It has been almost exactly ten years since the launch of the original Steam Controller, and now Valve has decided to bring it back with a revised version. It’s not called the Steam Controller 2, as you may have expected, and it looks a lot like a Steam Deck handheld, just without the screen in the middle. A leaked render circulated online a few days before Valve officially announced it, and we now know it’s set for release in 2026.

The new gamepad launches alongside the Steam Machine, Valve’s SteamOS-powered mini-PC/console, as well as its new VR headset, the Steam Frame. The controller is designed with the Steam ecosystem in mind, and configurable with Steam Input, so it’s essentially plug-and-play on any device you can install Steam on.

Steam Controller release date window

There’s already a lot to learn about the Steam Controller on its store page, but an exact release date has not been set. Instead, Valve says the new peripheral will be available in “early 2026”. We can speculate that the ‘early’ release window could refer to Q1 2026 – in other words, anywhere between January and March, but we can only wait to see how it pans out.

Rumors about a new Steam Controller have been around for a while now, under the ‘Ibex’ codename. The dual trackpad design, reminiscent of the Steam Deck, was already spotted this time last year in some SteamVR code.

Steam Controller specs

Specs for controllers usually aren’t too exciting, but Valve has fitted this gamepad with some pretty unique features. One of these is ‘Capacitive Grip Sense’, which allows the user to hold and release the handles/grips of the controller to enable or disable gyro controls. It can also be mapped to something else entirely, and presumably, unbound altogether.

The trackpads obviously stand out as another unique feature when compared to the likes of Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo controllers. Durable, magnetic TMR thumbsticks and “high definition rumble” also help ensure an overall premium feel.

The Steam controller comes with a ‘Puck’ for wireless connectivity, or it can be securely (magnetically) connected to the controller for a wired connection. Alternatively, you can still use Bluetooth or a USB-C connection. This puck also acts as a charging station, though you can also charge the gamepad with USB-C if you prefer.

Steam Controller price estimate

Valve hasn’t revealed the price of the Steam Controller just yet, so we can only speculate or estimate what it may be. Those who have already had hands-on say “it doesn’t feel cheap,” and the impressive specs only back that up. However, we don’t expect the price to be incredibly high, especially given the pretty affordable price tag(s) that Valve maintains with its Steam Deck handheld.

A decade ago, the original Steam Controller debuted at $49.99, and eventually dropped to as low as $5 when Valve decided to clear out its remaining inventory before discontinuation. However, the average price of console controllers has definitely risen since then, with the PS5 (DualSense) pad costing around $75, and the Xbox ‘Core’ controller being a little bit cheaper at $70 (or around $45 when it’s on sale). Based on this, we tentatively estimate that the new Steam Controller launches for $60-$80.

Is Steam Controller compatible with Xbox or PlayStation?

We don’t see anything right now to suggest that the Steam Controller will be compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. The same goes for the Nintendo Switch. Valve has made it clear that the controller works with “anything running Steam,” so it seems pretty locked into the PC ecosystem.

As you may expect, it is compatible with the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame. Infrared LEDs make the gamepad trackable by the VR headset’s cameras, letting you play non-VR games on a giant virtual screen. On the Steam Machine, you don’t even need the ‘Puck’ connector, as this connectivity is built straight into the console-like mini-PC.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.