Valve launched the original Steam Controller back in 2015, shaking up the market with a unique piece of hardware catered for PC gamers. However, the controller was eventually discontinued in 2019 and Valve is yet to release a follow-up. Some of the Steam Controller’s stand-out features such as the dual trackpad design went on to be used in the wildly popular Steam Deck handheld.

Many people have been asking for a sequel to the original, and while we thought the closest we’d get was the Horipad for Steam that launched earlier this year, new leaks now tell us that Valve is actually working on a one, codenamed ‘Ibex’.

Steam Controller 2 gets a leaked thumbnail render that reminds us of the Steam Deck

While there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, Valve is apparently making a Steam Controller 2, and more leaks are beginning to surface. Sourced from Brad Lynch on X, who has been covering pretty much everything there is to know so far about Ibex (and Valve’s upcoming ‘Deckard’ VR headset), a new render of now gives us an idea of what the sequel could look like.

On the left, the Ibex rendermodel thumbnail found in SteamVR drivers gives a pretty crude look at the controller, but it’s enough to understand the basic design. Compared to the image on the right, the original Steam Controller, we can see some pretty clear design changes.

The sequel looks to mimic the Steam Deck a whole lot more, giving us a more standardized layout with two thumbsticks, a D-Pad, and face buttons in a familiar position. Valve has also found space for the dual trackpad design we’ve become accustomed to. The original controller featured just one thumbstick and oddly situated face buttons that could be a deal breaker for some.

As we said, Valve has yet to make any official announcements regarding what we currently know as Ibex. The company is always looking to expand its hardware sector – last month, it confirmed that “future new hardware” is being worked on, though without announcing anything specific.

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.