers get polling rate increases through firmware in the past, and I imagine if Valve wants to support this controller for years to come, and this may already be in the works.

Features elsewhere are broadly impressive. Clever uses of capacitive sensors turn the grips into buttons of their own, and gryro feels smooth and usable as a way to aim if the thumbsticks still aren't doing it for you. But what might help sway things for you are the features that aren't here.

There are no trigger stop switches, no microswitch buttons, no additional bumpers, no eight-way D-pad, and no customizable thumbstick tops. It feels far removed from a lot of the controllers that have launched for PC players in recent years that have targeted that pro-level performance player. The Steam Controller fits really nicely in my grip, but I have fairly large hands and the reach for your thumb to travel from trackpad to D-pad may not be so ideal. There's a profound lack of customizable elements to this gamepad in physical terms. Meanwhile, modular controllers like the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox offer a lot more versatility. Not even that, many products around this price point offer some kind of physical swapping, even if it's just some different thumbstick heights.

The Steam Controller doesn't feel designed around competitive play, so there are alternatives I'd point you toward if you're looking for those features. Where the Steam Controller feels a lot more at home is in comfort use, and that's evident in its generous battery life. The gamepad comes with a charging puck, which is a lot smaller than I thought it'd be. It's essentially a small wireless receiver, but not one with a USB slot on one end that means it can be plugged directly into the rear IO of your motherboard or front USB outlets on your PC case. It has some magnetic charging connectors on it which snap to your Steam Controller when you lay it down on top of the puck. You can connect up to four Steam Controllers to any one puck, and the thing even has its own firmware.

In over 24 hours of tests with the Steam Controller in the last week, it hasn't died on me, and big picture mode's interface is telling me it still has about half of its juice left in the tank. Battery life is a real strength of this device. As is its internal speaker, which is set out of the box to Wilhelm scream at you if you have gyro switched on and drop it from a height.

Profiles and software

At the centre of Valve's Steam Controller is the Steam home button. Press this once, and you'll wake the controller. Press it once it's connected to your gaming PC, and you'll launch Steam. Depending on how your settings are configured, you might need an additional press to access big picture mode. Regardless, this is where some of my biggest gripes with the Steam pad lie.

Almost every controller that launches these days will have companion software that allows you to customize and fine tune - set back button assignments, configure deadzones, change lighting and, perhaps most importantly, switch profiles. Not only do the majority of controllers have an on-board profile system, they also aren't beholden to companion software to switch between them.

Valve has opted for a different approach in an attempt to lock the Steam Controller to the Steam ecosystem. Fair enough, with other services like Epic, Xbox, and GOG breathing down its neck, the hardware this brand makes needs to keep users at home somehow. That means the Steam Controller will only work in Steam-launched games. Yes, you can set games from other PC platforms to launch in Steam, but it's something to be aware of if you use the Epic launcher frequently.

There are no hot-key combinations here to program back button assignments or switch up profiles on the fly. All of the Steam Controller's settings work on a per-game basis that you'll need to work out before playing each new title. You can change buttons assignments for the gamepad's standard desktop profile but, if you're like me, a standard one-size fits-all approach is going to have to be repetitively assigned to new games when you start them.

This wouldn't be such an issue but I have encountered problems in testing where profiles haven't saved, back button assignments have been deleted, and the process of getting a profile to work in game has been a bit arduous. Thankfully, after a few firmware updates, things are working more in line with how they should be.

Then again, the flip side of all of this is the Steam Controller's secret weapon; it isn't just a PC gaming controller, it's a controller for your PC. Navigating Windows 11 with a gamepad is possible if you buy the right one, but in my experience of testing them, it's such a stretch to say that they work. The trackpads on the Steam Controller allow it to actually function like you're using a mouse, and the serotonin-fueling haptic feedback as you trace your thumb across them never fails to feel satisfying.

I've used the controller to browse the internet, change up some background music, and otherwise navigate my PC between games, so much so that if I'm playing on my couch setup, I barely need to reach for the mouse and keyboard. Hotkey combinations can bring up an on-screen keyboard, and the buttons of the controller are set to mouse clicks and keyboard assignments. There's freedom to actually use this as a controller for wider PC tasks. It's so, so close to a truly console experience - if only it could wake a PC from sleep, we'd be right on the money. Nonetheless, there's no other controller I've tested that's this adept at keeping you away from a mouse and keyboard, and it's truly a reason to buy this gamepad over others.

Controller performance

Overall, Valve has done a great job of designing a controller that does a bit of everything well, not a controller that does one thing really well. Let me explain.

A lot of controllers these days are set up to help you succeed in more than one genre of gaming, but you can tell they've been designed with one or two specifically in mind. An FPS-oriented controller doesn't always lend itself to a 2D platformer. A fighting game controller doesn't always feel the best to use in third-person action/adventure games.

Valve has threaded a needle so its gamepad can lean into whatever your Steam library consists of, and while that approach will help its Steam Machine and Steam Frame feel like a new age of console ecosystem, it does have drawbacks too.

In FPS games, for example, TMR thumbsticks definitely do their part to help your accuracy, and highly customisable gyro controls are there for you if that's your preferred method of clicking heads. But those rigid back buttons are definitely detrimental to your gameplay because they don't feel like they can be actuated in a split second during the heat of battle. The thumbstick tension also feels a little tight for my liking, but then again, I did just come from testing the adjustable Flydigi Vader 5S.

This is not me saying the Steam Controller isn't going to be a good option for FPS gamers. There are loads of options to make it work for you, including trackpad aiming, which can certainly work if you set it up correctly. All I'm making clear here is that when testing it in my regular haunt, Hunt: Showdown, against other contemporary pro controllers, Valve's doesn't feel quite as at home. But to each their own. I haven't played with gyro aim a lot other than to test it on various controllers, and this has the smoothest and most usable I've tried.

The main bulk of my testing was done playing Crimson Desert, which the Steam Controller sailed through. The comfort on offer meant long sessions would disappear without me noticing as Valve's gamepad rested beautifully in my hands. Other than the back buttons being a little rigid for repetitive tapping, there was nothing to complain about here. It's a superb controller for open-world exploration, and I can't wait to see some of the cool controller mappings people are making when it comes to the clever capacitive grip sensors.

Another consistent testing game for my controller reviews is Towerfall Ascension, and the game's crunchy and responsive 2D platforming felt great here. I'm more of a fan of eight-way D-pads than traditional four-way ones, but other than its slippy texture, I didn't have too much of a problem controlling my archer with Valve's. Thankfully, the trackpads and thumbsticks offered fun new ways of moving around and aiming.

Another area where the Steam Controller may let you down is in fast-paced fighting games. Whether you like adopting a fightpad grip or not, membrane buttons are not going to be ideal if you're trying to punch your way up a leaderboard. While it isn't exactly Tekken or Mortal Kombat, I've been testing controllers in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, mainly because my talent in fighting games has always been in the button-mashing department anyway. Rapid taps are not the specialty of the Steam Controller so, again, if you're in the market for something more responsive, maybe look elsewhere.

I guess if the Steam Controller commits one sin above all others, it's feeling a bit slow, clunky, and rigid. Its build quality is good - the thing is solid, and I certainly wouldn't want to drop it on my toe because I'd be the one producing a Wilhelm scream. But harder surfaces and high thumbstick tension, combined with plastic back buttons and membrane face buttons, just leave it feeling a bit stiff at times.

Mouse and keyboard performance

I usually review a gamepad in the gaming genres I mention above and let that be that, but that would feel wrong with the Steam Controller because there's a whole other dimension to play with here that constitutes a massive reason to buy Valve's latest peripheral. Before I went hands-on with it, I wrote about one of my biggest reasons for wanting a Steam Controller. I love me some management sims, some god games, and otherwise narrative titles that aren't designed to be played with a controller.

But here's the thing, these are the sorts of games I don't want to play at a desk in a fully upright, focused position. It feels like work, not the chill vibes Frontier was going for when they designed games like Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo. Even if you own one of the best gaming chairs, I'm sure you have the same feeling. Cozy gaming can be done at a desk, but it should feel comfortable, not like a continuation of work. Without intuitive controller support for a lot of these games, you're kind of at a loss, and that's the niche use case that the Steam Controller has over all of its current competition in the gamepad market.

The best thing is, you don't even need to get into annoying controller-to-keyboard mappings for titles that don't have native support for controllers. To test this, I loaded up Planet Coaster, a game I've played a frankly sad amount of hours of on PS5, but one I've not loaded up on PC yet, so I'm not totally fluent with the WASD and mouse controls. Without any tutorials, and without even heading into Steam's controller menus, I was able to work out what were really intuitive button assignments that were just automatically assigned. Within 2 minutes, I had cracked the camera and movement, within another 30 seconds, I had added the game's cheat code for making any theme park money (the Teacups ride), and just like that, I was off and running.

The same was true of Planet Zoo, and an indie narrative game called The Red Strings Club. The latter has been sitting in my Steam library for well over a year gathering dust because it didn't have controller support, but with simple trackpad movements, I was creating cosmic drinks for cyberpunk customers. No other gamepad has allowed me to access this gap in my Steam library, and that's where this controller really comes into its own.

The only times I had trouble were when a game required me to type something. Although a combination press of the Steam button and X brings up a keyboard, it seems as though games like Planet Coaster have trouble registering input from it. This is something that may have been specific to the game and, if not, I'm sure it'll be patched out in the coming months.

I'm delighted that this all works. It might take some relearning, and some creativity if you want to make a controller map that works for you and your brain, but after around five minutes of getting to grips with swinging the camera around in a city builder using the trackpads, you'll feel utterly fluent, and the experience of playing will feel intuitive enough for you to finally acheive that cozy chill vibe you've been dreaming of in these types of games.

Should you buy the Steam Controller?

The Steam Controller stands apart from every other gamepad on the shelves at the moment, because no other will offer you the kind of native PC control that Valve's can. As a regular gamepad, ignoring its clever trackpads, capacitive sensors, and gryo, it's a solid all-rounder, but one that doesn't really lend itself to one specific genre. It has its flaws, but it's plenty comfortable and will sit in your hands really easily for longer sessions.

Where it really wins is in games that want to be played at a desk, that you really want to play on your couch. Going forward, this is likely going to be my main use of the Steam Controller, because there is a whole subset of PC-tilted games I wish had better controller support. Valve has just broken that stalemate between me and select titles in my backlog, and I can't wait to play countless hours of Planet Coaster, Civilization, and Planet Zoo away from a desk.

I'd recommend the Steam Controller to anyone who wants to be able to navigate their gaming PC from a versatile number of positions, and to anyone who will be investing in the upcoming mini PC or VR headset. However, to anyone just looking for a gamepad for certain titles, I'd maybe look elsewhere, because you might be able to find something that suits your specific genre of choice a little better. Off the top of my head, Nacon's Revolution X Unlimited has an excellent premium feel and a suite of customizable parts. GameSir's G7 Pro is a better all-rounder across lots of different gaming genres, and the Flydigi Apex 5 offers much more competitive appeal.

Like I say though, you need to work out what your priorities are, because none of those have the Steam Controller's PC game versatility.

How I tested the Steam Controller

I used the Steam Controller for a little over a week before coming to a verdict in this review. In that time, I used it exclusively for all my PC gaming, which spanned loads of different genres. To test its various features, I went pretty deep into Steam's controller menus, tried mouse and keyboard games that didn't have controller support, and tried all its various quirky features. I didn't charge the controller while testing in order to get a sense of its battery life, and used it with more than one PC.

For more on how we test controllers, check out the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

If you're not a Steam player, you might want to look at the best PS5 controllers instead, or the best Switch 2 controllers.

The Steam Controller is one of the hottest tickets in gaming hardware town right now, and for good reason. Valve's second crack at a gamepad crams a lot of great design points into a $99/£85 package, but some of its best features are still emerging as more people begin to use it. Today, for instance, I discovered with the help of my fellow hardware team members that if you have gyro turned on, the best PC controller contender will produce one of my favorite canned audio clips when you drop it.

The Wilhelm Scream has been used in so many films, TV shows, and funny clip compilations online that a lot of you reading this will probably know the soundbite by name. The funny folks at Valve certainly do, because they programmed the Steam Controller to produce a Wilhelm Scream when the device falls from a height.

In fact, the Steam Controller's Wilhelm Scream is being discovered by more and more users as the first batch of gamepads arrives with gamers. This is an excellent use of the gamepad's internal speaker, which will beep at you and produce small chirping noises for various reasons.

What's the functional use of this? I'm not sure there is one other than to give people a chuckle, or maybe diffuse some gamer rage after someone's thrown the controller in frustration.

To get the controller to produce the sound, I set up a few (very scientific) tests which resulted in the video above. I dropped mine from various heights onto my couch (which I fashioned into a crash mat of sorts). I found that it didn't need to fall for too long before producing the sound, but it didn't always scream at me if I dropped it from chest or waist height. A fall from head height was the most consistent in making the funny scream happen, which makes me think this has been designed more as a reaction to being thrown, rather than dropped.

I'd just caution that if you're going to try this with your own Steam Controller, you do it in a safe environment. Make your own crash mat, and certainly don't throw it at anyone or anything - partly because a breaking noise, or an actual person screaming, will probably drown out the noise the controller can make.

No, but really, don't throw controllers at people, and protect your expensive hardware if you're going to put it through drop tests.

Truth be told, I've had my Steam Controller for around a week now, and I'm still working out what all of its various speaker tones mean. I've heard one for it turning on and connecting, turning off and disconnecting, but there have been a few mysterious ones I've heard while going about my day and it's been turned on. There's clearly some hidden easter eggs to Valve's Steam Controller, which makes it such a joy to use.

So far, I'm not seeing a way to customize the various sound effects of the pad in Steam's controller menus. That said, I absolutely wouldn't put it past Valve to include this in a software update at some point down the line. If there's a speaker in there and some storage for different soundbites, the natural next step is to add ways for people to transfer their own sounds.

If you're struggling to replicate the Steam Controller's Wilhelm Scream, you might be running into the same roadblock I was when I tried initially - you need to have a quick play around with Steam's controller settings to ensure gyro is toggled on for the device's desktop profile.

Head into Steam, then settings, then controller, advanced settings, gyro behaviour, and then a setting of your choice should make it work. For mine, I've set it to "Gyro To Joystick Deflection".

I'll be producing a full review of the Steam Controller in the coming days, so be sure to check back for more of my thoughts on it soon.

Looking for the perfect gamepad for you and your platform? Check out the best Xbox Series X controllers, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Earlier in the week, I reported on how Valve's new Steam Controller sold out almost immediately, and there were little to no precautions taken to prevent resellers from making a profit on it on sites like eBay. As bad as this is for the PC controller's launch, the main reason I was worried was that it pointed to a much worse situation for the upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine.

Thankfully, some of my fears have now been waylaid because Valve has published a new blog post that shows the brand is doing what it can to prevent the resellers at eBay from charging a 200% markup on its hardware and exploiting consumers:

"While we were happy to see such a high level of interest," the blog post read, "the experience for a lot of you trying to buy it {the Steam Controller} was incredibly frustrating. We plan to continue replenishing stock as we get more in, but in the meantime wanted to share changes we're making to improve the purchase experience and to limit reseller activity

"Beginning May 8th at 10 am Pacific, we're opening a reservation queue for Steam Controller. Once you reserve, your place in line will be saved. When we go back in stock, order emails will be sent in the same order that reservations were made," it dictates.

This is a welcome change, and not dissimilar from initiatives Sony and Nintendo have taken to prevent resellers during PS5 hardware launches, or for the Switch 2's arrival on the shelves.

Annoyingly, the only thing that's not crystal clear at the moment is whether or not other regions will have access to this initial restock. The blog post makes mention of "Pacific" time before later saying "Replenishment of inventory will vary from region to region. We will start fulfilling reservations next week in the US / Canada, and UK / EU / AU in the following weeks," which would suggest that this batch being made available today will only be for folks on the West Coast in the US.

As and when I hear about restocks in other regions, I'll update you.

The reservation system will limit one Steam Controller per customer, and when you receive your order invite, you'll have 72 hours or three days to claim your reserved gamepad. To prevent resellers even further, Steam users who have already purchased one of the new controllers will not yet be eligible to reserve another. Tracking this is definitely one upside of the hardware only being sold through Valve's storefront.

This all gives me a lot of hope where I had none before. We all know the Steam Frame and Steam Machine have been stalling for time amidst the AI-induced RAM shortages. We don't know when they will eventually launch (sometime this year), at what price, or in what quantity they'll be available. I would imagine if the stock of the Steam Controller has vanished so quickly, the Machine and Frame will be in even shorter supply.

Before this blog post from Valve, it seemed as though the company wasn't prepared for the demand and the current climate of online reseller activity that's been plaguing gaming hardware markets for years. Now, with a much clearer and fairer reservation system in place (that the brand has had to use for Steam Deck supply in the past), I'm much more optimistic that the launch of both upcoming Valve platforms will be much friendlier for consumers.

For more on Valve's upcoming hardware, take a look at the best gaming PCs and the best VR headsets.

Steam Controller reservations will open on Friday, May 8 as Valve works to remedy stock and scalper problems that plagued the game pad's May 4 launch.

In a new post on Steam, Valve says "we were happy to see such a high level of interest, the experience for a lot of you trying to buy it was incredibly frustrating."

While it works on restocking Steam Controllers, Valve's rolling out a reservation plan that should give more legitimate buyers a better chance of nabbing one of these things.

"Beginning May 8th at 10 am Pacific, we're opening a reservation queue for Steam Controller," Valve explains. "Once you reserve, your place in line will be saved. When we go back in stock, order emails will be sent in the same order that reservations were made."

Each Steam user will only be able to reserve one Steam Controller, and once you receive an order email, you'll have 72 hours to buy the controller via Steam.

"For now, customers who have already purchased a Steam Controller are not yet eligible to reserve another Steam Controller," Valve adds.

The extra-good news is that Valve has baked anti-scalper rules right into Steam Controller reservations. "Your account must be in good standing on Steam," for one, and "you must have made a purchase on Steam prior to April 27, 2026," which will weed out freshly made accounts hoping to game the system.

Valve says it will "start fulfilling reservations" as soon as next week in the US and Canada, with orders in the UK, Europe, and Australia to come "in the following weeks."

Together, this reservation queue ought to address the biggest pain paints from the Steam Controller launch. Only so much can be done about limited stock, but open season for scalpers and a lack of limited pre-orders led to an absolute zoo on day one, with Steam Controllers immediately selling secondhand with upwards of a 100% markup. At least a reservation guarantees you a controller eventually. Just keep an eye on your email.

The Steam Controller might be sold out, but official Valve 3D files mean I could make my own using Steam Deck parts.

Valve just shared exciting Steam Controller news for anyone looking to "hack, mod, or design accessories" for the gamepad. No, it's not back in stock yet, but you can now download and 3D print official models of the pad and its wireless puck, and I'm wondering if I can use them to make my own out of a Steam Deck.

In a fresh community post, Valve shares an official link to its Steam Controller STL and STP CAD files available under a Creative Commons license. That means, providing you don't start selling your own knock-off versions of the gamepad, you're free to modify, share, and whip up creations based on the files. You'll even have engineering drawings at your disposal to ensure you can avoid blocking elements like ports and the antenna, but I can't stop thinking about just recreating the actual pad.

I'll admit that I'm a complete novice when it comes to 3D printing. While I've been using Snapmaker's U1 to fix up retro consoles for a feature I'll be sharing soon, I'd need a bit of time to figure out what the heck to do with Valve's STL files. The first hurdle is that the models are solid, which is fine if you just need the surface topology, but not if you want to make a shell to squeeze components into.

The other natural hurdle to 3D printing your own Steam Controller right now is the components. Replacement parts should be available at iFixit soon, but I am curious whether I could use Steam Deck OLED elements to piece together something that looks like the pad. The recycler in me would probably rather re-purpose a broken gaming handheld, but you can buy Steam Deck parts from iFixit, too, including everything from the tiny menu buttons to the d-pad, triggers, and membranes.

The beauty of making your own Steam Controller means you could just add hall-effect thumbsticks from the get-go, like Gulikit's replacements at Amazon. There are some parts that are just seemingly unobtainable right now without salvaging, though, like the touchpads that make Valve's new accessory what it is, and the versions on the standalone PC controller are actually every so slightly smaller.

Of course, that's not as much of an issue as, well, the main controller board itself. That's the part that'd require some real big-brain moves, but I don't think making your own innards is completely impossible. As an avid tinkerer in the retro console space, I've seen fellow enthusiasts make custom PCBs for everything you can think of, so I imagine some clever clogs could reverse-engineer or even just make something that'll work like a Steam controller.

Even if making a Steam Controller from scratch is ultimately off the table, I'm pleased to see Valve release 3D files for its accessory. Not only will the files help aid accessibility via custom mods and designs that will help players with different ergonomic needs, but it should make the pad that bit more repairable since you could potentially just print replacement shells.

The chaos goblin in me still wants to see bananas creations, though, and while my brain started with "make your own Steam Controller," I'm now wondering if the files could be used to make a retro handheld shaped like the pad. If you've got any ideas off the back of Valve's STL files, I'd love to hear them, even if the more responsible people in my life think I shouldn't be encouraged.

As a side note, if you'd rather the mini PC just got a release date, you might be in luck, as Valve is seemingly sitting on 20,000 Steam Machine units, and that could mean the launch is imminent.

• More PC controllers at Amazon
• Steam Deck accessories at Amazon

Looking for ways to enhance your setup? Swing by the best Steam Deck docks to arm your handheld with hybrid capabilities.

PC gamers burned through the initial Steam Controller stock within an hour after orders went live, which Valve admits was unexpected as it reflects on the frustration-tinged launch.

"Steam Controller ran out faster than we anticipated, and we hate that not everyone who wanted one was able to get it," Valve says in a post on Bluesky. "We’re working on getting more in stock and will have an update on expected timeline soon."

Players feared this exact situation as soon as it was revealed that Valve wouldn't be taking pre-orders for the Steam Controller, though I suppose opening the gates early doesn't necessarily slow the stampede.

At the time of writing, Steam Controller is still somehow the top-selling item on Steam's rankings despite being out of stock. The launch barrage was so fierce that Valve's shipping estimation also doubled before stock ran dry: from 3 - 5 days all the way up to 6 - 10 days.

Notably absent from Valve's reflection is any acknowledgement of scalpers or any word on future scalping prevention. The absolute state of eBay Steam Controller flips, with heaps of sellers already asking for double or nearly triple the controller's actual value, demonstrates just how heavily the launch was parasitized by scalpers.

When Valve does get another wave of Steam Controllers in stock, many PC gamers hope to see it implement anti-scalper measures that could help ensure more game pads find their way to people actually hoping to use them rather than squeeze them for a quick buck.

Many responses to Valve's Bluesky post demand an anti-scalper plan similar to what Nintendo pulled off with the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. Nintendo set things up so that Switch Online members with "a certain amount of time" spent playing purchased games were given priority in Switch 2 orders, meaning fresh, sock puppet scalper accounts made to circumvent order limits were pushed down the queue.

Companies can only do so much to fight scalpers and bots, but a similar system gauging Steam purchases, play time, and account age would theoretically weed out Steam Controller scalpers in a similar way. That said, there does come a point where such a system risks punishing entirely real but more casual gamers. Fighting scalpers: good. Requiring 250+ hours logged in Valve-made games, as I saw one user propose: bad.

Steam Deck 2 still in the works, Valve says, but Steam Machine and Steam Controller come first: "A lot of what we're doing here will be learnings that build up to it."

Gaming hardware launches can often feel like a warzone, especially when new bits of technology are hotly anticipated. That said, I feel like most manufacturers have learned by now that reselling is a common plague if left unchecked, and many now do what they can to defend consumers against it. That doesn't seem to be the case with Valve's new PC controller, which is already seeing inflated resale prices on eBay.

Valve's new Steam Controller launched on May fourth (May it be with you, and such), and in both the US and UK, it sold out almost immediately. The issue is that Valve only tends to sell its hardware through the Steam store, so without any stock being split between wider retailers, chaos is beginning to ensue.

I can see eBay listings for the new Steam Controller (which definitely won't have had time to ship to the folks listing them yet) on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, the £85 gamepad is seeing prices of up to £250, "or best offer". Shockingly, its condition is being listed as "new" in each one. In the US, even more listings can be seen on eBay, with prices stretching up to $236 despite its $99 official cost.

You can do you, but this is my reminder that you should never buy from resellers like this. In fact, if you have the chance, you should shun and disgrace them whenever possible. As a consumer, your best bet, and your best assurance you're going to get a working and fairly priced bit of technology, is to buy through the official channels.

If you're worried about how long Valve will take to replenish its supply of controllers, I wouldn't stress. Yes, it's proving to be a popular bit of kit, but given it's been designed to work alongside the upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine, I would expect Valve to be saving the bulk of its stock for when those two platforms can launch. Maybe there will even be bundles available?

Even if not, the current RAM shortages aren't going to impact the cost or the supply of the Steam Controller because there's no memory inside it, so there's no need to stress that if you don't get your hands on one now, you won't be able to for a long while, or that you'll need to pay more than the official price tag.

Meanwhile, resellers are actively hurting everyone. They're taking Valve's stock and turning a profit from hardware they have no hand in creating or selling. This isn't the same as selling a used bit of technology on for cheaper than it would be officially - this is buying something with the intention of selling it for a higher price because there's a limited supply.

They're hurting consumers by taking up a limited supply of a new product, often by buying more than one at a time. They might say it's all to do with supply and demand, but those supply issues wouldn't be such a problem if people weren't buying up stock simply to sell onward.

It may seem really exclusive for Valve to only sell its hardware through the Steam store, and I grant that it's been a while since it launched anything new like this. But other brands like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and more in the gaming hardware space have done their part to defend consumers from reselling in recent times. That includes widening the supply pool of new releases to other retailers. It also includes things like sending pre-order invites and codes after registering interest, and it also means limiting products to one or two per customer in the initial launch phase.

These things might seem like an annoyance when ordering a new controller, but they're actually great changes for consumers that have come as a result of the last decade of technology shopping being plagued by inflation and needless stock shortages. I grant that you're never going to stamp out this problem entirely, especially when current financial climates are so tough, but all I'm saying is that a few more preventative measures could go a long way.

With what will likely be a much more limited pool of Steam Machines and Steam Frames coming later this year, I hope Valve is learning from this and preparing.

For more on controllers, check out the best PS5 controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

The Steam Controller is now available – or, at least, it was as of earlier today. Valve's servers instantly broke when the controller went up for sale, and by the time the dust had settled, it had sold out entirely. Unless, of course, you're willing to pay the scalper prices that are already trending above $200 a pop.

Orders for the Steam Controller were set to go live at 1pm ET today, though judging by the comments I've seen on the fairly annoyed Steam subreddit, they actually went up a couple of minutes early. Either way, there was such a rush on those orders that Valve's servers immediately buckled, leaving eager buyers stuck with endless error messages as they tried to secure their prize.

It only took about 35 minutes for the official order page for the controller to start showing "out of stock," at least in North America. Some fans who kept pinging the order button despite all the errors managed to secure their controllers, but the sad reality is setting in for everybody else. The device has sporadically come back in stock here and there, presumably as small numbers of orders get cancelled, but the first wave of availability is very much over.

You can, of course, still get a Steam Controller with little hassle, except for the fact that you'll be paying double MSRP for the privilege. Scalper listings are already all over eBay, and buyers are biting. Numerous listings for $200 or more have already been sold, despite warnings from the community that nobody should be supporting scalpers.

Hopefully Valve will be able to spin up more stock sooner rather than later, but manufacturing hardware is tough business right now. This whole thing certainly doesn't bode well for upcoming hardware like the Steam Machine, which faces a whole 'nother range of issues thanks to the AI RAM crisis. For those of you hunting for Valve devices in the foreseeable future, all I can say is good luck.

Valve wants to price Steam Machine as competitively as possible, but fears RAM shortages are "unavoidable" and "will impact anything we make."

Like any gamer, I feel like my backlog is constantly growing, and for me, there's a very specific genre of game that's starting to pile up. I love me some city builders and management sim games. Ones like Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Civilization, and Timberborn, but for what are very chilled out games that I like to play in my downtime, they often do not feel designed to be kicked back on the couch with, while using one of the best PC controllers.

So many of these games have been built with a mouse and keyboard in mind, and if they have controller support at all, they never feel like they're easily played with some thumbsticks and a limited number of buttons. Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo are prime examples - their console editions play pretty well, but buying on Steam means you can be stuck without gamepad play. The same goes for some CRPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 for instance, which feels totally different to play on a console than it does on PC.

But to me, that flies in the face of the chilled-out atmosphere these sorts of games strike. I want to kick back on the couch with a gamepad while building my dream zoo, starting my empire in Civilization, or trying to fix the economy of a theme park in financial ruin. I don't mind adopting pure focus position at my desk for FPS games while using a mouse and keyboard, but that's hardly the relaxing, cozy game vibe I want for this genre of game.

All of this is why I'm personally very excited to get my hands on Valve's new Steam Controller. With two trackpads that function as mouse controls, it offers what no other PC or Xbox Series X controller really can - a hybrid between mouse and controller play for games that make support between the two a total headache. With trackpads, you can use mouse controls to move around a game's camera if it doesn't have controller support. Combine that with Steam input, and you can have the gamepad register all of the buttons to the keyboard functions you need to play. Goodbye ultra-focused sitting position at a desk, hello sweet couch comfort.

From the first batch of reviews, this seems to be one of the best things about the Steam Controller. Not only for games like these, but also for couch setups in general. I've been trying to create the perfect couch PC gaming setup for years now, and although I'm really happy with the loadout I have now, I do always feel like a simple console-esque power button on a controller to wake everything, or the ability to use a keyboard without fuss on a gamepad itself are some of the few things missing. Yes, you can make some modifications or opt for a Linux system to bypass these issues, but that's a little more in-depth than I'd care to go.

The Steam Controller can't wake your desktop PC with a button press, and it is only limited to Steam-launched games, but its ability to browse an internet browser, for example, thanks to its trackpads, is a step in the right direction.

It's not just city builders and management sims I'm looking forward to playing with the Steam Controller though. While Steam input does essentially work with any controller you connect to your PC to play a game that doesn't support gamepads, it seems like Valve has made things a lot more intuitive for its own homegrown controller. Capacitive thumbsticks mean you can activate gyro that doesn't appear to be unruly, and this has been a popular feature brought over from the Steam Deck. Again, with trackpads allowing for mouse movements, it just feels like you're already part of the way to controlling games that are designed for a mouse and keyboard.

For example, I'm a massive fan of an indie developer called DeconstructTeam, and after playing The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood a few years ago, I've been really keen to go back to play the developer's previous breakout hit, The Red Strings Club. Only one problem, for a very chilled, narrative-led indie game, it doesn't have controller support. It felt like a perfect fit to enjoy on the go using one of the best gaming handhelds, but trying to get it working on the Asus ROG Ally X felt janky and didn't hit the spot at all.

I have a few games like that that are sitting in my backlog, and I've been using the excuse of there being no intuitive and easy way to play them to stall for time. Yes, this is likely a me problem, but the Steam Controller might just be an excuse for me and you to finally strike these quirky outlier games from our backlogs. At least until we get our hands on the Steam Frame and Steam Machine it's been designed for, that might just be the best use for Valve's new accessory.

That said, the Steam Controller hasn't been reviewing so well from the point of competitive play, so I've taken the liberty of rounding up some alternatives for you.

You can also take a look at the best PS5 controllers, the best Switch 2 controllers, and the best TMR controllers.

Valve finally lifted the lid on its Steam Controller this week, and early reviews on the $99 / £85 gadget scheduled for May are sparking debates. I've yet to try out the accessory, but having just spent the week testing the Retro Fighters StrikerDC, a wireless Sega Dreamcast gamepad that uses the 2000s retro console button layout, I've got a newfound appreciation for Valve's original gamepad vision.

Let me get one thing straight: the Retro Fighters StrikerDC is nothing like the new Steam Controller. I'm not trying to pitch what is essentially a wireless remake of the Dreamcast pad with a single hall-effect joystick and a receiver cradle for Sega's VMU (Visual Memory Unit). What I will say is that it highlights gaming tech history repeating itself, as Valve's accessory is going through the same evolutionary process as Sega's pad before it.

Gamepad designs used to be a by-product of problem-solving. Hell, if you stretch back to the Pong era, some of the first cartridge-based consoles, like the Epoch Cassette Vision, you had to twirl knobs on the system itself. Add a few extra buttons here, a new-fangled 3D "control stick" there to combat the horrors of three dimensions, and you have what looks like a contemporary controller, but today's conventional pads could have taken a very different path.

The Dreamcast controller, and by extension its StrikerDC wireless remake, are the blueprint for modern-day Xbox controllers. Yes, the OG version looks like the Millennium Falcon and is missing a stick, but if you draw from Sega's accessories to Microsoft's Duke and beyond, you'll see a gradual evolution that makes complete sense.

Yes, the Dualshock has existed alongside Xbox-flavored designs for decades, but even Nintendo ended up eventually switching to the asymmetrical, dual-stick layout used by most of the best PC controllers today. That's where Valve comes into the picture, as it arguably tried to retreat to the Dreamcast format with its 2015 Steam Controller, and as a result, it's now on a journey that's easier to understand when you've used Sega's old layout.

Ultimately, the problem Valve is looking to solve with its Steam Controller is playing PC games on a console-shaped box. That box will be primarily the Steam Machine, and while conventional controllers work just fine on your rig, the storefront giant is trying to bridge the compatibility gap with touchpads and grip-activated gyro. That's not unlike Sega's original struggle trying to facilitate compatibility with 3D games, a fight it bowed out of early after the Dreamcast's demise.

Just like the Dreamcast pad, the Steam Controller has already had its awkward growth phase with the 2015 version. It also used just a single joystick, going all in on the idea of touchpads instead. Again, similar to Microsoft post-Sega, Valve then course-corrected its approach with the Steam Deck OLED before eventually landing on a new design that is poised for the next age of console gaming.

The reason I'm even taking a step back to look at the evolution of controllers is the Retro Fighters StrikerDC. It's one of many modern pads for your old console today that takes a historic layout and transfers it onto something "Xbox-shaped", which feels a bit like gamepad cross-pollination. That's not remotely a bad thing, as the end result is a wireless accessory that works with Sega's OG system while still retaining the right format for its library.

It's practically the same quest as the new Steam Controller. Valve may have had to concede that its original design was too PC-genre specific, but the new version fuses conventional elements with the same design philosophy. In my mind, the StrikerDC and even other console pads like the 8Bitdo N64 controller highlight paying equal respect to specific layouts while holding onto what players are used to can result in maximum comfort and compatibility.

The question is, will Valve nudge the entire gamepad ecosystem in its chosen direction this time? I could really see that happening since Microsoft's Xbox Project Helix is gunning for the same PC and console game abilities as the Steam Machine. I like to think that will lead to a reality where, just like with the StrikerDC, we'll eventually get "classic" PS5 and Series X controllers that ditch the touchpads and other standardised elements to provide an authentic way to play 2020-era releases, and I genuinely think it takes using pads by the likes of Retro Fighters to illustrate that.

I'm excited for the future of gamepads, but I am still sad no one carried the mantle of Sega's cyberpet-inspired memory card. VMU, I'm dreamin' of you.

• More retro controllers at Amazon
• Sega Dreamcast accessories at Amazon

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The Steam Deck 2 isn't lost in the haystack of other Valve projects, the company says, but you nonetheless won't see it soon. The Steam Machine and just-announced Steam Controller take priority.

Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais tells IGN in a new interview his team is "hard at work" on the Steam Deck 2, a whisper Valve started passing around in 2022. But while both the Steam Frame VR headset and Steam Machine are meant to release in 2026 (unless the global RAM shortage becomes a RAM extinction), and the new Steam Controller will launch May 4, the Steam Deck 2 doesn't have a release window. It doesn't even have a release doggy door.

That seems to be because Valve wants the tech it develops this year for the Steam Machine and other projects to help build the innovative Steam Deck 2, which the company has always maintained should "truly be a next-gen performance," as Griffais said in 2025.

Expanding on this, Griffais now tells IGN, "If you look at our hardware projects over the years, you can draw a straight line from the original Steam Controller and Steam Machine to Steam Deck, to everything that we're announcing and shipping this year. And we expect Steam Deck 2 will be a lot of the same where a lot of what we're doing here will be learnings that build up to it."

People have speculated the handheld console could release in 2028 at the earliest, though some leaks indicate a 2029 launch. In 2023, though, Valve admitted the Steam Deck 2 would require "the next couple of years" of work, which couldn't possibly be more vague, and also serves as an important reminder that we're all just guessing until Valve gives us something tactile to work with. In any case, this year is meant to be stacked with Valve, Valve, and more Valve, so hopefully you'll have your hands full anyway.

Valve says it can sell the Steam Controller while the Steam Machine is in AI limbo because "this doesn't have RAM in it."

Valve will launch the new Steam Controller on May 4 for $99.00, and hardware engineer Steve Cardinali says the gamepad is coming before its console-like partner, the Steam Machine, because it doesn't have to contend with the ongoing RAM crisis or similar production hurdles.

Speaking with Polygon, Cardinali notes that the Steam Controller "doesn't have RAM in it, and it's not as complicated to start getting out the door for us." Steam Machine, meanwhile, had to go back to the drawing board earlier this year as Valve works to navigate a challenging environment for manufacturing components.

A rush to invest in AI and generative AI technology, and to erect a zillion data centers to support it, has consumed a significant chunk of the memory in the market. Knock-on production effects have impacted pricing and availability of myriad hardware, with gaming hit especially hard at a time when prices are already rising across the industry, especially in the US post-tariff complications.

Valve joked last month that "if you have a line on a bunch of RAM, we are in the market and would like to buy it," as it works to make Steam Machines in a volume and at a price point that will suit the market.

The Steam Controller, at least, sounds ready. I mean, Cardinali even says so. "We're ready for it," he continues. "We wanted to build up quantity so that we could try to address everybody who wants one at launch, but it's possible that the demand for it far exceeds our expectations." Indeed, Valve seems to have a boatload of Steam controllers on hand – good thing, too, because there won't be any pre-orders ahead of May 4.

Additionally, he stresses that the Steam Controller and Steam Machine were never inextricably linked. The controller is good for all manner of PC and laptop play, though it's a "pair made in heaven" for the Steam Machine as a couch gaming package. If anything, Valve was worried about the reverse launch order.

"The really only hard deadline is we didn't want to ship the Steam Machine before the Steam Controller," Cardinali says. "We want to have that out for the Steam Machine… It wasn't really ever the plan to ship them together unless it landed nicely that way. So there's no point in holding it back while we work through the other stuff."

As Phil said earlier this month: Valve is now sitting on lots of Steam controllers, so releasing them before the Steam Machine is a no-brainer.

The updated Steam Controller from Valve costs $99 and will be released on Monday, May 4, the company announced today. This Monday is looking to be a busy one, as pre-orders have not opened and Valve says the controller won't be available for purchase at all until launch day.

The updated Steam Controller product page confirms the $99 price point. It's a clean $99.00, for the record, not $99.99. Valve seems eager to avoid the dreaded third digit in $100. PC Gamer reports that the price converts to €99 for the EU, £85 for the UK, and $149 in Australian and Canadian dollars.

In a blog post, the Steam hardware team advises you save this product page "for when purchasing opens," which will seemingly be May 4. With no pre-orders, getting a hold of a Steam Controller come launch day is likely to be a Steam-crashing zoo. At least Valve is seemingly sitting on a big stockpile.

Valve highlights the Steam Controller's features across a few breakdowns. Here are the key points:

• Magnetic thumbsticks resistant to drift
• 4x haptic motors for rumble feedback
• 8.29Wh battery promising "35+ hours of gameplay on a single charge"
• Steam Controller Puck provides "plug-and-play low-latency wireless connection & easy magnetic charging"
• Two "highly precise and customizable" trackpads for mouse controls
• Grip Sense "that uses capacitive touch sensors to sense if you're holding the handles" and which can also be used "like any other button." Valve says "we love using it to pull up menus, weapon wheels, and even pause the game when you put the controller down."
• Four grip buttons which can be custom mapped. Valve says, "They are most especially useful when mapped to ABXY: you never have to move your thumb off the right stick or trackpad, allowing you to maintain precision at all times."

The Steam Machine, meanwhile, is nowhere to be seen. Production issues and pricing uncertainty surround Valve's not-console, with the company even jokingly pleading for "a line on a bunch of RAM" in today's fraught market. At least we've got the controller?

A leaked review of the upcoming Steam Controller surfaced online over the weekend, and it's sending shockwaves across the gaming hardware market. Not only does it point to a launch and review embargo for Valve's new hardware coming soon, but it's also giving us a potential hint at details like pricing. Valve's yet to formally announce the cost of its best PC controller contender, but the leaked review explicitly said it'll set you back $99.

The leak arrives a week after a SteamDB page surfaced pointing toward an unboxing video being released soon, and two weeks after a public shipment manifest suggested stock is already being sent to various markets. Valve is yet to comment or confirm any of these things, but the leaked review from TechyTalk (which has since been taken down) is yet another hint that a launch date could be approaching.

Before I give you my breakdown of the Steam Controller's supposed price, let me just say that of the three most recent news stories about the imminent gamepad, this is the one I'd trust the least. It's easy (far too easy) to fake a video these days, and there are too many questions in my mind about the leaked review to really give it too much credence as something to trust.

That said, a price of $99 for the upcoming Steam Controller is proving divisive, and as someone who's been reviewing the latest controllers for over three years now, I can see why. It depends entirely on who you ask.

$99 in the controller world is more than PlayStation charges for its standard PS5 controller, the DualSense. It's more than Xbox charges for its stock wireless controller, and sure enough, the same is true of the official Switch 2 controller. Then again, these are all fairly "basic" controllers, and Valve's offers a lot more in the way of features and design points. For example, the Steam Controller sports four back buttons and TMR thumbsticks. If you look at the officially licensed PS5 and Xbox controllers with those perks, you'll actually need to pay closer to double the $99 price tag we're talking about.

The majority of officially licensed Xbox and PS5 controllers to launch in the last year have all cost $200, offering at least Hall sensor thumbstick tech, a charging stand, wireless play, a carrying case, swappable parts, and four to six extra mappable buttons.

Compared to other PC controllers from smaller brands in the space, $99 is a bit more expensive than some might be used to. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2, the Manba One, the GameSir G7 Pro, and the PowerA OPS V3 Pro are all examples of feature-rich controllers that you can get for under $100. Then again, none of these have the novel highlight of the Steam Controller: its trackpads.

In all honesty, I think a price of $99 for the upcoming Steam Controller would be a pretty reasonable midway point for it in the current market. Don't get me wrong, I always want hardware to be as affordable as possible but, realistically, for what you get from Valve's gamepad, this price would be pretty reasonable.

Yes, from a quick comparison to the official PS5 and Xbox controllers, it might seem pricey, but keep in mind that this is offering two more back buttons than the pro-level DualSense Edge ($200), and a more modern (albeit less customizable) design than the aging Elite Series 2, which costs ~$150 most of the time in 2026.

No matter what end of the pricing argument you sit on at the moment, I'd take things with a pinch of salt until we get official word from Valve. I'd also recommend you hold onto your gamer rage until we hear the prices for the Steam Frame and Steam Machine, since those will almost certainly cause a lot more outrage than a $99 gamepad.

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For months, we've been asking why, if Valve is having so much trouble pricing and launching its new Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset, the brand doesn't get the ball rolling by releasing its new Steam Controller. Now, it seems like that might just be on the cards, as a new discovery on SteamDB hints that Valve is preparing to give us more information on the upcoming PC controller.

The SteamDB file was found by reliable VR leaker Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) on Twitter/X under the name "steam_controller_unboxing_2026", which seems to have been uploaded but not made publicly available yet. Any attempt to enter the SteamDB App ID code into the site's URL nav bar at the time of writing is met with a message telling you that "this video has not been processed for streaming".

My fellow hardware editor Phil reported last week on the fact that public records showing a shipment manifest in the US hints that Valve could be sitting on a small mountain of Steam Controller stock. With both of these stories happening in back-to-back weeks, it does leave a speculative breadcrumb trail that points toward Valve finally launching its new Steam Controller.

All three bits of Valve's new hardware family were intended for an "Early 2026" launch, but RAM shortages, manufacturing issues, and pricing difficulties have caused significant delays to the arrival of the Steam Frame and Steam Machine.

Not only that, but we haven't had any official word from Valve about either new platform since a February blog post that explained why an "Early" 2026 launch wouldn't happen. For all intents and purposes, the brand seemed optimistic about launching its new hardware at some point in 2026, but as we approach late April, we're still waiting for official word

As my pal Phil argued shortly after that February blog post, it'd make sense for Valve to bite the bullet and launch the controller for now. Doing so will show good faith to excited PC gamers, stake a claim in the gamepad market, and keep the hype for Valve's new VR and living room console ecosystem high. Not to mention, give Steam Deck users something to pair with their handheld.

Mind you, Valve still has a lot to communicate, even when it comes to the controller. We still don't know what price it'll land at. Even if it won't suffer from the same sort of RAMflation as the mini PC and VR headset, its pricing in a very competitive gamepad landscape could be pivotal to its success, and point toward how Valve is valuing its upcoming hardware.

Looking for a gamepad for another platform? Take a look at the best Xbox Series X controller, the best PS5 controller, and the best Switch 2 controller.

Valve's exact Steam Machine release date plans remain a mystery, but the controller has just entered US soil. That's according to a shipment manifest that suggests the gaming PC giant just received a delivery of "wireless PC controllers" that weighs 12,970 kg, and if it's not a sign that the mini system is finally ready to launch, the gamepad could keep us preoccupied.

First highlighted by hardware analyst Brad Lynch, Valve seemingly received its "first large quantity" of Steam Controllers last week. The shipment specifically applies to the USA, but while it's currently unknown whether the best PC controller contender has arrived in other territories, documentation shared by Videocardz backs up the gamepad shipment claims.

The shipping manifesto doesn't outright say that it includes boxes of Steam Controllers, referring to the pads as "wireless PC controller" and "Xbox wireless gaming controller". That might make it sound like someone at Valve just really likes generic pads that will work with rigs and Microsoft's console, but I suspect the document is actually referring to boxed retail stock and units designed to be included in a Steam Machine bundle.

I don't want to get anyone too excited, as it's been a rough year already for gaming hardware thanks to RAMageddon. Even the Steam Deck OLED is still MIA thanks to AI-fuelled component shortages, but the new Steam Controller stockpile could suggest the Machine will arrive on schedule in 2026. The fact that there are two gamepad listings on the manifest implies there are two separate batches, and I'd like to think one of them is destined to ship with the mini rig.

If the Steam Machine is ultimately delayed, though, Valve may still launch the controller to keep spirits high. Keeping the conversation surrounding the living room-friendly mini PC could be key to its success, and by giving players a taster of the experience through the gamepad, it could save the box from drifting into irrelevance. Keep in mind, we're not talking about a proprietary accessory, so the pad is ready to serve as part of a rig setup or alongside a Steam Deck dock to create a makeshift Machine.

While it's incredibly likely that Valve is now sitting on Steam Controller stock, you should still take the shipping leak with a grain of salt. Logic would dictate that the delivery is related to the new gamepad, but the company hasn't announced any solid arrival dates for the Machine or its pad. However, from where I'm sitting, it feels like plans for the mini PC launch are falling into place, and if all else fails, we might at least still have a fun new set of buttons in 2026.

Oh, and if it's specs you're worried about, you'll be pleased to hear the Steam Machine could pull some pretty big moves with just 8GB VRAM thanks to a Valve engineer's recent efforts.

• Mini PCs at Amazon
• Steam Deck accessories at Amazon

Craving the classics? Swing by the best retro consoles and best retro handhelds for ways to play the oldies on the go.

This week, Valve revealed the new Steam Controller, a rather chunky pro controller for any Steam device that has two trackpads just like the brand's Steam Deck. Even though it's been a hot minute since Valve launched a new gamepad, it seems to have already sent ripples out through the rest of the best PC controller market.

GameSir, one of the most prolific controller brands out there, has reacted to the reveal of the Steam Controller by hinting that it might also come out with a product that utilizes laptop-like touchpads:

Given that GameSir likes to launch a comparably massive list of products every year compared to other brands in this space, I honestly wouldn't rule out a Steam Controller rival arriving at some point in 2026. The one referenced in the Tweet above is an older device called the GameSir G5, which doesn't seem to be available anymore, but who knows what the future holds.

For those who don't know, GameSir makes some of the best controllers for PC, Xbox, and Switch. This brand prides itself on excellent value for money, often giving gamers some of the very best controller features going at a much lower cost than the big brands. I've reviewed plenty of GameSir's controllers, and despite their sub-$100 prices, they always feel premium and futureproofed.

Valve's new Steam Controller will sport TMR thumbsticks, and GameSir has been one of the leading controller makers this year to implement this technology in all of its new products. GameSir isn't a stranger to immitation, either, since its GameSir Tarantula Pro is essentially an updated version of the DualShock 4, with back buttons and a better feature set.

Elsewhere in the third-party controller market, I'd be curious to see how Hori feels about Valve's new Steam Controller, since just this year it was licensed by Steam to make the Wireless HORIPAD for Steam, which actually has similar capacitive sensors in its thumbsticks that can activate gyro functionality.

Depending on how Valve's new gamepad is received when it hits the shelves in early 2026, we could well see trackpads on more controllers next year, especially if a brand like GameSir is poised to offer up a budget alternative.

The big question that will help answer all of this is whether or not Valve is pricing its controller at a premium. If the new Steam Controller sits at the same level as the high-end pro controllers from other big brands like Razer, PlayStation, and Nacon, it could be as high as $200 / £200.

If Valve is smart and wants to follow its strategy of success from the Steam Deck, then it'll make it more affordable - the question is how much more affordable? I've never seen GameSir launch a controller that goes over $100, with the GameSir G7 Pro being the closest to that mark. I can see Valve charging more than the cost of PlayStation's DualSense since it has four back buttons and pretty advanced features, but I'd like to think buying a Steam Controller separately from either the new Steam Machine or the Steam Frame won't cost more than $150. (Keep in mind, this is just me guessing based on how much other brands charge for similar products).

• Wireless HORIPAD for Steam: $51.99 at Amazon
• GameSir G7 Pro: $79.99 at Amazon
• GameSir Tarantula Pro: $55.99 at Amazon

Hunting down something for your platform? Check out the best PS5 controller, the best Xbox Series X controller, and the best Switch 2 controller.

A Valve employee has revealed the wonderful internal name for the new Steam Controller's puck-style adapter. Are you ready for this? You're not ready for this. Dear readers, it was called... "the chongle." I know. I know. I can't contain myself.

Presumably because it looks like a chonky, dongle-type thing, the chongle is an objectively more powerful name than... Puck, which seems to be its official name. The chongle, which I'm choosing to continue calling it in defiance of official Valve lingo, is "a wireless transmitter that provides a fast, stable connection for your Steam Controller" that doubles as a charger you can use while you play. The puck can also connect up to four Steam Controllers at once.

In a tweet, Nick Bizzozero, a modeler and animator working at Valve, voiced his full support for calling the newly revealed Steam Machine the "GabeCube," a portmanteau referencing Valve president Gabe Newell and the iconic boxed-shape Nintendo Game Cube.

More importantly, Bizzozero gifted this insight to the world: "Also internally the puck was called the chongle and I'm leaking that information come get me."

In general, Valve seems to be going with a very straightforward, matter of fact, comparatively boring approach to naming its new hardware. Steam Machine. Steam Controller. Puck. I just wonder, have they considered these respective alternatives: Lean Mean Steam Machine? GabeBird? Indeed, The Chongle? This is harder than I thought.

I'm not being funny, but you'll have a Steam Machine at home if you grab this docking station for Valve's handheld

Along with a new VR headset and a new Steam Machine, Valve has just announced a brand new version of the Steam Controller. That's right, a successor to one of the weirdest gamepads ever made is officially launching, and if you were expecting Valve to cool it with the quirky designs, you're going to be disappointed. This PC controller might look amorphous and a bit weird, but as someone who reviews these gaming peripherals, I'm very intrigued.

The new version of the Steam Controller isn't quite as bizarre as the one that launched back in 2015, but it does keep a few of its signature quirks. For starters, it has two trackpads like the ones you'd find on the brand's Steam Deck (or a laptop), but most players will be glad to know that this iteration of the Steam Controller doesn't leave out the thumbsticks.

In fact, Valve has opted for the latest standard, TMR thumbsticks, which allow for much better accuracy, faster polling times, and immunity to stick drift. The new Steam Controller has symmetrical thumbsticks like PS5 controllers do, and while that probably isn't a direct jab at Sony or Microsoft's markets, I think PlayStation's DualSense might be in Valve's crosshairs in other ways.

The PS5's DualSense is still arguably in a league of its own when it comes to haptic feedback, trigger resistance, and innovative game feel features. I could write you a whole other article about how I'm disappointed with the way those things have been implemented this generation, but the specs and features of Valve's new controller tell me these are things Gabe Newell's company wants to try and improve on against the competition.

A big emphasis of this controller has been put on capacitive touch sensors, which are a thing that VR controllers like the ones for Sony's PSVR 2 headset already use. These allow the controller to detect when you're touching parts of it, potentially meaning different inputs can be interpreted depending on how you use the controller.

For example, capacitive sensors in the thumbsticks can allow gyro aiming to become active, and this is something we've already seen in the Steam Deck and Hori's Steam Controller. The grips of Valve's new controller also have these capacitive sensors in them, which opens up new versatility for you to activate features like gyro in a way that suits you.

Haptic feedback is present too, which could allow for enhanced feel and more accurate vibration. It seems like Valve is going beyond the traditional rumble we see in some of the best Xbox Series X controllers though. The brand has included 2x high-output haptic motors in the grips, as well as 2x LRA haptic motors in the trackpads, which could make using them a lot more tactile than a traditional mouse pad on a laptop. Supposedly, these will have pressure sensitivity for configurable click strength.

Elsewhere, the new Steam Controller looks like it'll do the basics well alongside these innovative features. A Lithium-ion rechargeable battery will give you a quoted life span of 35+ playtime hours, and a companion "puck" will let you connect with ease and charge as you play.

Perhaps most importantly for me, as someone who loves using back buttons, this gamepad has four that you can assign to your liking, and they're integrated into its grips. In combination with the trackpads, that leaves a lot of room for extra functionality.

In terms of connectivity, Valve has opted for a proprietary type of wireless connection, which is oddly similar to PlayStation's own brand of Bluetooth it uses for its official controllers. Valve has also given the new controller USB tethered connectivity, as well as standard Bluetooth, to help it connect to any device that can run Steam.

Perhaps the most fitting companions for this controller will be the new Steam Machine Valve has announced beside it. The new generation Steam box focuses less on modular upgrading and more on being a moderately powerful device for PC gamers who want a secondary gaming device in another room. It also seems as though the new Steam Controller will have some compatibility options with the new Steam Frame, Valve's upcoming VR headset.

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You already know how we think the Steam Controller will work with your favorite genres. Now Valve has posted a video which shows how the adaptable gamepad handles four very different games: Portal 2, Civilization 5, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Papers, Please.

The dual trackpads can emulate a mouse or serve as a sort of D-pad-joystick hybrid, depending on which works best in any given game. The pads and all the buttons can be customized to represent keyboard and mouse commands, and Valve plans on providing recommended layouts for popular games which don't support the controller natively.

The hardware's still in beta, and it doesn't look any less strange, but it clearly works--what do you think of Valve's first step in shaking up the rigid world of video game inputs?

Look! Up on the 'net! It's a miniature boombox! It's a jet-black lemur! No--it's Valve's newly announced piece of tech: the Steam Controller. This is the final piece of the puzzle to SteamOS and Steam Machines; after all, what's a living room system without a controller? Call us geeky, but we tend to get a little giddy when any major company debuts a new controller. The feel and responsiveness of a controller is crucial to the experience of playing a game; if your input feels off in any way, the entire act of playing will be thrown out of sync.

The Steam Controller itself is an oddity: two touchpads instead of joysticks, buttons straddling a touchscreen in the middle of the gamepad. It got us thinking: How on Earth will it work with the enormous library of games available on Steam? This is all pure speculation; we won't know anything for certain until we actually get our hands on a Steam Controller. But until that time comes, we can't help but wonder what the gameplay experience will be in genres like

This is a big one, for Valve and the PC gaming community at large. If the Steam Controller can't hang in games like Team Fortress 2, Half-Life, or Left 4 Dead, what business does Valve have even making it? There's always been a disconnect between controllers and mouse-and-keyboard schemes when it comes to FPS games, given how finicky joysticks can be for precise aiming. Then again, controller triggers have always made sense as left-mouse/right-mouse button surrogates.

Valve claims that "the trackpads allow far higher fidelity input than has previously been possible with traditional handheld controllers." But they'll never match the precision of a mouse; after all, your poor thumb can't compete with the dexterity of an entire hand. Even so, it seems like the Steam Controller will be perfectly adequate for playing an FPS. We'd bet our lunch money that it'll feel more precise than an Xbox 360 controller ever could.

Traditionally, RTS games have crashed and burned whenever they stepped outside the bounds of their PC home. Sure, there have been some exceptions. Brutal Legend got around the frustrations of map-wide unit control by tethering you to a third-person hero; Halo Wars was built from the ground up to function on consoles. But for every one of those games (which people were already lukewarm about anyway), you get something akin to StarCraft 64.

The Steam Controller will probably function with RTSes like it will with FPSes: good enough to get by. Things like micro-managing your units or hotkeying buildings will be all but impossible, but you should be able to select units and guide their functions at the most basic level. And depending on how customizable the touchscreen buttons are, they could make activated abilities and switching between control groups a snap with a little practice.

Aha--here's where the Steam Controller can really shine. With the way turn-based strategy removes the need for twitch reflex, we could see the Steam Controller working great for playing Civilization or Crusader Kings on the couch. Most turn-based games are keyboard-optional as it is, and last year's stellar XCOM: Enemy Unknown soundly proved that turn-based tactics could be done quite well on a controller.

Will using the Steam Controller be in any way superior to using a joystick-equipped controller? Probably. If Valve's assertion that the trackpads were built with "high resolution and absolute position control," it'll likely be a cinch to select the right tabs and markers even in a menu full of tactical choices. And because the touchpad also acts as a button, making strategic plays should be as simple as browsing Twitter on your smartphone.

Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening. If you're a fan of Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition or King of Fighters XIII on Steam, the Steam Controller has nothing to offer you. Fighting games, by the very nature of their special attacks, super moves, and complex combos, require you to press multiple buttons while holding a direction. On the Steam Controller, that seems all but impossible, because your right hand is hamstrung by the giant circular touchpad it has to jump over anytime it wants to press a button. And the buttons located by the left touchpad might as well not exist--you'll never be able to press them during a match.

Is this a huge loss? Not really, in the grand scheme of things--PC fighting games have always been a niche, and those that do play tend to prefer an arcade stick with a console anyway. Still, it's bizarre to think that an entire genre with a decent presence on Steam will be wholly incompatible (in theory) with the Steam Controller itself.

This runs into the same problem as fighting games: there are going to be times when you want to be moving and pressing buttons simultaneously, but your thumb can only be in one place at a time. Depending on the game, the right touchpad could be useless or handy, but they're unlikely to benefit from the increased fidelity of a touchpad versus a joystick.

If a PC-exclusive sports game were made that could make use of the Steam Controller's central touchscreen for planning out your plays, that would be pretty interesting. The chances of there actually being a worthwhile PC-exclusive sports game are also close to or at zero.

This might be a case-by-case basis situation, but we're definitely wary. Platformers usually function off running and jumping, usually with some shooting in the mix. But something about that dinky triangular A button makes it seem like jumping will feel incredibly unsatisfying. Sidescrollers also greatly benefit from the presence of a D-pad, something that simply doesn't exist on the Steam Controller. Maybe the controller's highly customizable haptics can make it feel like there's a D-pad lurking underneath the touchpad, but right now there's just no telling.

Run-and-jump gameplay can work just fine with a one-button / one-trigger configuration; Super Meat Boy is best played when you're sprinting with a held-down controller trigger. But any complex platformer where you have to slide, then jump, then attack in the air, then land and use a special ability will fall apart when played with a Steam Controller. We think, anyway. The button count readily available to your right thumb just isn't enough.

Gas on the right trigger, brake on the left. Nitrous on the right touchpad button. Yeah, that'll do.

In all seriousness, the seemingly advanced haptics in the Steam Controller could offer incredible tactile feedback in a racing game, much like the Xbox One controller. Valve says that the two actuators in the controller are "capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement." If we could feel the pavement beneath our speeding wheels, that would actually be pretty sweet. Heck, maybe you could even display the rear-view mirror on the touch screen for that little extra something.

That's not every video game genre under the sun; we just wanted to get the ball rolling. So tell us: How do you think the Steam Controller will function with your favorite Steam games? Will it excel with some genres, and fail miserably at others? Or is it simply too early to tell? Enlighten us in the comments section below.

To find out more about the Valve's three big announcements, check out SteamOS iswhat, exactly? and Demystifying the Steam Machines.

Valve is making a strange new controller for its strange new world of living room gaming. The company revealed the last new star in the Steam Universe today, a gamepad meant to play any kind of PC game--from RTS to FPS--in comfort, on Steam Machines and any other Steam-running device.

The Steam Controller eschews joysticks in favor of two circular, clickable trackpads. Like the rest of the device, they're placed symmetrically and hold much more than meets the eye. Their input resolution approaches that of a mouse, Valve says, and both pads sit atop dual linear resonant actuators: a new generation of precise force feedback.

Rather than simply rumbling a little or a lot, the actuators can deliver force and vibration of varying frequency, strength, and even direction. This gives physical feedback without physical joysticks, and offers a new way to deliver feedback about in-game textures, thresholds, and speed.

Between the owl-esque trackpads lies a clickable touchscreen. This can be used both to navigate Steam and as a bespoke interface for each individual game--though Valve remains skeptical of second-screen gaming, as the controller's display is overlayed on top of the main monitor when touched.

Sixteen traditional buttons complete the package, with two triggers on the top, two clickable grips on the backside, and an assortment of face buttons positioned around the trackpads.

The controller's first prototypes will be distributed with the Steam Machines beta this year, so follow those instructions if you're interested in trying it out.