Valve’s £85 Steam controller sparks debate among gamers before May release

Valve has revealed that its latest Steam Controller will be available for purchase starting May 4, with pricing set at £85 in the UK and $99 in the US — a cost that has surprised many gamers.

This marks the second edition of the gamepad, which will be compatible with PCs and Valve's portable console, the Steam Deck.

It’s also designed to pair with Valve's own forthcoming gaming PC, the Steam Machine.

"While the Steam Controller carries a higher price tag than traditional controllers from Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation, it’s important to note that both Sony and Microsoft are currently offering premium controllers in the range of £150-£200," remarked Chris Scullion, deputy editor of Video Games Chronicle.

Nevertheless, some gamers online have not responded favorably to the pricing.

One Reddit user commented that the price shifted it from an "instant purchase to something to reconsider" after an early review.

Conversely, a user on Bluesky thought the price was justified due to the inclusion of "high-end" technology.

"Initial reviews on the Steam Controller are mostly favorable, so while I don't anticipate it surpassing the Xbox Wireless Controller in popularity among PC users, it’s likely to appeal to a dedicated segment of enthusiasts willing to invest in a more specialised peripheral," Scullion shared with BBC News.

The wireless controller has received praise for its haptic trackpads, which allow users to mimic mouse movements in PC games, and its magnetic 'puck' that pairs and charges the pad.

On the other hand, reviewers have noted the controller’s lack of interchangeable parts and personalisation options.

The controller is designed exclusively for devices running Valve’s PC gaming platform, Steam, and does not work with consoles.

There has been plenty of online chatter about the pricing, which is double the cost of the first generation introduced in 2015.

It is priced between current standard tiers for console controllers like those for PlayStation and Xbox, costing roughly £45-£65 or $60-$75, and their premium models, priced around £120-£160 or $150-$200.

"I've shelled out more for a controller before, and also much less," one popular comment stated.

"This device isn’t meant to be just a basic controller; it’s specifically crafted for PC use," explained one user justifying the price.

The pricing has led to speculations about what Valve's upcoming Steam Machine might cost, as it represents their second venture into creating a gaming PC designed for TV gaming, still without a confirmed release date.

Valve first ventured into hardware in 2015, but it struggled to compete against industry giants Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo.

Back then, prices began at $499 (£300), but as business professor Joost van Dreunen pointed out in February, "the combination of global tariffs and the intense demand from AI companies for computing power" suggests that this version will likely be more expensive.