As the case was with the old Steam Machines, Valve once offered a controller that was aptly named Steam Controller. It featured two circular touchpads, a single thumbstick, and the common ABXY-button scheme.
It released in late 2015 alongside the original Steam Machine. While it was made for use with those Steam Machines, you could use it on PC or a Steam Link without any issue. It wasn't a terrible device, once you got over the awkward ergonomics of it and adapted to the touchpads, but it could have been better.
Today, Valve brought the Steam Controller back from the dead and from what we've seen they have indeed made the new device "better" than its predecessor. The Steam Controller is said to share the same DNA as the Steam Deck. It feature all the same inputs as the Steam Deck, sports two square track pads, and it even adds in a second thumbstick for those who need a more traditional controller experience.
That isn't all, however, as the new Steam Controller features better looking ergonomics, magnetic thumbsticks (TMR), the return of gyro, and even rear grip buttons. The gyro is especially neat on the new device because it's enabled using what Valve calls "Grip Sense." The grips of the controller know when you're holding them via capacitive touch. These capacitive sections can also be remapped like any other button on the controller.
Packaged with the Steam Controller is the new Puck. This Puck pulls double duty: It's both the wireless transmitter for the Steam Controller as well as the charging station. If you don't care to use the Puck for connectivity, the Steam Controller can also connect to devices through Bluetooth and USB.
This new Steam Controller can be used wherever Steam is used. This includes the existing Steam Deck, the upcoming Steam Machine, the also upcoming Steam Frame, and also your PC, laptop, and elsewhere.
Much like the other hardware revealed by Valve today, the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, the Steam Controller is expected to launch in early 2026. Details about the exact release date and pricing are expected to be shared after the first of the year.
| Controls and Input | |
| Gamepad controls | A B X Y buttons D-pad L & R analog triggers L & R bumpers View & Menu buttons Steam & QAM buttons 4x assignable grip buttons |
| Thumbsticks | 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch |
| Haptics | 4x haptic motors * 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback * 2x High output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics including rumble |
| Trackpads | 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback Pressure-sensitive for configurable click strength |
| Gyro | 6-axis IMU |
| Grip Sense | 2x capacitive areas along back of Steam Controller handles |
| Connectivity | |
| Steam Controller Puck | 2.4GHz Wireless connection ~8ms full end-to-end, 4ms polling rate (measured at 5m) Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller Puck Steam Controller Puck connects to PC via USB-C |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended |
| USB | USB-C tethered play |
| Power | |
| Charging | Steam Controller Puck charging interface USB-C connector |
| Battery | 9.39 Wh Li-ion battery 25+ hours of gameplay* Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced |
| Size and Weight | |
| Size | Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mm Steam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm |
| Weight | Steam Controller: 292 g Steam Controller Puck: 16 g |
