New Steam Controller Pre-Orders Set to Launch This Week

If you missed the brief window when Valve’s new Steam Controller was up for grabs before it quickly sold out, there’s good news: Valve is gearing up for another round of pre-orders for its $99 PC gamepad, just as they promised.

On Thursday, Valve announced that reservations for the Steam Controller will open on Friday, May 8. This time, they aim to enhance the purchasing experience and curb reseller activity. The company plans to keep restocking as they receive more units from the manufacturer, but for now, securing one of these sought-after controllers will come with additional restrictions.

The new round of orders for the Steam Controller will kick off on May 8 at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT. This time, a reservation queue will be in place. Customers can secure a spot in line, and their orders will be fulfilled as stock becomes available.

Those who successfully register for a controller will get an email from Valve when their unit is ready. Once they receive that email, buyers will have 72 hours to complete their purchase on Steam.

To keep things fair, Valve is limiting orders to one Steam Controller per customer. Anyone who has already bought one won’t be able to reserve another. Additionally, buyers must have a Steam account in “good standing” and must have made a purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026. Valve implemented a similar policy during the pre-orders for the Steam Deck in 2021.

Inventory will be replenished region by region, starting with reservations in the U.S. and Canada next week, followed by the U.K., Europe, and Australia in the weeks that follow.

While the sellout of the Steam Controller may be frustrating for some, it provides a glimpse into how the release of the new Steam Machine might unfold. Hopefully, Valve will apply similar pre-order restrictions for its upcoming hardware, learning from the experience with the Steam Controller.

Valve explains why it took so long to get a new Steam Controller just right.