Valve isn’t letting the trackpads go.
This week, Valve revealed its expanded lineup of Steam Hardware, launching in 2026. The hardware family includes a next-gen version of the PC-console hybrid Steam Machine, an all-new Steam Controller, and a new VR headset called the Steam Frame.
The new Steam Controller touts quite a few upgrades over its predecessor. Here’s the hardware reveal:
The new Steam Controller: What is it?
Valve originally released the Steam Machine with a Steam Controller back in 2015, so it makes sense that it’s also releasing a new Steam Controller with its successor. The controller features much of the same oddities that made Valve’s original Steam Controller unique, including a focus on mouse-like functionality.
The new Steam Controller includes TMR thumbsticks, which are ostensibly immune to stick drift–giving it a leg up over the DualSense in that regard. The controller also includes capacitive touch sensors, which means that the controller will know when you’re touching specific parts of it.
That’s important, because some of these sensors will allow players to immediately activate gyro aiming on the fly. The controller also sports haptic feedback, with two high-output haptic motors in the grips and two LRA haptic motors in the trackpad. Speaking of which, the controller includes two trackpads which allow users to replicate a mouse-and-keyboard experience on the machine.
The Steam Controller will also be able to run for quite a while without requiring a recharge, and comes with a “puck” that allows players to either plug and play or charge the device. Valve claims that the controller can run for over 35 hours on single charge.
The controller also has four back buttons integrated into its grips, which can be customised to the player’s liking. The controller can be played wired or wirelessly, as is the norm, and comes with USB tethered connectivity to help it connect to Steam devices. There is also a dedicated Steam button, allowing users to access their library with ease.
Steam Controller specs:
Controls and Input
Gamepad controls:
- A B X Y buttons
- D-pad
- L & R analog triggers
- L & R bumpers
- View & Menu buttons
- Steam & QAM buttons
- 4x assignable grip buttons
Thumbsticks: 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch
Haptics:
- 4x haptic motors
- 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback
- 2x High output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics including rumble
Trackpads:
- 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback
- Pressure-sensitive for configurable click strength
Gyro: 6-axis IMU
Grip Sense: 2x capacitive areas along back of Steam Controller handles
Connectivity
Steam Controller Puck:
- 2.4GHz Wireless connection
- ~8ms full end-to-end, 4ms polling rate (measured at 5m)
- Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller Puck
- Steam Controller Puck connects to PC via USB-C
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended
USB: USB-C tethered play
Power
Charging:
- Steam Controller Puck charging interface
- USB-C connector
Battery:
- 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery
- 35+ hours of gameplay*
- Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced
Size and Weight
Size:
- Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mm
- Steam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm
Weight:
- Steam Controller: 292 g
- Steam Controller Puck: 16 g
The new Steam Controller launches in 2026
