In what appears to be an accidentally leaked video showcasing a new Steam hardware device, YouTube channel Techy Talk has uploaded a full review of the Steam Controller, stating that its price tag will be $100 USD. Following the wild success of the Steam Deck, Valve’s upcoming hardware launch aims to expand the Steam platform to first-party controllers and gaming PCs sporting the 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 Machines, Valve also launched the first iteration of the Steam Controller, which featured all the typical fixings of a modern controller except with large trackpads on the side to help players emulate the functions of a mouse in games like Civilization and Total War, where using a controller is largely impractical. The original Steam Machines and Steam Controllers didn’t last very long, with the Steam Machine in particular seeing low sales and being gradually phased out of production by 2017; however, the Steam Controller did find a dedicated base of fans who continue to swear by its convenience to this day. In November 2025, Valve announced the second generation of the Steam Machine and controller, but it has been speculated that their launch had been delayed due to ongoing hardware shortages and price spikes.
Valve Gives Update on Steam Machine Hardware Release Plans
Valve shares some reassuring news about the release date for the Steam Machine, confirming the console’s release plans have not changed.
The Steam Controller Might Come with a Hefty Price Tag
On April 24, 2025, fans on Reddit found that YouTuber Techy Talk uploaded a video titled “Valve did it again – Steam Controller Review,” which showcased all the functions of the upcoming Steam Controller, and also disclosed that the Steam Controller will be priced at $100. The full video and screenshots are currently circulating online, with many fans speculating that this is a legitimate video that was accidentally 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 be making an announcement about the Steam Controller soon, with many guessing that it will be a release date and price. The recent stirring from Valve would make it easy to believe Techy Talk’s upload is legitimate, and the Steam Controller will be priced at $100 as stated in the video.
As of now, there is still no official word from Valve on the Steam Controller’s launch date and pricing, so nothing is concrete yet; however, fans have taken to social media to voice concerns about the controller’s price. Many claim that $100 is a steep price to pay for a controller lacking features such as an audio jack, a microphone, or trigger-force feedback. Meanwhile, some fans have come to the Steam Controller’s defense, stating 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 stated that the $80 price point would have been the sweet spot for the Steam Controller and what many believed the controller would have been priced at.
The hardware world is currently in a rough state, and this rumored price for the Steam Controller would only align with the rising prices of gaming hardware. For example, the Switch 2 Pro Controller at $90 isn’t far behind the potential price of the Steam Controller, while the popular PS5 DualSense is now priced at $75. Deciding upon a controller for PC gaming is always a balancing act of pros and cons, given how many options there are, so customers in the market for a new controller will really have to think about what they prioritize in their gaming experience before picking up a Steam Controller at a potential $100.
