The $100 price point has divided the community. Critics argue it is too steep for a controller that lacks an audio jack, microphone, and trigger-force feedback — features that have become standard at this price range. Supporters counter that the Steam Controller's unique hardware, including its trackpads and touch sensors, justifies the cost and that at half the price of premium competitors it still represents reasonable value. Many fans had pegged $80 as the expected and ideal price point, making the rumored $100 a harder sell. For context, the Switch 2 Pro Controller carries a $90 price tag and the PS5 DualSense sits at $75, meaning the Steam Controller would enter a competitive market as one of the pricier options — a tough position in a hardware landscape where rising costs are already straining consumer budgets.