Valve will release three new pieces of hardware at once in November 2025: Steam Machine, Steam Frame and a new generation of Steam Controller. After months of waiting, the first of the three has finally officially hit the market. Valve announced that the Steam Controller will be officially launched next week, becoming the first product in this wave of hardware plans to be launched. Although the launch date and price of Steam Machine and Steam Frame have not yet been revealed, judging from Valve’s actions, relevant information seems to be not far away.
Steam Controller is coming next week, and Steam Machine isn’t far behind either
According to officials, the new Steam Controller will be officially unveiled on May 4, 2026 at 1 a.m. (Pacific time). Players can go to the Steam store page to view the complete release information and confirm whether their region is on the first wave of support list. Previous rumors have also been confirmed: the controller has a suggested retail price of $99 and is priced at 3,388 yuan in Taiwan.
As Valve’s first new controller for many years, this design is obviously fully enhanced for PC players and the Steam ecosystem. The controller is equipped with two large touchpads, allowing players to operate the game closer to a mouse and keyboard; the magnetic TMR joystick is used to solve the common drift problem of traditional joysticks. In addition, it also has built-in tactile feedback, a gyroscope sensor, an 8.39Wh lithium-ion battery, and additional back buttons, and the function configuration is quite complete.
It is worth mentioning that Valve has placed special emphasis on repairability this time. The entire controller can be disassembled by simply removing the screws, allowing players to replace parts or repair by themselves, extending the product life. This design concept is in line with the Steam Deck, and also echoes the “repairable hardware” direction promoted by Valve in recent years.
Valve stated in the introduction that the Steam Controller has all the input methods needed to play games on Steam, and emphasized its cross-device versatility, whether it is a PC, a laptop, a Steam Deck, or even the Steam Machine and Steam Frame that are not yet on the market, it can be used directly. Officials also mentioned that they spent a lot of time adjusting the button configuration and feel to ensure that players can still remain comfortable during long gaming sessions; additional input interfaces are reserved for players who require more operational flexibility.
The Steam Controller’s packaging includes the controller body, a “base” (officially also called a “disk”) that functions as a wireless receiver and charging base, and a USB-A to USB-C cable. Valve recommends that players plug the dock into their computer for quick connection while gaming and place the controller on the dock to charge when not in use.
As for the other two pieces of hardware that have attracted much attention, Valve has yet to announce further listing information. Company executive Pierre-Louis Griffais revealed in an interview with IGN that the team is still dealing with the problem of insufficient parts supply. Judging from the current public information, Steam Machine is likely to be the next product to appear. Valve has previously assured players that the PC, powered by Linux and positioned like a console, is preparing for its official debut.
With the Steam Controller about to be released, Valve’s hardware layout is gradually becoming clearer. Next, the outside world will continue to pay attention to the progress of Steam Machine and Steam Frame, and whether Valve will use this wave of hardware updates to re-adjust the positioning and future direction of the Steam ecosystem.
Source: KOCPC Chinese