Valve has announced that its second-generation Steam Controller will be available for pre-order starting May 4, priced at £85 in the UK and $99 in the US—a cost that has divided the gaming community.
The wireless controller is designed for PCs and Valve's Steam Deck handheld console, and will also be compatible with the upcoming Steam Machine gaming PC.
Chris Scullion, deputy editor of Video Games Chronicle, noted that while the price is higher than standard controllers from Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation, it falls below premium offerings from Sony and Microsoft that range from £150 to £200. “The early hands-on verdicts appear to be positive,” he said, “so while I don't see it taking over as the most commonly used PC controller, it should sell reasonably well among core enthusiasts willing to pay more for such a peripheral.”
Social media reactions have been mixed. On Reddit, one user commented that the price shifted the device from an “insta-buy to thinking about it.” Conversely, a Bluesky user argued that the cost “makes sense” given the premium technology involved.
Reviews have praised the haptic trackpads, which simulate mouse controls in PC games, and the magnetic puck used for syncing and charging. However, some critics noted the lack of swappable parts and customization options.
The controller is exclusive to Valve's Steam platform and is not compatible with consoles. Its price tag—double that of the 2015 original—sits between standard console controllers (£45–£65) and premium versions (£120–£160).
The pricing has also sparked speculation about the cost of Valve's upcoming Steam Machine, a gaming PC designed for TV play. Valve revised the device's release and price in February, aiming for a launch in the first half of 2026. Business professor Joost van Dreunen suggested that global tariffs and AI's demand for compute resources could drive up costs.
Valve's first Steam Machine attempt in 2015 failed to challenge the dominance of Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, with prices starting at $499.