Steam Controller Release Date Leaked, Japanese Media Reports May 4th Launch
Valve's next-generation Steam controller has been leaked again. Following the previous price reveal, Japanese gaming media 4Gamer unexpectedly published a review article ahead of schedule, revealing the release date and sparking widespread attention.
4Gamer briefly published a Steam controller review before hiding the page, but the content was indexed by Google Search. According to the review, the new Steam controller will be released in Japan on May 4th. Although Valve has not officially confirmed this date, it aligns with previous expectations of an upcoming announcement of further details.
Previously, a tech blogger released a review video (which has since been deleted), revealing the new Steam controller's price of $99.99. This price is significantly higher than the Sony DualSense (around $70) and the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller (around $60), about twice the price of the original Steam controller from 2015 ($49.99), but still lower than high-end elite controllers like the DualSense Edge or Xbox Elite Series 2.
The new Steam controller continues the differentiated approach of the first generation, adopting a dual touchpad design aimed at simulating mouse operation on TVs, making it easier to play strategy games and other games originally reliant on keyboard and mouse. According to leaked information, the controller also features four back buttons, a gyroscope, TMR joysticks, and four haptic motors, with a claimed battery life of up to 35 hours. The trade-off is the removal of common features such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and microphone.
Valve's planned "three-piece" hardware suite also includes the mini gaming PC "Steam Machine" and the VR headset "Steam Frame." Due to the shortage of memory and storage chips caused by the AI boom, the cost and pricing decisions for the latter two are still under internal discussion, and the release time has been adjusted from the previously planned "early 2026" to "within 2026."
Currently, Valve has not responded to the aforementioned leaked information. Considering May 4th is just around the corner, an official announcement is expected to be released in the coming days.