A new demonstration in what appears to be an accidentally leaked video Steam Hardware Tools, YouTube channel Techy Talk has uploaded a full review of the Steam Controller, its price tag will be $100 USD. After the wild success of Steam Deck, Valve's upcoming hardware launch aims to expand the Steam platform to first-party controllers and gaming PCs that sport Linux-based SteamOS.
Valve's first-party hardware initiative dates back to 2015, when the company launched the original Steam Machines as gaming PCs assembled by third-party manufacturers running Valve's Linux-based SteamOS. Along with the original Steam Machine, Valve also launched the first iteration of the Steam Controller, which included all the typical fixings of a modern controller, except for large trackpads on the side to help players emulate mouse actions in games. civilization and total warWhere using a controller is largely impractical. The original Steam Machine and Steam Controllers did not last very long, with the Steam Machine in particular seeing low sales and being phased out of production by 2017; However, the Steam Controller found a devoted base of fans who swear by its convenience to this day. In November 2025, Valve announced the second generation of Steam Machines and controllers, but it is speculated that their launch was delayed due to ongoing hardware shortages and price increases.
Valve gives an update on Steam Machine hardware release plans
Valve shares some reassuring news regarding the release date for Steam Machine, confirming that the console's release plans have not changed.
Steam controllers can come with a hefty price tag
On April 24, 2025, fans on Reddit found that YouTuber Techy Talk had uploaded a video titled “Valve did it again – Steam Controller Review” which showed all the functions of the upcoming Steam Controller, and also revealed that the Steam Controller would cost $100. The full video and screenshots are currently circulating online, with many fans speculating that this is a legitimate video that was seriously uploaded early due to how in-depth it is. Adding fuel to the fire, there has been a recent surge in rumors that Valve will soon make an announcement about a Steam controller, with many speculating that it will have a release date and price. The recent buzz from Valve makes it easy to believe that Techy Talk's upload is legitimate, and that the price of the Steam Controller will be $100, as mentioned in the video.
As of now, there's still no official word from Valve on the Steam Controller's launch date and pricing, so nothing concrete yet; However, fans have taken to social media to express their concerns about the price of the controller. Many claim that $100 is a steep price to pay for a controller that lacks features like an audio jack, microphone, or trigger-force response. Meanwhile, some fans have come to the Steam Controller's defense, pointing out that, at half the price of its premium controller competitors, its trackpads, back buttons, TMR joysticks, and back touch sensors more than make up for the features it lacks. Most interestingly, many fans have said that the $80 price point would have been the sweet spot for the Steam controller and many believed that the controller was overpriced.
The hardware world is in a bad shape right now, and this rumored price for the Steam Controller will only align with the rising prices of gaming hardware. For example, the Switch 2 Pro Controller at $90 is not far behind the potential price of the Steam Controller, while the popular PS5 DualSense is now priced at $75. Deciding on a controller for PC gaming is always a balancing act, given how many options there are, so customers in the market for a new controller should think about what they prefer in their gaming experience before picking up a potentially $100 Steam Controller.
