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The new Steam Controller releases May 4th

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Last updated: 27 Apr 2026 at 6:03 pm UTC

Valve have now confirmed the new Steam Controller is launching May 4th, and they've confirmed the pricing too. They're launching without the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, sadly. Valve have been stuck in a hard place here with the prices of components rising due to AI companies and there's no new information on when they might appear just yet.

The Steam Controller will be priced at US: $99 USD / Canada: $149 CAD / EU: €99 / UK: £85 / AUD 149 / PLN 419. It will work across any system that has Steam including PCs and Laptops, Steam Deck and eventually of course the Steam Frame and Steam Machine too. Basically anywhere that Steam Input works.

From the press release Valve just sent:

  • High-performance, ergonomic controller:
    • Next-generation magnetic thumbsticks with TMR technology
    • Full-sized controls
    • Trackpads
    • Grip buttons
    • Grip-enabled Gyro (Grip Sense)
  • Comes with a cool puck!
    • Puck serves as a wireless transmitter for a fast, stable connection
    • ...and it's also a charging station (clicks in magnetically to your Controller)
  • Battery life capable of supporting 35+ hours of gameplay

Valve said it will release around May 4th, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific / 5PM UTC.

Where will it be available? The Steam Controller will be available on Steam in the following regions: U.S., CA, U.K., EU, and AU; as well as in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan through Komodo Station in those regions.

See more in the Valve blog post.

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Reviews elsewhere have gone live as various websites and YouTube channels (like Gamers Nexus) had access early, but as of yet Valve have not supplied GamingOnLinux with one. I'm hoping we'll see one eventually.

As one of the biggest fans of the original Steam Controller, I'm keen to see in my own hands how much it has improved since their first attempt.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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16 comments

Eike 3 hours ago
  • Supporter Plus
Star Wars day, RLY?!? :D
rea987 3 hours ago
Too big for my taste. Btw, I have fairly big hands and long fingers. Yet, I don't see myself spending hours with it. 8bitdo Pro 2 will remain my favourite as it seems.
WORM 3 hours ago
I'm willing to give it a shot, even at its steep MSRP. Right now I use a Sony DualSense controller if I need a d-pad and a wireless Xbox 360 controller otherwise. 360 controllers' springs tend to loosen over time and (shocker) aren't manufactured anymore, so I'd really like to find something modern that feels comfortable to use. Xbox One controllers feel worse to me in basically every conceivable way unfortunately.

If the d-pad is to my liking, it may even replace my DS controller. 🤞
chickenb00 3 hours ago
I'm eager to get one as well as a diehard Steam Controller-Stan. Liam will you be buying one soon or is it possible Valve ships you one for review if you ask politely?
dwm 3 hours ago
May the Fourth Feedback be with you, always.
Drakker 3 hours ago
I hope the Canadian pricing is an error... because 99$ USD is roughly 135$ in CAD right now... not 149$.
GoEsr 3 hours ago
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Having a controller with back paddles that aren't just macros of other button presses would be nice. I have an EasySMX X20 and the back buttons are completely useless in the vast majority of games and since they're not emitting anything of their own so Steam Input doesn't see them.
I don't know why the controller space seems to still be basing their bindings on Xinput (which forces every manufacturer to fake an Xbox controller), Microsoft deprecated it years ago.
Arehandoro 3 hours ago
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Quoting: EikeStar Wars day, RLY?!? :D
May the haptic feedback be with you.
M@GOid 2 hours ago
100 US dollars will make it too expensive in my neck of the woods. Maybe next year if it goes on a good sale discount.
TimeFreeze 2 hours ago
Lets hope the controller works without Steam as well. I dont play only on Steam......
Purple Library Guy 2 hours ago
Quoting: TimeFreezeLets hope the controller works without Steam as well.
I bet you can also run it on electricity. I mean, some people can't get coal.
Renzatic Gear 2 hours ago
Oh lord above, IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING!

Quoting: rea987Too big for my taste.
It's actually not that big, if we go by the hands on pic in this article.

...unless he's a giant or something.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valves-new-steam-controller-aims-to-entice-a-broader-field-of-pc-players-which-i-fear-already-includes-me
RavenWings 2 hours ago
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May the fourth be with me soon! (it works, because I´m probaply gonna buy four of them (the first-to-third are hopefully gonna be with me soon too (yeah, we all now the best jokes are the ones you have to explain (I heard nested parantheses are great for readability!)))!)
Cybolic 1 hour ago
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With the amount of times I've put off a desktop gaming session because I couldn't remember how my DualSense differed from the Steam Deck controls, or because of the awkward way it handles gyro aiming (or how on earth that touchpad thing is supposed to work), the Steam Controller (2) is going right in the basket next week!
A shame they didn't keep the dual-stage triggers from the original Steam Controller, but at least it'll be a consistent experience from Deck to Desktop!
such 48 minutes ago
Well, I'll be waiting on a decent sale. And some hardware revisions, probably
nullzero 41 minutes ago
Quoting: DrakkerI hope the Canadian pricing is an error... because 99$ USD is roughly 135$ in CAD right now... not 149$.
Probably not. Keeping round numbers in different currency is a thing :(

For EUR is even worse 99EUR is 116 USD
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