Valve has updated his official steam controller page with full specifications and confirmed that the launch will take place on May 4. The controller is priced at $99, according to reviews posted alongside the announcement. The new Steam Controller aims to bring Steam Deck-style inputs to a standalone gamepad, with the same dual trackpad and gyroscope layout as the handheld, but with a traditional controller layout.
Hardware and controls of the new controller
The Steam Controller features two joysticks, two trackpads, face buttons, bumpers, triggers, rear grip buttons, and dedicated Steam and quick access menu buttons. It also includes built-in gyroscopic support.
The joysticks use TMR magnetic technology instead of the potentiometer-based joysticks commonly found on first-party controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and DualSense Edge. Magnetic joysticks are less likely to degrade over time and do not suffer from drift like traditional ones. Valve has applied the same technology to the Steam Deck.
The dual trackpads follow the design of the original Steam Controller, allowing for more natural play of PC games that weren’t originally intended for controllers. The addition of a dual joystick design addresses a key limitation of the original for games that already support standard gamepad input.
Steam ecosystem connectivity and support
The Steam Controller comes with a Puck accessory that serves as a charging base and 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. The Steam Machine has a built-in wireless adapter for direct pairing, eliminating the need for the Puck.
The controller is designed to work within the Steam ecosystem, including the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, Steam Link, and any device that runs Steam. Valve has not specified any restrictions on its use outside of the Steam environment.
Steam Input support is included, allowing users to customize inputs for each game. This includes the trackpads, gyroscope, back buttons, and joystick behavior. Community layouts are also supported.
Price and availability
The Steam Controller will be released on May 4. No details regarding pre-orders or retail availability have been announced beyond what is listed on the Steam store page. Priced at $99, the controller sits above standard gamepads but below the Xbox Elite Series 2 and DualSense Edge.
