The second-generation Steam Controller officially launched on May 4, and it did not take long for things to get chaotic. Demand for the controller was extremely high, with many fans rushing to the official Steam store as soon as sales went live. Users quickly started facing site errors, failed checkouts, and loading issues caused by heavy traffic.

To make matters worse, the controller sold out within less than an hour. Shortly after the stock vanished, scalpers began listing the Steam Controller on third-party marketplaces like eBay for absurd prices. While the controller’s official retail price is $99, some resellers were asking anywhere between $200 and $500. Now, Valve is trying to make amends.

Valve is giving trusted Steam users the chance to reserve the controller

Valve wants to improve the buying experience and make it harder for resellers to take advantage of the situation. In an official update, Valve confirmed that it will open a reservation queue for the Steam Controller today, May 8, starting at 10 AM Pacific Time.

Instead of forcing users to constantly refresh the store page during restocks, customers will now be able to reserve a spot in line. Once a reservation is made, users will keep their position in the queue. When new stock becomes available, purchase emails will be sent out in the exact order reservations were placed.

Restrictions and requirements to get the Steam Controller

Valve is also introducing several restrictions to reduce reseller activity. For starters, reservations are limited to one Steam Controller per user. In addition, anyone who already managed to buy a Steam Controller during the initial launch will not yet be allowed to reserve another one.

The company is also requiring Steam accounts to meet certain conditions before joining the queue. Users must have a Steam account that is “in good standing,” and the account must have made at least one purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026. Now, we don’t know what exactly puts you in “good standing,” but we imagine it has to do with your activity, account age, the number of games you own, and anything else that makes you look less like a bot or throwaway account.

Once a reservation email is sent, customers will have 72 hours to complete their purchase. If they miss that window, Valve will likely move on to the next person in line. Valve also mentioned that inventory replenishment will happen at different times depending on the region. Reservations in the US and Canada are expected to begin getting fulfilled next week, while the UK, Europe, and Australia will follow in the coming weeks.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.