What Happened to Steam Controller?
The original Steam Controller, released in 2015, was an innovative gamepad by Valve designed to bridge the gap between PC games and living room play, featuring dual trackpads and extensive customization. Despite its unique approach, it faced lukewarm reception and was discontinued in November 2019 due to low sales and market competition. However, Valve announced a second-generation Steam Controller in November 2025, which began shipping in April 2026 and is set for release in May 2026, aiming to build on the original's legacy with updated features.
Quick Answer
The original Steam Controller was discontinued in November 2019 after struggling with sales and market adoption, despite its innovative trackpad design and deep customization options. Valve cited low sales, lukewarm reception, and intense competition as reasons for its cessation. However, Valve announced a second-generation Steam Controller in November 2025, which has since seen significant shipments in April 2026 and is slated for a May 2026 release, aiming to re-enter the PC gaming peripheral market with updated technology and a design influenced by the Steam Deck.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Steam Controller Announced as Part of Steam Machines Initiative
Valve first unveiled the Steam Controller as a key component of its Steam Machines project, aiming to bring PC gaming to the living room. Early prototypes featured a trackball, later replaced by trackpads.
Touchscreen Concept Dropped
At the Steam Dev Days event, Valve revealed they had dropped the touchscreen concept for the controller, rearranging buttons for better compatibility with existing games.
First Generation Steam Controller Publicly Released
The Steam Controller was officially released alongside Valve's Steam Machines, featuring dual haptic trackpads, a gyroscope, and extensive customization via Steam Input.
Over 500,000 Units Sold
Valve announced that over half a million Steam Controllers had been sold since its launch, including units bundled with Steam Machines.
Nearly 1 Million Units Sold
Sales figures reached close to one million units, indicating a growing, albeit niche, adoption of the unique peripheral.
Bluetooth Communications Enabled
Valve updated the controller to enable Bluetooth, allowing it to pair with mobile devices and be used with the Steam Link app.
1.5 Million Controllers Connected to Steam
Valve disclosed that approximately 1.5 million Steam Controllers had been connected to Steam, representing about 14% of controllers connected within that month.
First Generation Discontinued
Valve announced the discontinuation of further production of the original Steam Controller and sold off remaining inventory at a significantly reduced price, citing low sales and market competition.
Second Generation Steam Controller Announced
Valve officially announced a newly designed Steam Controller, alongside a new Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset, signaling a return to the hardware market.
Valve Confirms 2026 Hardware Release Despite Shortages
Valve confirmed that its new hardware lineup, including the second-generation Steam Controller, is still planned for a 2026 release, despite challenges with memory and storage shortages.
Massive Shipment of New Steam Controllers Arrives in US
US shipping records confirmed a large 12,970 kg shipment of wireless PC controllers for Valve, indicating the imminent release of the new Steam Controller.
New Steam Controller Review Leaks, Points to May 4 Release
A review of the new Steam Controller briefly appeared on a Japanese gaming website, revealing a potential release date of May 4, 2026, and detailing its features and $99 price point.
Second Generation Steam Controller Officially Released
The second-generation Steam Controller is expected to be officially released, building on the original's legacy with updated features like TMR thumbsticks, improved haptics, and four grip buttons.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Steam Controller, developed by Valve Corporation, was first publicly released in November 2015 as a key component of Valve's ambitious Steam Machine initiative, aiming to bring PC gaming to the living room. Its most distinctive features included two clickable haptic trackpads, replacing traditional analog sticks, and a highly customizable input system powered by Steam Input, allowing it to emulate keyboard and mouse controls for a vast library of PC games. Early sales showed promise, with over 500,000 units sold by June 2016 and nearly one million by October 2016, including those bundled with Steam Machines. By September 2018, approximately 1.5 million Steam Controllers had been connected to Steam.
Despite its innovative design and a dedicated user base, the first-generation Steam Controller faced several challenges that ultimately led to its discontinuation. Critics often found its unique control scheme to have a steep learning curve, making it less accessible to mainstream gamers accustomed to traditional console controllers like those from Xbox and PlayStation. The broader Steam Machines project, with which the controller was intrinsically linked, also failed to gain significant market share against established consoles, further limiting the controller's potential user base. Additionally, Valve encountered legal troubles, including a patent battle with SCUF and Corsair over rear button placement, which resulted in an initial $4 million payout, potentially impacting the decision to cease production.
In November 2019, Valve officially announced the discontinuation of the Steam Controller, selling off remaining inventory at a significantly reduced price. This marked the end of its relatively short four-year run. However, the legacy of the Steam Controller lived on through its advanced Steam Input system, which continued to support various gamepads, and its influence on subsequent Valve hardware, most notably the Steam Deck, which incorporates similar trackpad and gyro technologies.
A significant turning point occurred in November 2025 when Valve announced a second generation of the Steam Controller, alongside new iterations of the Steam Machine and a virtual reality headset called Steam Frame. This new controller features symmetrical analog sticks with drift-proof TMR technology, dual trackpads, HD rumble, four grip buttons, and capacitive touch sensors for enhanced motion controls. As of April 2026, Valve confirmed that despite global memory and storage shortages affecting the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, the new Steam Controller was unaffected and large shipments of the device were received in the US on April 4, 2026. Leaks on April 27, 2026, from a Japanese gaming website indicated a May 4, 2026, release date for the new controller. Valve programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the new controller was a "logical next step" stemming from Steam Deck users docking their handhelds and wanting similar input options on a TV. The 2026 Steam Controller is priced at $99 and is designed to be compatible with PCs, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame, offering extensive customization through Steam Input.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Steam Controller made different choices?