Steam Controller reservation queue start time & countdown clock
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Valve has officially announced a new reservation queue system for the Steam Controller after the controller’s original launch quickly turned into a bit of a mess for customers. The controller launched on May 4 and sold out in less than an hour, with many users facing different errors due to the massive amount of traffic on Steam.
If you were unable to get a Steam Controller during the first wave of sales, this reservation system should give you another chance without needing to constantly refresh the store page during restocks. And the good news? It starts today.
When will the Steam Controller reservation queue open today?
According to Valve, the reservation queue for the Steam Controller will open today, on May 8, at 10 AM PT. However, due to the time zone differences, the time will be different for everyone, depending on where you live.
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- Los Angeles – 10 AM PT (May 8)
- New York – 1 PM ET (May 8)
- London – 6 PM BST (May 8)
- Berlin – 7 PM CEST (May 8)
- Mumbai – 10:30 PM IST (May 8)
- Tokyo – 2 AM JST (May 9)
- Sydney – 3 AM AEST (May 9)
- Auckland – 5 AM NZST (May 9)
You can also find a countdown clock above, which tracks the exact hours, minutes, and seconds left until reservations open. The timer will disappear once it has expired (so if you don’t see one, you can reserve now).
How do Steam Controller reservations work?
Instead of directly selling new stock the moment it becomes available, Valve will now place users into a queue based on when they reserve. Once inventory arrives, purchase emails will be sent in the same order as reservations were made.
Valve is also introducing several restrictions to stop scalpers and resellers from grabbing multiple units. First, reservations are limited to one Steam Controller per user. On top of that, anyone who already managed to buy a controller during launch is currently not eligible to reserve another one.
Valve also says users must meet two important account requirements before joining the queue. Your Steam account must be “in good standing,” and you must have made at least one purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026.
This requirement is likely meant to stop newly created accounts from being used by resellers and bots. Once Valve sends you an order email, you will have 72 hours to complete the purchase. If you miss that three-day window, you could lose your spot, and the controller may go to the next person in line.
Valve also confirmed that inventory replenishment will happen at different times depending on the region. Users in the US and Canada are expected to start receiving purchase opportunities next week. Customers in the UK, Europe, and Australia will have to wait slightly longer, as stock for those regions is expected to arrive in the following weeks.
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