dailyloe.com – Valve has started a reservation system for the newly retooled Steam Controller after previous units sold out within minutes. The reservation process began on May 8 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific (1:00 p.m. Eastern). Interested buyers need to have a Steam account in good standing to make a reservation.
Reservations are only open to users who made a purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026. Valve aims to combat scalper activity, as resellers listed the controller on eBay at inflated prices. According to Valve, they are ‘taking steps to limit reseller activity’ to enhance the buying experience.
The Steam Controller initially launched on May 4, 2026, and Valve acknowledged the frustration faced by many trying to purchase it. They plan to replenish stock regularly and have introduced changes to improve the purchase process. The reservation queue allows buyers to secure their spot; however, each user can only reserve one unit.
Valve will send out purchase emails in the order reservations were made once more units become available. Users who already purchased a Steam Controller are not eligible for a reservation, regardless of their account status. Eligible buyers will have 72 hours from the email notification to complete their purchase.
The Steam Controller is priced at $99, which is higher than Microsoft’s Xbox wireless controller ($64.99) and Sony’s DualSense wireless controller ($74). However, it is cheaper than the Xbox Elite Series 2 ($149.99) and the DualSense Edge ($199). Valve has also released 3D CAD files for the Steam Controller and Puck for users interested in modifying or designing accessories.
