Reservations for the highly anticipated Steam Controller are now officially open, allowing eager gamers to secure their place in line. Prospective buyers can register on a waiting list, and Valve will notify them via email when their opportunity to purchase arises. Each customer is limited to one controller per transaction and must complete their order within 72 hours of receiving the notification, ensuring a streamlined and orderly process for all involved.
New Ordering System
This new reservation system follows the overwhelming demand that saw the initial batch of controllers sell out in mere minutes. Previously, early adopters were permitted to purchase two controllers at once, which led to a surge of Steam Controllers appearing on reseller platforms, as opportunistic scalpers capitalized on the situation by keeping one for personal use and selling the other at a premium.
<pUpon visiting the Steam Controller page on Valve's website, customers will notice a shift in the purchasing process. Instead of a straightforward "buy now" or "pre-order" option, the page now features a "login for purchase" prompt. This change underscores the necessity of logging in with a Steam account to acquire what many are calling the finest PC controller available today.
To join the waitlist, customers must not only possess a Steam account but also have made a purchase on the platform prior to April 27, 2026. This requirement serves to verify that users are legitimate account holders rather than newcomers solely interested in acquiring a controller.
The login system also facilitates communication from Valve, as the company will use the registered email address to inform customers when a controller becomes available for purchase. Once notified, buyers have a 72-hour window to finalize their order; failure to do so will result in the loss of their reservation.
As for the timeline of availability, Valve has indicated that “replenishment of inventory will vary from region to region.” The company plans to begin fulfilling reservations next week in the US and Canada, with the UK, EU, and Australia to follow in the subsequent weeks. However, this schedule pertains only to the commencement of new stock availability, not the specific timing of when individual reservations will be honored.
Valve previously employed a similar reservation system for Steam Deck sales, and given the rapid sell-out of the Steam Controller along with the public’s discontent regarding its swift disappearance, it is likely that this approach will also be adopted for future releases of the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
Initially, Valve had indicated that the Steam Machine and other recent hardware releases were “set to begin shipping in early 2026.” However, with only a month and a half remaining in this timeframe, the company faces a pressing deadline to launch all three devices within the promised window.
In the meantime, interested buyers can explore our comprehensive Steam Controller review, which highlights the numerous ways in which our team at PCGamesN has quickly become enamored with this innovative piece of Valve hardware.
