- Valve has just announced a new Steam controller
- It will be launched in the spring of 2026
- It seems like a huge upgrade over the company’s last attempt
Valve has just unveiled a range of hardware products, including a brand new Steam controller that looks to right the wrongs of the past.
The controller is compatible with “any device that runs Steam,” according to Valve, which means PCs, PC handhelds, and the new Steam Machine and Steam Frame systems. It also works with iOS and Android, though apparently only through the Steam Link app.
In addition to a Bluetooth connection and wired USB Type-C capability, 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, on top of your usual wired charging options.
In terms of battery life, Valve claims the controller is capable of more than 35 hours of playtime on a single charge – an impressive number that would put it 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 |
|
Connection |
Steam Controller Puck, USB, Bluetooth |
|
Battery life |
35+ hours |
|
Entrances |
TMR magnetic thumbsticks, grip sense, ABXY buttons, D-pad, L/R triggers, L/R bumpers, View button, Menu button, Steam button, QAM buttons, four switchable grip buttons, 2x haptic trackpads |
|
Haptics |
HD haptics |
|
Additional functions |
Steam Controller Puck charging |
Has the lesson been learned?
With this new announcement, it’s hard not to think back to the launch of the original Steam Controller, which dropped in November 2015.
While undeniably innovative due to its focus on compatibility with mouse and keyboard gaming, it was an unpopular product that was discontinued just four years after its launch.
However, this new iteration seems like a decent improvement, mainly thanks to its additional thumbsticks. The first Steam Controller featured only a small thumbstick that was awkwardly placed and difficult to control.
This new design has two and is supported by tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) – the current gold standard in thumbstick technology. Thanks to the use of small magnets, TMR thumbsticks 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 appears… a bit unergonomic to say the least. I hope it at least feels better than it looks in the hands, and there are still plenty of interesting features here to get excited about. I’m most looking forward to trying out the sense of grip, which seems to be a boon in first-person shooters.
Thanks to this addition, the gyroscope is activated by holding down the grips, ideal if you need fine aiming.
Will this rather strange controller resonate with consumers? We’ll just have to wait and see when it comes out next year.
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