Valve Launches New Steam Controller After 11-Year Wait, Priced at $99

Key facts

• Steam Controller launches May 4, 2026, at 10am PT / 1pm ET, priced at $99.
• Sales limited to two per verified Steam account, exclusively via Steam Store.
• Touchpads measure 34.5mm, slightly larger than Steam Deck's 32.5mm, with enhanced haptic feedback.
• Valve has not announced release dates for Steam Machine or Steam Frame, announced alongside the controller.
• Pierre-Loup Griffais, Valve programmer, promised more news on Steam Machine soon.
• In Asia, the controller will be sold through official distributor Komodo Station starting at 8am local time.

A New Controller After More Than a Decade

Valve has finally released a new Steam Controller, nearly 11 years after the original debuted in 2015. The peripheral, priced at $99 (approximately ¥680), goes on sale May 4, 2026, at 10am Pacific Time. The company chose to retain the original name rather than calling it Controller 2, signaling a fresh start for the product line. The launch comes six months after Valve officially announced the Steam Machine, Controller, and Frame together. However, amid what the company described as a 'memory tsunami,' Valve decided to delay the game console and VR headset, opting to test the market with the controller first.

Designed for Mouse-Intensive Games

The new controller's standout feature remains its dual trackpads, which are as prominent as the analog sticks. Valve designed the controller to solve a longstanding problem: making mouse-dependent Windows games playable with a gamepad, a crucial step for the SteamOS ecosystem. According to official specifications, the trackpads are 34.5mm long, slightly larger than the 32.5mm trackpads on the Steam Deck, and are angled outward to fit the grip of a controller. The haptic feedback is described as 'compact and powerful,' offering a more comfortable experience than both the original controller and the Steam Deck.

Praise from Tech Reviewers

Early reviews have been positive. Linus, a well-known tech reviewer, called the new controller 'the best mouse simulation experience on the market.' The improved trackpad feedback and ergonomics have been highlighted as key improvements over the 2015 model and the Steam Deck. Valve's design philosophy positions the controller as a bridge between a gaming PC in the bedroom and a television in the living room, part of a broader push to make SteamOS a viable living-room platform.

Limited Availability and Regional Sales

The controller will be sold exclusively through the Steam Store in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. In Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, it will be distributed through Komodo Station, the official regional distributor. Purchases are limited to two per verified Steam account. Valve has not disclosed initial production numbers, but analysts expect high demand could lead to rapid sellouts.

Steam Machine and Frame Still in Development

Valve has yet to announce release dates or prices for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, both unveiled alongside the controller last year. In an interview with IGN, Valve programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais said the company is working hard to launch those products soon. 'We can't share specific timeline details today, but we're pushing to get them out as quickly as possible,' Griffais said. 'I think we'll have some news to share soon, and overall, progress is going well.' The delay of the Steam Machine and Frame suggests Valve is prioritizing the controller as a lower-risk entry point to gauge consumer interest in its hardware ecosystem.

A Calculated Step Toward SteamOS Dominance

The new Steam Controller represents Valve's latest effort to expand beyond PC gaming and into the living room. By refining the mouse simulation experience, the company aims to make its SteamOS platform a genuine alternative to Windows for game libraries that rely on mouse input. With the controller now on sale, all eyes turn to the Steam Machine and Frame. If the controller sells well, it could accelerate Valve's timeline for those products. For now, the company is taking a cautious approach, letting the controller test the waters before diving deeper into hardware.

The bottom line

• The Steam Controller launches May 4, 2026, at $99, with a two-per-account limit.
• Improved trackpads (34.5mm) and haptics offer best-in-class mouse simulation, according to early reviews.
• Sales are restricted to Steam Store in most regions; Asia via Komodo Station.
• Valve has delayed Steam Machine and Frame, with no release dates yet.
• Pierre-Loup Griffais indicated more news on Steam Machine is coming soon.
• The controller is a strategic test for Valve's broader SteamOS hardware ecosystem.