- Valve just announced a new Steam controller
- It will be launched in spring 2026.
- It seems like a big improvement compared to the company’s last attempt.
Valve has just unveiled a selection of hardware products, including a brand new Steam Controller that looks set to right the wrongs of the past.
The controller is compatible with “any device that runs Steam” according to Valve, which means PCs, laptop PCs, and the new Steam Machine and Steam Frame systems. It also works with iOS and Android, although apparently only through the Steam Link app.
In addition to a Bluetooth connection and wired USB Type-C capabilities, it comes with the Steam Controller Puck, a plug and play dongle with a pre-paired low-latency connection. The Puck can also be used to charge the controller, in addition to the usual wired charging options.
In terms of battery life, Valve claims the controller is capable of more than 35 hours of gaming on a single charge, an impressive figure that would put it right up there with battery life titans like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller.
You can see a selection of key specifications below.
|
Compatibility |
PC, Mac, iOS/Android via Steam Link |
|
Connectivity |
Steam Puck Controller, USB, Bluetooth |
|
Battery life |
35+ hours |
|
Tickets |
TMR magnetic thumbsticks, grip sense, ABXY buttons, D-pad, L/R triggers, L/R detents, View button, Menu button, Steam button, QAM buttons, four remappable grip buttons, 2 haptic trackpads |
|
haptics |
HD haptics |
|
Additional Features |
Steam Controller Disk Loading |
The lesson learned?
With this new announcement, it’s hard not to think about the release of the original Steam Controller, which launched in November 2015.
Although undeniably innovative due to its focus on mouse and keyboard gaming support, it was an unpopular product that was discontinued just four years after its release.
However, this new iteration looks like a decent improvement, mainly thanks to its additional joysticks. The first Steam Controller featured only a small joystick that was awkwardly placed and difficult to control.
This new design has two and is backed by tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR), the current gold standard in joystick technology. Thanks to the use of small magnets, TMR joysticks are more durable and reliable than traditional potentiometer sensors (which require physical contact and are therefore more prone to wear).
However, I’m not convinced by the shape of the controller, which seems… a little unergonomic to say the least. I hope it at least feels better than it looks in the hands and there are still plenty of cool features here to get excited about. I’m looking forward to trying out the grip sense, which looks like it will be a godsend in first-person shooters.
Thanks to this addition, holding down the grips activates the gyroscope, ideal if you need to aim precisely.
Will this rather strange looking controller resonate with consumers? We’ll have to wait and see when next year arrives.
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