TL;DR
- The Steam Controller will go on sale starting May 4, priced at $99.
- Valve has not yet shared release dates for Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
- The controller supports Bluetooth, but only works with Steam games.
There’s probably no easier way to get PC gamers excited than to tell them that new Steam hardware is on the way. So imagine how close everyone’s heads came to exploding last year when Valve announced not one, but three new products: the Steam Machine game console, the Steam Frame wireless VR headset, and a new Steam controller – the first update in over a decade. And while we’re still waiting to know when those first two will land, Valve has started sharing details on the Steam Controller’s imminent arrival.
Don’t want to miss the best of Android Authority?
according to valveSteam controller sales will open in one week, on May 4th at 7am Eastern/10am Pacific. You will have to pay $99 for the gamepad.
Compared to the older 2015 model, we’re getting a major new design, including a relocated trackpad, a dedicated D-pad, and a second thumbstick. The entire layout should feel right at home to anyone who has spent some time gaming on a Steam deck, attempting to mirror that configuration. This also means that there are plenty of games already optimized to take advantage of these controls.
You’ll have the option to play games wirelessly with the help of the Steam Controller’s magnetic charging puck. It works as a wireless adapter, or you can leave it attached for a secure, wired connection. Even if you forget it, there’s a hardware USB-C port on the controller itself, as well as built-in Bluetooth.
Everything’s looking pretty hot so far – so what’s the problem? Well, there’s a hefty cost of entry, and at $99 this solution is quite a bit more expensive than most wireless PC controllers – though admittedly, it’s hard to find a good option with a trackpad.
Perhaps more worrying is the limited compatibility. The Steam Controller is designed to work with Steam and Steam alone. So while it will work fine with PC games you play through Steam, as well as the Steam Deck and the upcoming Steam Frame and Machine, it’s not a normal Bluetooth controller you can use with non-Steam PC games. And that includes Android too – while you can connect Bluetooth to your phone or tablet to play via Steam Link, you won’t be able to use it with native Android games.
Even with those restrictions in mind, we imagine Valve’s new Steam Controller will prove quite popular – especially once the rest of the company’s new hardware arrives ready to support it.
Thank you for being a part of our community. Please read our comment policy before posting.
