Anticipation for Valve’s Steam Machine and next-gen controller is high. However, it appears that the price of the upcoming Steam Controller may have been leaked earlier than planned. A YouTuber accidentally broke the embargo with an early review video, revealing the controller’s price of $99.99.
The video was initially uploaded on YouTube but was quickly taken down. A reupload is now circulating on Streamable, showcasing the controller priced at $99.99. This controller was first unveiled alongside the upcoming Steam Machine in November 2025, as part of Valve’s push towards living room PC gaming.
A $100 controller enters the chat
If the price of $99.99 is accurate, the new Steam Controller will be priced above traditional console gamepads. While Sony’s DualSense and Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller are generally cheaper, premium options like the DualSense Edge and Xbox Elite Series 2 are priced higher. Valve’s controller finds itself in a unique middle spot.
Reactions on social media platforms like Reddit have been mixed. Some users believe the leaked $100 price is too high compared to Xbox and PlayStation controllers. However, others are more willing to pay if the controller’s features like trackpads, gyro controls, and Steam Input support enhance the gaming experience beyond traditional console-style play.
The weird Steam Controller energy is back
The hardware specifications justify the potentially higher price of the Steam Controller. It is expected to bring back Valve’s PC-first approach with dual trackpads, gyro controls, TMR thumbsticks, rear buttons, and a wireless dongle that also functions as a magnetic charging puck. This new controller seems to address the shortcomings of the original Steam Controller, offering improved sticks, additional buttons, and a more user-friendly experience for playing PC games on a TV.
The key question remains whether Valve can make the Steam Controller a must-have accessory for Steam users rather than just another expensive peripheral. The original Steam Controller was unconventional, ambitious, and polarizing. This new iteration seems to follow a similar path but with enhanced features and a more confident pricing strategy.
