[UPDATE - April 27, 2026] Valve has confirmed that the Steam Controller will be available starting on May 4 at $99. Get all the details here.
[ORIGINAL STORY] The pricing of the new Steam Controller (and its May 4 release date) has just been leaked by YouTuber Techy Talk, who uploaded a review of Valve's new device earlier. Some Internet user quickly downloaded it and reuploaded it on Streamable, which means we have access to information on the price and the reviewer's first impressions
The price is $99. This means the Steam Controller sits $25 above the DualSense's price, but, according to the reviewer, it offers substantially more functionality. Their conclusion is that no single controller can be perfect for every use case, but for anyone wanting one device that handles both gaming and general PC navigation with genuine competence, the Steam Controller makes a very strong case.
TechyTalk believes the standout feature, by a considerable margin, is the pair of trackpads. These allow cursor movement and mouse-style input directly from a controller, making games that would traditionally require a keyboard and mouse far more accessible from the couch or from a desk setup where the user simply doesn't want to reach for a mouse. By default, the right trackpad handles cursor movement, while the left handles scrolling, though the functions can be swapped. Either trackpad can also be configured to behave like a trackball, carrying momentum after a finger flick. TechyTalk found the trackpads immediately intuitive, describing the transition as feeling natural within minutes of first use. The reviewer was, however, clear that the trackpads cannot truly replace a mouse in competitive contexts, such as fast-paced first-person shooters and games demanding high clicks-per-second accuracy (like MOBA or RTS), remain the domain of traditional mouse input.
Beyond the trackpads, the controller includes a six-axis gyro for tilt-based input and four rear grip buttons, features that are not universal even among controllers in this price bracket. The thumbsticks use TMR sensing technology, which the reviewer highlights as a significant technical advantage because they are mechanically incapable of developing the dead zones that plague conventional analog sticks over time. The action is described as smooth with appropriate resistance. The face buttons and D-pad are both notably improved over the Steam Deck's equivalents, being larger and offering a crisper feel.
On the connectivity side, the controller ships with a wireless dongle that doubles as a magnetic charging puck, meaning users never need to unplug it to charge: the controller simply clips onto it. It's a small but thoughtful design decision, for sure.
TechyTalk does register a handful of complaints. The thumbsticks are not customizable; the faceplate cannot be swapped; there are no hair-trigger modes on the triggers; and none of the buttons use clicky microswitches. Those are all features found on controllers that typically cost over $200, though. The battery is not easily swappable, the surface finish is plain rough-textured plastic that can feel slippery on dry hands, and there is no audio jack.
Even so, it sounds like the Steam Controller is a clear improvement over the first iteration that launched in November 2015. Valve announced the new device a few months ago; it was believed to launch alongside the Steam Frame and new Steam Machine, but both were delayed due to ongoing memory and storage shortages. It's possible Valve might have decided to launch the controller without wasting any time waiting for the other two.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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