Valve Sets Steam Controller Release Date and Price as Steam Machine Wait Continues

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Following numerous leaks and speculation, Valve is releasing its new Steam Controller, but it’s launching on its own—without any other new hardware from the company.

Okay, so I just checked Steam, and it looks like Valve is finally releasing the controller on May 4th, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The Verge is saying it’ll be $99 here in the US, but the price varies depending on where you are – $149 AUD in Australia, $149 CAD in Canada, €99 in Europe, and £85 in the UK. Not bad, honestly!

This launch is a bit different than planned. Valve first showed off the Steam Controller in November 2025 as part of a larger set of hardware, including the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset. However, the controller is being released now, giving PC and Steam Deck users a chance to try it out before the other devices are ready.

Steam Controller Release Date

The Steam Controller will be available for purchase starting Monday, May 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time or 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Valve announced the release date just one week beforehand.

Valve won’t be accepting pre-orders for the Steam Controller. Instead, it will be available for purchase as soon as it’s released.

This is the first confirmed launch from the company’s latest Steam hardware plan.

This launch marks the first official product from Valve’s new Steam hardware initiative. While the Steam Machine and Steam Frame are still in development, Valve hasn’t announced when they’ll be available. According to The Verge, the Steam Controller will be released before the other devices, and Valve promises to share updates on the full hardware lineup soon.

How Much Does the Steam Controller Cost?

The Steam Controller will be priced at $99 in the US. Other regions will see prices of $149 AUD in Australia, $149 CAD in Canada, €99 in the EU, and £85 in the UK. While it costs more than many standard PC gamepads, PC Gamer highlights that the controller is designed for comfortable, PC-style gaming away from a traditional desk setup.

The new controller won’t be available everywhere when it first comes out, and unfortunately, India isn’t on the initial list of supported countries. Valve is releasing the controller in places where people already use Steam hardware, like the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. For now, India isn’t included in this first wave of releases.

The announced price isn’t shocking, as a similar amount – $99.99 – leaked online a few days prior. A brief, early review of the Steam Controller appeared on the YouTube channel Techy Talk before being removed. Screenshots from that video quickly circulated on Reddit, and the Steam Deck HQ team noted the price wasn’t official until Valve confirmed it. Now that Valve has announced the price, the initial leak seems to have been correct.

Why Is Valve Releasing the Steam Controller Alone?

Valve is releasing the Steam Controller before the Steam Machine because it’s simpler to manufacture and distribute. They haven’t announced when the Steam Machine or Steam Frame will be available yet. While component shortages like memory and storage caused some delays to Valve’s hardware plans, the company clarifies that the Controller and Machine weren’t necessarily intended to launch simultaneously.

Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais recently told The Verge that while there’s no news yet on a Steam Machine or Steam Frame update, the company is actively working to release them.

Valve engineer Steve Cardinali explained that the Steam Controller was simpler to release initially than the Steam Machine because it doesn’t require RAM. He noted that it was less complex to prepare for launch and they were ready to ship it. Valve aimed to have enough units available for everyone who wanted one at launch, but they anticipated demand might be higher than expected.

The Steam Machine won’t be released on May 4th, even though the Steam Controller is still launching on that date. Valve promises to share more details about the full range of Steam Machine hardware soon.

What Are the Features and Specifications?

The new Steam Controller, like the popular Steam Deck, is designed to offer simple, reliable controls for any PC game.

Valve’s Steam Controller features magnetic thumbsticks that use TMR technology, making them feel great, last a long time, and respond quickly. TechRadar also noted the controller’s dual touchpads, these advanced thumbsticks, high-definition haptics, motion controls, and four customizable buttons on the back.

While the controller works with many devices, it’s truly optimized for Steam and Steam Input. Valve designed it to connect to any computer running Steam – whether it’s a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine. You can even use it with phones and tablets via Steam Link, or as a standard controller, though some features might not work perfectly depending on your device and how you set it up.

The controller comes with the Steam Controller Puck, which acts as a wireless connection point and charger. According to TechRadar, the controller magnetically attaches to the Puck for charging and connects to your computer through it.

For a detailed breakdown of the controller’s specs and features, look below:

  • Gamepad Controls: A B X Y buttons, D-pad, L & R analog triggers, L & R bumpers, View & Menu buttons, Steam & QAM buttons, 4x assignable grip buttons.
  • Thumbsticks: 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch.
  • Haptics: 4x haptic motors, 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback, 2x high output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics, including rumble.
  • Trackpads: 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback, pressure-sensitive for configurable click strength.
  • Grip Sense: 2x capacitive areas along the back of the Steam Controller handles.
  • Gyro: 6-axis IMU.
  • Steam Controller Puck: 2.4GHz wireless connection, ~8ms full end-to-end, 4ms polling rate (measured at 5m), Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller Puck, Steam Controller Puck connects to a PC via USB-C.
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended.
  • USB: USB-C tethered play.
  • Charging: Steam Controller Puck charging interface, USB-C connector.
  • Battery: 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery, 35+ hours of gameplay (Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced).
  • Weight: Steam Controller: 292 g, Steam Controller Puck: 16 g.
  • Size: Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mm, Steam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm.
  • For now, the Steam Controller is the clearest part of Valve’s new hardware plan. It has a confirmed launch date, a fixed price, and early hands-on reviews by many outlets, including IGN’s Steam Controller unboxing video. The Steam Machine, on the other hand, is still waiting for its chance.

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2026-04-29 00:00