Valve's New Steam Controller Is Official and Launches May 4 for $99
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Valve has officially confirmed its new Steam Controller, with the device launching on May 4 at 10:00 AM PST for $99 in the United States and £85 in the United Kingdom. The announcement puts an end to weeks of speculation following a brief leak by a Japanese publication that gave the first size comparison against current PlayStation and Xbox controllers. The $99 price point places the Steam Controller above standard console gamepads but below premium Pro and Elite models that often retail for nearly double that amount, positioning Valve in an accessible premium tier aimed squarely at the core PC gaming community as it prepares for a broader hardware rollout later in 2026.
The technical specifications represent a significant step forward from Valve's original controller. The new device features next-generation TMR magnetic thumbsticks specifically engineered to eliminate stick drift and improve long-term reliability, two 34.5mm square trackpads with high-definition haptic feedback for precision navigation in strategy and shooter genres, a 6-axis gyro for motion control, and four assignable back buttons. The included Steam Controller Puck handles both wireless connectivity at a 4ms polling rate and charging through a magnetic snap-in design that eliminates fumbling with cables. Valve designer Lawrence Yang said the priority was hardware that simply works out of the box, catering to players who want a console-like setup experience without the complexity of Bluetooth pairing or tangled wires.
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99$ for controller isnt that bad as it seems