Valve Introduces the Steam Controller, Skipping the Steam Machine Release

Last November, Valve unveiled its ambitious vision for living room gaming with the Steam Machine and Steam Controller. However, a memory shortage led to delays, forcing Valve to recalibrate its hardware plans. Now, the Steam Controller is set to launch independently of the Steam Machine.

The Steam Controller will be available for purchase starting May 4th at 1 PM ET, priced at $99 USD, $149 CAD, $149 AUD, £85 in the UK, and €99 in the EU. After two weeks of testing the controller with our Steam Decks and gaming PCs, it’s safe to say it’s impressive!

As for the Steam Machine console and Steam Frame headset, Valve is keeping details under wraps. Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve mentioned, “Right now we don’t have any updates on that, but we’re hard at work on it, and we hope to have news soon.” Valve had previously promised to release both products this year.

You don’t need a Steam Machine to use the new Steam Controller; it’s compatible with any computer running Steam and can also function as a generic controller for mobile devices. Since the launch of the Steam Deck, fans have been eager for a successor to the original Steam Controller, essentially a gamepad version of the Deck’s controls. Excitement surged in 2022 when Valve’s hardware team hinted at making this dream a reality.

Jay has noted that the Steam Controller meets his expectations, allowing him to play his Steam Deck on the TV with a more comfortable design while retaining his controller profiles and muscle memory.

The delay of Valve’s other hardware means our reviews of the Steam Controller feel a bit incomplete. We couldn’t assess its performance with the Steam Machine’s dedicated controller antenna or its functionality in virtual reality with the Steam Frame, where the controller is tracked by the headset’s cameras thanks to built-in infrared LEDs.

However, we’re impressed with what we’ve experienced so far, and Valve has shared some additional insights:

* Valve is still committed to providing replacement parts for the Steam Controller and continues its partnership with iFixit.
* While they can’t guarantee they’ll meet demand, Valve has produced a “significant quantity” of controllers and has the capacity to make more.
* Unlike the original 2015 model, this new controller isn’t solely produced by robots.
* Valve is exploring more ways to display the controller’s battery life within Steam.
* There’s a possibility of allowing users to adjust the controller speaker volume in future updates.
* Some features were considered but ultimately dropped due to cost, weight, or reliability issues, such as touch-sensitive bumpers.
* The price of the Steam Controller may be slightly higher than initially planned, not necessarily due to RAM issues, but because shipping costs have increased significantly.

Lastly, if you’re curious about the availability of the Steam Deck, Griffais mentioned that Valve is “working hard on trying to address that,” but acknowledged the challenges posed by the current global situation.