Valve’s New $100 Controller: Why It Rings Like a Phone, Ditches the 3.5mm Jack, and Isn’t Named Steam Controller 2

During my chat with Valve’s engineer Jeremy Slocum and designer Lawrence Yang about the upcoming Steam Controller, I had to ask one burning question: Why can’t I see the controller’s battery life in Steam when it’s connected wirelessly? They chuckled, and Yang clarified that players will indeed be able to check the battery life once the controller is officially released. That feature just wasn’t available in the current Steam beta.

I almost wrapped up the interview there, having answered my main question, but I knew there were more details to uncover about Valve’s latest hardware release: the $100 Steam Controller, set to launch on May 4. After using it for a few weeks, I can confidently say it’s quickly become one of my favorite controllers. Its comfortable design, handy back buttons, and a USB-powered puck that charges the controller without overcharging while also serving as a wireless dongle make it a standout. Plus, it means users can avoid the hassle of Bluetooth, although the Steam Controller does support it if you prefer. Overall, it’s a fantastic controller that has become my go-to for PC gaming.

I was curious why Valve decided to create a controller in a market already saturated with options, many of which are cheaper. Valve explained that after the success of the Steam Deck, where players loved the controls—including the touchpads and back buttons—there was a clear opportunity. As users began docking the Steam Deck to play games on their TVs, they faced a new challenge.

“People were playing all sorts of different games on their Steam Decks,” Yang noted. “But when they docked it, they often had to compromise with other controllers. So we thought this was the perfect time to leverage what we learned from the Steam Deck and create a Steam Controller that meets these needs.”

Valve also recognized that many players use whatever controller is handy, which might not have the same useful inputs as the Steam Deck. They wanted to ship the Steam Machine with its own controller, and it felt like “all the stars aligned,” as Yang put it. However, Valve did confirm that the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset are facing RAM shortages, and their launch dates remain uncertain, with a promise of 2026.

This isn’t Valve’s first attempt at a PC gaming controller; the original Steam Controller debuted in 2015. It was a unique design, featuring just one thumbstick and two large touchpads.

“When we launched the original Steam Controller, we aimed to solve the problem of allowing players to enjoy all their PC games, even those not designed for traditional gamepads,” Yang explained, showcasing an original Steam Controller over Zoom. The concept was intriguing, but it didn’t resonate with many players, including myself, who found it awkward to hold and use. I asked if Valve learned from the feedback on the 2015 model to make the new controller more user-friendly.

“Yes,” Slocum replied. “It’s crucial that it looks familiar and feels intuitive. If it doesn’t, people hesitate to try it. They think, ‘I don’t know what this is. I’ll stick with what I know.’” Valve also gained valuable insights from the Steam Deck, which was influenced by reactions to the original Steam Controller. They applied all these lessons to the new Steam Controller.

“With the design of the new Steam Controller, we wanted it to feel familiar to traditional controllers,” Slocum said. “You should be able to pick it up and use it without thinking about how to operate it. Your muscle memory should kick in.”

Given that I have to differentiate between “the old” and “the new” Steam Controllers, I wondered if Valve considered a different name for the new gamepad. Yang confirmed they hadn’t brainstormed a new title, stating, “It was either going to be Steam Controller or Steam Controller 2.” They ultimately decided that sticking with “Steam Controller” made the most sense, as it represents a completely new product with a different set of inputs, while still being a spiritual successor to the original.

One of the first things I noticed about the new Steam Controller was the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack. I often use this feature on my PlayStation and Xbox controllers for chatting and gaming with my wired headphones. I asked why this wasn’t included in the $100 Steam Controller.

“It’s definitely something we discussed,” Slocum said. “Considering the various trade-offs, we realized many people use different audio technologies with PCs, like Bluetooth headsets or gaming headsets with their own dongles.” He added that Valve felt there were already plenty of solutions for game audio on PCs, so they didn’t want to complicate the controller with that feature.

While you won’t be able to plug in your old headset, the Steam Controller is designed for easy modification and repair. Yang emphasized that this was a key aspect of its design.

“The Steam Controller is really easy to open,” he explained. “It has seven Torx screws on the back, no tabs, and you don’t need any special tools to get inside. This allows users to customize it with different colored buttons or service their own controller.”

Slocum added, “If someone needs to replace the battery—which we don’t expect—they can just unscrew it, take it out, and pop a new one in.” Making the controller easy to open isn’t just for repairs; it also encourages modding. Valve plans to share 3D scans and schematics of the controller’s casing and wired dongle, allowing modders to create various modifications.

“We’re excited to see what people do once they have it in their hands and make it their own,” Yang said. Maybe a talented modder will even add a 3.5mm headphone jack.

With the announcement of the Steam Machine and Steam Controller, along with the previous release of the Steam Deck, it’s clear Valve aims to broaden PC gaming beyond traditional setups. However, navigating Steam without a mouse and keyboard can still be cumbersome. Tasks like browsing a game’s Workshop page or scrolling through forums feel more suited for keyboard and mouse than a controller. Valve is aware of this and is actively working to enhance Steam’s interface for better compatibility with the Steam Controller and other gamepads.

“There are many pages that need a better experience in gamepad mode, and we’re on it,” Yang stated. “You’ll see updates rolling out over time. Some recent changes to the Steam Store have already made it more gamepad-friendly, and we’ll continue to improve that across Steam.”

Valve also wants to ensure that features popularized by the Steam Deck work seamlessly with the Steam Controller from day one.

“Any community configurations made for the Steam Deck will automatically transfer to the Steam Controller,” Yang explained. “This means that if someone has created their own configurations for the Steam Deck, they can just pick up the Steam Controller, and it will work just like their Steam Deck.”

Talking to Valve, it was clear that ensuring everyone can easily use this controller is a top priority.

“As a user experience designer, I think about the spectrum of customers,” Yang said. “Some just want to plug it in and play without fussing with settings, while others want to dive deep into customization. We’ve designed our system to cater to both. You can simply open the box, plug in the puck, connect the USB cable, and start gaming.”

One of the amusing features of the upcoming Steam Controller is its ping function. If you misplace your controller, you can ping it through Steam, causing it to vibrate and make a noise. This is practical, especially if it’s lost in a couch. What’s funny is that the ping sound resembles an old phone ringing, which I found hilarious and tested multiple times. I had to ask Valve about this choice.

“Engineer Rich [Karstens] thought it was a funny sound, and we all agreed it was a good choice, so we kept it,” Yang said. This highlights how Valve’s approach differs from other big tech companies.

“Typically, engineers or designers would have a formal meeting to decide on something like the ping noise,” Yang noted. “At Valve, it’s more organic; people just implement ideas.”

If, for some reason, you dislike the ringing phone sound, Valve confirmed that you can customize this feature, just like many other aspects of the hardware. They seem eager to see how players will tweak it.

And if you’re hoping for a version of the Steam Controller in different colors, Valve is open to that possibility.

“We’re definitely considering it,” Yang said. “We experimented with various colorways for the Steam Deck, and the Steam Controller is a great candidate for that as well.” I jokingly suggested a translucent controller reminiscent of the ’90s, and while they laughed, they didn’t dismiss the idea. So if that happens, you can thank me later.

The new Steam Controller is set to launch on May 4 for $100.