Valve is releasing a new Steam Controller next month for £85, and the gaming community can't decide if it's a win or a miss. The controller works across Valve's ecosystem, including PCs, the Steam Deck handheld, and whatever gaming PC they're cooking up.
The price point is causing the biggest stir. At £85, it's positioned as a premium option in a market where you can grab solid alternatives for less. Some gamers are excited about the tight integration with Steam's platform, while others are questioning what justifies the cost.
For anyone using a Steam Deck or planning to grab Valve's upcoming gaming PC, this could be the natural controller choice. The cross-compatibility means one controller for your entire Valve setup, which is convenient if you're already invested in their hardware.
The divided reaction makes sense. Valve's original Steam Controller had its fans but never became the standard it aimed to be. This new version needs to prove it learned from that experience.
Whether this becomes essential gaming hardware or another niche product depends on what Valve delivers at launch. The May release date is close enough that we'll know soon if the £85 price tag holds up against the competition.
