Valve's new Steam Controller sold out in under an hour on Monday. Resellers on eBay are now charging as much as $400, more than triple the $100 retail price. The high demand highlights its appeal for PC gamers despite the premium cost.
Valve released its first new Steam Controller in years on Monday, pricing it at $100—higher than a PS5 DualSense or Xbox Series X/S controller. The peripheral, featuring trackpad haptics for mouse-free PC gaming, sold out within roughly 30 minutes amid a midday rush. Steam users encountered errors due to high purchase request volumes, and the device lacks RAM, shielding it from AI-driven component shortages. Confirmed orders shipped quickly, leaving eager buyers without stock. Scalpers quickly flooded eBay with listings starting at $220 and reaching $400 for sealed units, prompting warnings to avoid confusing them with Valve's 2015 model. Valve has not announced restock dates, with some initial inventory possibly reserved for the upcoming Steam Machine console launch. The controller offers unique features like a phone ring to locate it if lost, appealing to tinkerers despite lacking premium build quality.
