TL;DR
- Sales of the Steam Controller open on May 4, priced at $99.
- Valve has yet to share release dates for the Steam Machine nor Steam Frame.
- The Controller does support Bluetooth, but only works with Steam games.
There’s probably no easier way to get PC gamers excited than to tell them that new Steam hardware is on the way. So imagine how close everyone’s heads nearly came to exploding last year when Valve announced not just one, but three new products it was cooking up: the Steam Machine game console, Steam Frame wireless VR headset, and a new Steam Controller — the first update in over a decade. And while we’re still waiting to learn when those first two will land, Valve has started sharing the details on the Steam Controller’s imminent arrival.
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According to Valve, sales of the Steam Controller open in one week, on May 4, at 7am Eastern/10am Pacific. The gamepad will set you back $99.
Compared to the old 2015 model, we’re getting a huge redesign, with relocated trackpads, a dedicated D-pad, and the addition of a second thumbstick. The whole layout should feel right at home to anyone who’s spent some time gaming on a Steam Deck, attempting to mirror that configuration. That also means that tons of games are already optimized to take advantage of these controls.
You’ll have the option to game wirelessly with the help of the Steam Controller’s magnetic charging puck. It doubles as a wireless adapter, or you can just leave it attached for a secure, wired connection. Even if you forget it, there’s a hardware USB-C port on the Controller itself, plus built-in Bluetooth.
Everything’s sounding pretty hot so far — so what’s the catch? Well, there’s that steep cost of admission, and at $99 this solution is quite a bit pricier than most wireless PC controllers — although admittedly, it’s hard to find a good option with trackpads.
What’s maybe more concerning is the limited compatibility. The Steam Controller is made to work with Steam, and Steam alone. So while this will work just fine with PC games you play through Steam, as well as with the Steam Deck and upcoming Steam Frame and Machine, but it’s not a generic Bluetooth controller you can use with non-Steam PC games. And that includes Android, as well — while you can connect over Bluetooth to your phone or tablet for playing via Steam Link, you won’t be using this with native Android games.
Even with those restrictions in mind, we imagine Valve’s new Steam Controller will prove quite popular — especially once the rest of the company’s new hardware arrives, ready to support it.
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Stay tuned for updates on valve steam controller sales open next as the story develops. Related: Valve’s Steam Machine: Pricing Set (Oof!), Preorder Lottery Open Now, Shipping Soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sales open on May 4 at 7am Eastern / 10am Pacific, priced at $99, a huge redesign over the 2015 model with relocated trackpads, a dedicated D-pad, and a second thumbstick.
No. It is made to work with Steam and Steam alone, so it works with PC games played through Steam, the Steam Deck, and the upcoming Steam Frame and Machine, but not native Android games or non-Steam PC games.
It has a magnetic charging puck that doubles as a wireless adapter or can stay attached for wired play, plus a hardware USB-C port and built-in Bluetooth.
Valve also announced the Steam Machine game console and the Steam Frame wireless VR headset, but release dates and prices for those two are still unknown.
