Early Leak: Glowing Steam Controller Review Unveils Price ($99) and Highlights of Valve’s Comeback Gamepad

Leak Reveals Pricing and Impressions of the New Steam Controller

Recently, YouTuber Techy Talk unveiled the pricing details of Valve’s latest innovation, the Steam Controller. The video review was quickly downloaded and reposted on Streamable, providing curious fans access to both the price and the reviewer’s insights.

Competitive Pricing

The anticipated price of $99 positions the Steam Controller $25 higher than the DualSense. However, Techy Talk asserts that it compensates with a broader array of functionalities. While the reviewer acknowledges that no controller is universally perfect, they emphasize that the Steam Controller excels in blending gaming and general PC navigation capabilities, making it a compelling option for diverse user needs.

Trackpads: A Game-Changing Feature

Techy Talk identifies the pair of trackpads as the standout feature of the Steam Controller. Designed to facilitate cursor navigation and mouse-like input from a controller, these trackpads significantly enhance the accessibility of games that usually require a keyboard and mouse setup. The right trackpad primarily manages cursor movement, while the left is used for scrolling, although these functions can be reversed. Impressively, users can define either trackpad to act like a trackball, allowing momentum-based control after a flick. Techy Talk describes the intuitive nature of the trackpads, finding the transition to be seamless within minutes. Nevertheless, the reviewer cautions that while useful, these trackpads are not a substitute for mouse precision in competitive environments, particularly in fast-paced shooters or strategy games demanding high accuracy.

Innovative Technology and Design Enhancements

In addition to the trackpads, the controller also features a six-axis gyro for tilt-based control and four rear grip buttons, innovations that are not commonly found in other controllers at this price point. The thumbsticks employ TMR sensing technology, offering a significant benefit as they are engineered to avoid the dead zones that often develop in traditional analog sticks over time. The reviewer highlights the smooth action and optimal resistance of the thumbsticks, while the face buttons and D-pad show noteworthy enhancements compared to those on the Steam Deck, boasting larger sizes and a crisper response.

Thoughtful Connectivity Features

The Steam Controller is equipped with a wireless dongle that also functions as a magnetic charging dock. Users can conveniently charge the controller by simply placing it on the dock, eliminating the hassle of unplugging during charging sessions—a user-friendly design choice incorporated by Valve.

Room for Improvement

Despite the many positive aspects, Techy Talk notes several drawbacks. The thumbsticks lack customization options, the faceplate is non-removable, the triggers do not support hair-trigger modes, and none of the buttons feature clicky microswitches—elements usually found in higher-end controllers exceeding $200. Additionally, the battery is not easily replaceable, the surface finishing is a rough-textured plastic that can be slippery when dry, and there is no audio jack available.

A Marked Improvement

Overall, the Steam Controller emerges as a noticeable upgrade from its predecessor launched in November 2015. Valve announced this new model a few months prior, initially expected to coincide with the release of the Steam Frame and new Steam Machine. However, delays due to ongoing memory and storage shortages led to speculation that Valve opted to release the controller independently to avoid prolonged wait times.

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