Valve’s new Steam Controller hit the market this week. The peripheral will officially go on sale from May 4th at 1pm ET for US$99. The company will offer the controller in different regions with adjusted prices — CA$149 for the Canadá, AU$149 for the Austrália, £85 for the Reino Unido and €99 for the União Europeia.
Diferente than expected for months, Valve decided to launch just the control. Steam Machine and Steam Frame, announced in November, remain in development. The company did not disclose dates for these products and only stated that it was “working hard” to bring news soon.
Compatibilidade in addition to Steam Deck
The new peripheral does not require the purchase of any special console. Ele works with any computer running the Steam platform. The control also operates as a generic peripheral for cell phones, expanding its usefulness beyond the Valve ecosystem.
Essa’s approach reflects the company’s strategy of offering flexibility to players. Usuários that already have Steam Decks or gaming PCs can integrate the new controller without additional investments in dedicated hardware.
What changes compared to the previous model
- Improved Design inspired by Steam Deck
- Compatibilidade universal with any computer Steam
- Funcionalidade as a generic control for smartphones
- Trackpads touch sensitive
- Suporte control customization via software
The original Steam Controller gained a dedicated fan base since its release, becoming a cult favorite among gamers who appreciated its innovative approach. The new model inherits these characteristics while introducing significant improvements in construction and ergonomics.
Análises now available
Colunistas from the tech industry have already tested the peripheral in the last few days. Expert correspondents Jay Peters and Cameron Faulkner have published detailed evaluations of controller performance connected to Steam Decks and gaming desktops. The analyzes point to a robust and well-thought-out accessory, although with some limitations in specific aspects.
The Future of Valve Hardware
Steam Machine’s absence from the May launch marks a calendar change for Valve’s expansion plans. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a company spokesperson, confirmed that the Steam Frame console and headset remain in active development. The company had promised to bring both products later this year.
Essa separate release strategy may indicate that Valve prefers to offer the controller as a standalone product while completing final adjustments to the console. The Steam Machine, when it arrives, promises to revolutionize the way games run in living rooms with a compact design integrated into the Steam ecosystem.
The decision also reflects the difficulties the industry faced in 2024 with memory component shortages — so-called “RAMageddon” — which forced Valve to push back its hardware schedules.
Enquanto That’s right, Valve is also working on the next Steam Deck, as confirmed to IGN. Developers are already requesting significant improvements to the portable console, and the company promises announcements soon about its future product roadmap.