Valve: New Steam Controller Orders Now Face Waits Into 2027

Valve says demand for its Steam Controller has been so strong that anyone ordering the device today won't receive it until 2027 at the earliest. The company confirmed the delay in an update posted to its website, framing the backlog as a byproduct of surprisingly high interest rather than a sign it's stepping back from the hardware. Valve reiterated that it has "no plans to stop making Steam Controller," adding that the level of consumer response has "exceeded our expectations."

Three delivery windows, one long queue

To give buyers a clearer picture of when their controller might actually arrive, Valve is now sorting orders into three estimated windows tied to when a purchase was placed: September 2026, December 2026, or a broader 2027 window for the most recent orders. Valve said it would share more precise timing for that final group later on. Customers who have already ordered can check their specific window by logging into their Steam account.

How the reservation queue works

Valve confirmed its reservation queue system remains active for managing the rollout. Buyers are notified by email once it's their turn to complete a purchase, and from that point they have a 72-hour window to finalize the order. Missing that deadline forfeits the spot, bumping the next person in line up the queue instead.

Reception has been mostly positive, with some hiccups

Players who've gotten their hands on the Steam Controller have generally responded well to it, according to Valve's update, though the device hasn't been without problems. Some users have run into rumble compatibility issues significant enough to make certain games unplayable with the controller. On a lighter note, the controller has an amusing quirk: it occasionally triggers a well-known cinematic scream sound effect when it's dropped or thrown.

Part of a bigger hardware push

The Steam Controller's supply crunch comes amid a broader stretch of hardware news from Valve. The Steam Deck recently saw a substantial price increase, which Valve has tied partly to ongoing shortages in components and memory. Meanwhile, Valve has said both the Steam Machine console and the Steam Frame VR headset are targeted for release this summer, though it has not yet announced pricing or firm release dates for either product. For now, Valve's message to would-be Steam Controller buyers is one of patience: the queue system and staggered delivery windows are meant to manage expectations rather than signal any pullback from the product. With the Steam Deck price hike and unresolved details on Steam Machine and Steam Frame, Valve's hardware lineup is entering a period where supply, not player interest, appears to be the limiting factor.