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I’d problem you to discover a PC gamer who would not know Valve and its contributions to the pastime, and I’m assured you’d battle. While it has made probably the most important splash on the software program facet with Steam, it has dabbled in {hardware} with the excessive successes of the Steam Deck and the subterranean missteps of its first Steam Controller.
Now, it is making an attempt once more, and players are lining up in droves for an opportunity to purchase Valve’s revised Steam Controller in 2026. That contains me, as a result of I knew I used to be going to spend my very own money on this new try, primarily based solely on its early photographs and descriptions. So, is it good, unhealthy, or someplace in between? Here’s what I consider mine after per week’s price of gameplay.
Ben Wilson
I’ve been a PC gamer for many of my life, however sofa gaming is irresistible. The Xbox consoles dominated that side for the longest time, however Valve might draw me, and my love for the desktop, again to its facet.
How a lot does the Steam Controller price?
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Valve’s Steam Controller launched at $99 via Steam, and, up to now, stays the identical worth. In the United Kingdom, that quantities to £85, together with gross sales tax. At launch, the controller was obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation till it offered out. Now, in May 2026, you may want a Steam account to position a reservation earlier than you’ve an opportunity to purchase one.
Delivery instances differ by area and the time of the order. I positioned my Steam Controller order within the UK on May 4, when it turned obtainable, and it arrived from its European transport supply within the Netherlands after 6 working days. Valve’s preliminary supply estimate was 3–5 working days, rising to six–10 a couple of hours after its launch.
Is the Steam Controller any good?
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My preliminary hands-on impressions of the Steam Controller had been good, because it sits comfortably in my arms with a well-recognized weight of 0.64 lbs (292 g). I often play with Microsoft’s official Xbox controllers that had been bundled with my Series X|S consoles, every weighing 0.63 lbs (287 g) with AA batteries or 0.52 lbs (240 g) with out them if I’m utilizing a completely related USB-C cable.
Despite the position of the distinguished touchpads, my palms do not by accident graze them once I use the analog sticks or face buttons. It’s admittedly one thing I used to be involved about once I first noticed this design in the Steam Controller’s official reveal, so it’s a relief to discover there’s no issue for me here.
Otherwise, my middle and ring fingers naturally rest on the rear buttons, which feel better in this bended circular form than the rectangular equivalents on Valve’s still-excellent Steam Deck handheld. The Steam Controller’s d-pad is less “clicky” than that of an Xbox Series X|S controller, but there’s still a firm response in its more muted pushes.
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The Steam Controller’s face buttons all feel about the same as the Xbox controller that I’m used to, but they have a quieter response. That’s a recurring theme throughout the unit, and only the rear buttons produce a distinct sound when used. Both shoulder bumpers offer slightly weaker resistance than on the Xbox side, but they’re quiet and responsive enough.
It’s a similar story with the triggers, which feel slightly shallower and less resistant than my Xbox controller, but not to the point where they seem lackluster or detrimental to gameplay. Even the analog sticks follow this pattern, pushed around with marginally less resistance but offset with smoother movement, no doubt helped by the drift-proof TMR technology underneath.
Matte plastic coats the Steam Controller with a consistent pattern, which feels familiar (again) to the Xbox joypad’s front side. However, Microsoft arguably takes the lead with the rougher finish on the rear of its modern first-party controller. It’s only my pinky fingers that rest against these bare sections, but it’s a noticeable difference.
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The standout feature for the Steam Controller is the “puck”, which serves dual responsibilities as a wireless receiver and charging station for the joypad. It’s detachable from the 5 ft (1.5 m) USB-C cable that Valve includes in the box, meaning I could leave it attached to my PC and have it act as a wired controller if I wanted to (but I never do).
Updating the firmware via the Steam desktop app for both parts of the controller is as straightforward as it gets, and the Steam button itself takes me into “Big Picture Mode” from there. If you’ve ever used SteamOS before, whether on a Steam Deck or an alternative like Lenovo’s Legion Go S, this mode will be instantly familiar and won’t require a learning curve.
Games launched from Steam generally activate the app’s overlay, accessible again with the Steam button. From here, I can tweak the controller’s button bindings, download community-made layouts, or adjust the sensitivity of functions like the built-in gyro for motion-controlled aiming. The trackpads also respond to touch with haptic feedback, and I find myself using them quite often.
Does the Steam Controller have any issues?
The majority of the Steam Controller’s genuine downsides are found in the software experience, rather than its hardware. Screw holes on the rear side are quite prevalent, and while they aren’t usually visible, my middle fingers regularly brush against a pair mounted on its grips. I wouldn’t describe it as uncomfortable, but it’s a perceptible difference from my Xbox controller.
For software, this controller relies heavily on the Steam app and Valve’s “Steam Input” feature within, which handles button mapping for each of my games. If I stick to launching modern titles from my Steam library, the experience is practically perfect. However, games that rely on older graphics APIs can cause issues with the Steam overlay, leading to controller detection issues.
Titles from the Xbox app and PC Game Pass will not work with the Steam Controller unless you use third-party software.
Using the Steam Controller with non-Steam games is possible, as my experiment with importing Dying Light from the Epic Games Store proves. Unfortunately, it’s far from a straightforward process, and the necessary tinkering with launch options and launcher manipulation will likely turn off some PC gamers who want a more “console-like” experience with this joypad.
The obnoxious elephant in the room is that titles from the Xbox app will not work with the Steam Controller on Windows without third-party software. There’s some nuance to the issue, and progression in the SDL library hints at future enhancements. For now, although, entries like Forza Horizon 6 put in with PC Game Pass will not be appropriate.
Should you purchase the Steam Controller?
You should buy this if …
✅ You play most of your games on Steam
✅ You’re willing to tinker with button layouts
You should not buy this if …
❌ You want to play Game Pass titles on Xbox PC
For each accusation I’ve seen about Valve creating a “walled garden” in the PC gaming community with the Steam Controller, there are counterpoints to most of them. It’s a feature-rich joypad that justifies its price point, with the charging puck being both a genuine convenience and a unique quirk. The only complaint I can’t refute is the lack of compatibility with the Xbox PC app and UWP apps provided by Game Pass.
SDL library support is helping, and the emulators I’ve used recently are working perfectly with this controller. Whether that triggers a change from Valve to fully support its new joypad on Windows without requiring the Steam desktop app is up for debate, but I’d argue that the Steam Deck’s evolution suggests it could happen. If you’re lucky enough to see one in stock, it’s worth buying.
Valve
Steam Controller (2026)
Available from Valve’s official Steam retailer, this re-invented controller is a large enchancment over its first try and a real step ahead for controllers on PC.
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