Valve Steam Controller (2026) review: Wait for the Steam Machine

In terms of inputs, it takes almost all of the control methods from the Steam Deck, except the touchscreen, and crams them into an 11 x 16 x 6cm design. Valve tries to have it both ways when it comes to its most familiar controls, using Xbox’s ABXY face buttons and a wide aesthetic but PlayStation’s identical joystick layout, as well as dual shoulder buttons and a pair of analogue triggers. Players accustomed to either will soon adapt to this hybrid approach.

The Steam Controller goes beyond any of its console cousins, with a whole fleet of inputs that neither Sony nor Microsoft have on their virtual platforms. There is a quarter of additional buttons on the underside of the handle, and the joystick is clickable, features capacitive touch sensors, and is built on tunneling magnetic resistance (TMR) sensors, which provide greater accuracy and durability than Hall effect systems.

Photo: Matt Kamen

There’s also an accelerometer and gyroscope for motion control, and advanced growler motors for precise touch — they can pull off the same audio tricks that the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2s do, vibrating at such high frequencies that the pad itself becomes a surrogate speaker, allowing for fun Easter eggs like a hidden Wilhelm scream. Most surprising are the same trackpads found in the Steam Deck on the bottom half of the controller, allowing for mouse-like controls.

Despite cramming all this in, it weighs just 292 grams. It’s rarely tiring, even after long gaming sessions. However, I had to adjust my grip a bit to comfortably reach the thumbstick, as a lot of real estate is allocated to accommodate the trackpads, which live where my thumb naturally wants to sit. The D-pad isn’t anything to write home about either – it’s a decent fit, but it lacks clean edges and suffers from a glossy finish that robs it of grip. Aside from the cheap-feeling D-pad, the build quality of the Steam Controller is exceptional.