New Steam controller It sold out within minutes of its May 4 release, and scalpers are already listing their units on eBay for three times the original price. Valve's storefront, Steam, was the exclusive platform for the launch, and demand for the company's new peripheral was reportedly so high that it caused the site to crash and malfunction for a period.
In February 2026, Steam Deck suddenly went on sale in Valve's US storefront and several other retailers. At the same time, reports suggested that the maker of the popular handheld could soon face supply issues due to a shortage of running RAM. Now, fans are worried that even getting their hands on the new Steam controller might be a challenge, although it doesn't seem to be affected by the memory shortage.
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Steam controller listings on eBay can go for over $300
Reports suggest that the Steam controller sold out within the first 30 minutes, and scalper eBay listings appeared almost immediately with steep markups. One listing in particular, which includes “Purchase Confirmation” in the title, is asking around $330 USD. For comparison, Valve's official price for the new Steam Controller is $99 USD, meaning the reseller is charging more than three times the original price.
An interesting detail is that none of the Steam Controller buyers have actually received the product, as shipping can take a few days. This means eBay listings are effectively reselling successful orders placed through the Steam Store, rather than the physical product itself.
Hundreds of users took to social media to complain about the launch and how Valve handled it, with many complaining that they couldn't access the store page. Third-party tools like Downdetector show a clear spike in issues around the time the controller is live. Even some of those who managed to secure the peripheral said the process was not smooth, having to refresh the payment page several times before completing their purchase.
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The situation has sparked comparisons between Valve and Japanese gaming giant Nintendo. During the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo implemented several measures to prevent scalping, such as requiring proof of purchase for warranty claims in Japan and limiting reservations to users with verified accounts. Now, some fans believe that Valve may adopt similar protections to prevent scalpers and bots from quickly depleting Steam controller stock, like the way Nintendo Switch 2 preorders were protected from resellers.
Thousands of fans unable to purchase the device at launch are now waiting for Valve to clarify its restocking plans. As of this writing, the company has neither commented on the sell-out nor provided a replenishment timeline. However, it will likely have more stock of the popular controller soon, as it has done with most Steam peripherals in the past.
Valve also has two other gaming products that fans are eagerly anticipating, Steam Machine and Steam Frame. While the ongoing RAM shortage has reportedly affected their launch somewhat, the company still appears to be on track to release them later this year. Ideally, these launches would be smooth, giving more players a chance to pick them up without going to eBay and paying inflated prices.
