The Steam Controller is official: see the price, release date, and all the features.
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Valve has confirmed the price and release date of Steam ControllerControl arrives in 4 May 2026 a US$ 99 and it features analog displays with magnetic technology. NMR, dual trackpads, touch-activated gyroscope sensor and the Puck, an accessory that functions as both a wireless transmitter and a magnetic charging base. The launch is happening without the Steam Machine, which still has no set release date. In an interview with IGN, Valve's platform engineer and one of those responsible for the development of the Steam Controller, Pierre-Loup Griffais, made it clear that the Steam Controller It stands on its own as an independent product, and its primary audience is PC users, not console users.
What is the new Steam Controller?
O Steam Controller It's the new peripheral of Valve designed for the ecosystem SteamAccording to the company, the objective was to guarantee parity of entries with the Steam deckThose already familiar with Valve's handheld console will find the same layout and advanced controls in a desktop version.
Griffais explained that The controller does not natively support Xbox, PS5, or Switch.These platforms expect a fixed set of inputs and a specific API that does not support the extra features of Steam Controller. On devices without SteamIt functions as a basic mouse and keyboard, sufficient for navigating the BIOS or other screens, and can be useful for setups. Desktops based in the living room, rather than an office.
Features and specifications
O Steam Controller It has analog features. NMR, dual trackpads, gyroscope of six axes, four configurable rear buttons and the Grip Sense All in one PC controller. See below for more details on what each feature does in practice.
TMR Joysticks
NMR is the acronym for Tunneling Magnetoresistance, a magnetic sensor technology with no physical contact between the internal parts of the joystick. To understand what this changes in practice, it's worth knowing how analog sticks have evolved over the years, since this technology is even more advanced than the... hall-effect, one of the most popular alternatives to traditional potentiometers.
The traditional analog stick, found in most cheaper controllers (or the current official PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch controllers), works through physical resistance. A component called potentiometer It registers the lever's position through physical contact between parts. With use, this friction wears down the material and generates what is called... stick drift, that classic flaw where the controller registers movement even when no one is touching it.
O hall-effect This was the industry's answer to the problem. It uses a magnetic field to detect the position of the analog device by voltage variation (or potential difference, for the more technically inclined), without any parts touching and wearing out directly. With this, the drift It ceases to be a threat, and the lifespan of the control increases.
But this technology still has a weakness, which is its limited sensitivity to very small movements.
Already NMR It operates on the same principle. without physical contact, but it measures changes of electrical resistance Instead of voltage, the sensor captures smaller movements with greater precision. Energy consumption also decreases, extending battery life in wireless controllers.
- See also: Xbox rebranding marks the end of Microsoft Gaming and initiatives to "get back in the game."
No Steam ControllerThe TMR analog sticks also have an additional function compared to other controllers that use this technology. They are touch sensitiveThis allows you to activate the gyroscope simply by touching the lever with your thumb, without needing to press or hold any additional buttons.
Dual trackpads and gyroscope
O Steam Controller It retains the two trackpads present in the Steam Deck. Griffais cited the most common uses that Valve observes, including camera control in first- and third-person games, radial menus with dozens of mapped shortcuts, and navigation in strategy games, which typically require a mouse and keyboard.
O gyroscope The integrated system allows for aiming via physical movement of the controller, a useful feature in competitive shooting games.
Grip Sense
O Grip Sense This is perhaps the biggest new development. Steam ControllerIt detects hand contact with the side grips and uses this touch to automatically activate or deactivate the gyroscope, allowing you to switch between gyro sights and analog sights without pressing any buttons.
Furthermore, Valve also allows mapping Grip Sense like any other input via Steam Input.
Connectivity and battery
The control accompanies the Puck, a circular accessory that magnetically attaches to Steam ControllerIt transmits the signal via 2.4 GHz It also charges the controller when docked. For those who prefer, the Steam Controller also offers Bluetooth and wired USB-C connectivity.
The battery is a Li-ion battery. 8,39 WhValve estimates more than 35h Playtime per charge, with reduced battery life when using the controller with Steam Frame for tracking. The total weight of the controller is... 292 gr.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Analog | TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) magnetic strips, standard size. |
| Analog sensitivity | Touch sensitive |
| trackpads | Two 34,5 mm side-by-side trackpads with haptic feedback and pressure sensitivity for adjusting click force. |
| Gyroscope | 6-axis (IMU), activatable by touch on the analog sticks or via Grip Sense. |
| Grip Sense | Two capacitive areas on the back of the grips, mappable via Steam Input. |
| Front buttons | A, B, X, Y, D-pad, left and right analog triggers, left and right bumpers, View, Menu, Steam, Quick Access |
| Back buttons | 4 configurable grip buttons |
| Vibration | 4 motors: two linear resonant actuators in the trackpads (high-definition haptic feedback) and two high-power actuators in the grips (traditional gaming vibration) |
| wireless connectivity | Puck via 2,4 GHz (up to 4 controllers per Puck, ~8 ms latency) and Bluetooth (minimum 4.2, recommended 5.0+) |
| Wired connectivity | USB-C |
| Loading | Via Puck (magnetic interface) or USB-C |
| Battery | Li-ion 8,39 Wh, 35+ hours of gaming* |
| Dimensions | 111 159 mm × mm × mm 57 |
| Weight | 292 g (control) / 16 g (Puck) |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, mobile devices via Steam Link |
| Price (USA) | US$ 99 |
| Launch | 4 May 2026 |
*Reduced battery life when using Steam Frame tracking.
Why is the Steam Controller arriving before the Steam Machine?
Valve's three products, Steam Controller, Steam Machine e Steam FrameThey were announced together last year with expectations of a simultaneous release. This did not materialize.
Griffais attributed the Steam Machine delay to global RAM shortageThis is exacerbated by demand from the artificial intelligence industry. Valve said it is working with multiple component manufacturers to circumvent the problem, but acknowledges that market conditions remain difficult.
The engineer stressed that launching the controller before the machine makes more sense than the other way around. "The machine is harder to ship without the controller, but the controller works fine without it," said Griffais. Regarding the Steam Machine, he stated that the core of the product is already ready, equivalent to a Steam Deck connected to a TV with more GPU power, and that what's lacking is production and distribution logistics.
How much does it cost and how can I buy it in Brazil?
O price of Steam Controller in the United States it is US$ 99The regional prices confirmed by Valve include US$ 149 In Canada, €99 in Europe, £85 in the United Kingdom, AU $ 149 in Australia and 449 PLN In Poland, distribution is handled by Komodo Station. In Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Unfortunately, the Brazil is not on the list of launch regions.There is no official forecast for availability in the country, nor has Valve announced a conversion to Brazilian Real. Therefore, it's likely that the first units of the device will only appear here through import, just like with the Steam Deck.
The controller will be available on Steam starting from 4 May 2026.
And you, do you think the Steam Controller It's worth more than Dualense PS5? Would you buy it? Leave your opinion in the comments below or on Showmetech's social media!
See also:
With information: Toms Hardware, IGN, IGN (YouTube), Polygon, Windows Central e Steam/Valve.
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