Valve Announces New Steam Controller for May 2026

Valve has announced the launch date for the new Steam Controller. Starting May 4, 2026, the device will be available in the Steam store. The price for the controller is 99 euros. The controller was originally unveiled alongside the revived Steam Machine and the Steam Frame, a new VR headset, in November 2025.

The controller is the first of three products to have a concrete release date, while the other two devices are still without a release date. The original Steam Controller was introduced in 2013 and featured a unique design with one stick and two large touchpads. The original controller was discontinued in 2019. The new controller bears significant similarities to the Steam Deck, particularly the square touchpads located beneath the analog sticks. The ABXY buttons have been moved to the upper right corner, and a real D-pad has been added.

The two analog sticks are now symmetrically arranged in the center, similar to the controllers from PlayStation. Additionally, there are three more buttons and the distinctive Steam button in the middle. At the top, there are the usual left and right analog triggers as well as shoulder buttons. On the back of the grips, there are two customizable function buttons per side for the middle and ring fingers. A new feature of the Steam Controller is the gyroscopic control, which allows users to control the camera by tilting and rotating the controller.

This technology could enhance aiming precision, similar to the Joy-Cons of the Nintendo Switch and the DualSense controller from PlayStation. The gyroscopic control can be toggled on and off via capacitive sensors on the back of the grips. Valve relies on TMR technology (tunneling magnetoresistance) for the analog sticks, which is based on magnets rather than mechanical potentiometers. This technology aims to reduce susceptibility to the so-called stick drift, a common issue with traditional sticks. Both TMR and Hall-effect sticks are less prone to wear.

The Steam Controller supports common standards such as USB-C and Bluetooth. Additionally, a bundled Steam Controller puck will be provided as a 2.4 GHz receiver for connecting to PCs. This connectivity option could enhance the flexibility and user-friendliness of the controller. The announcement of the new Steam Controller comes at a time when the market is affected by the RAM crisis. Hardware development for other products, such as the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame, could be delayed as a result.

In contrast, the controller is less affected by these shortages, leading to a quicker release. The return of the Steam Controller could be a strategic decision by Valve to expand its user base and promote interaction with its platforms. The combination of new technologies and proven design elements could appeal to both existing and new users. Initial user reviews and test results are expected to be available shortly after the release on May 4, 2026, providing an early insight into the performance and user experience of the new controller.