Valve unveils Steam Controller release date and pricing

Valve’s Steam Controller is launching on May 4th

Valve has officially confirmed that its new Steam Controller is launching on May 4th at 10 AM Pacific time. In the UK, that translates to 6 PM BST. The controller will be released ahead of Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame, both of which are due to launch later this year. Steam Controller pricing varies by region and is available later in this article.

With an 8.39 Wh battery, Valve says its Steam Controller can last 35+ hours on a single charge. The controller promises a long lifespan with its magnetic (TMR) thumbsticks, and boasts easy wireless gameplay and charging with its included “Puck”. This puck enables low-latency wireless connectivity and easy magnetic charging. The controller also features Bluetooth connectivity, so users can connect it to their systems without a puck.

In the UK, the Steam Controller will cost £85, and in the US, $99. In the EU, the controller costs €99. The controller supports all Steam Input games, offering high levels of configurability. Like the Steam Deck, games can ship with Steam Controller profiles, and fans can create their own custom game profiles.

When Valve unveiled its Steam controller, we expected it to launch alongside Valve’s new Steam Machine. However, the global RAM shortage appears to have forced Valve to delay its Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset. Now, the Steam Controller is releasing first. Since this product doesn’t require RAM, its launch isn’t affected by the AI-fueled global memory crisis.

With its dual trackpads, magnetic TMR thumbsticks, HD rumble, gyro, and back-button features, this is undoubtedly a premium controller. Thanks to its TMR joysticks, it shouldn’t be susceptible to stick drift and last much longer than standard PlayStation and Xbox gamepads. That’s great news for gamers, as nobody wants a wonky controller.

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