Valve's Steam Controller 2 is finally real - and reviewers have had hands-on time for weeks

After years of speculation and anticipation, Valve has officially announced the Steam Controller 2 - the long-awaited follow-up to its original, divisive gamepad - and it's arriving sooner than you might think. The controller goes on sale on May 4th for $99, marking the first piece of new Valve hardware set to hit the market this year.

The announcement comes alongside something pretty exciting for those of us who like to do our homework before buying: actual reviews from people who have spent real time with the thing. The Verge's Jay Peters and Cameron Faulkner have both been testing the new controller for over two weeks, and their full write-ups are live now.

Why this matters

The original Steam Controller had a famously rocky reputation. Valve was swinging for something genuinely different - a trackpad-heavy design meant to bring mouse-like precision to the couch. Some players loved it. A lot of others found it awkward and counterintuitive. Valve eventually discontinued it in 2019, selling off remaining stock for a single dollar a pop.

So a second attempt carries some weight. The question isn't just whether this new controller is good - it's whether Valve has actually learned from the first one. Two weeks of hands-on time from experienced reviewers is a solid indicator that we're getting a real, considered product rather than a rushed announcement.

What we know so far

At $99, the Steam Controller 2 sits at a premium price point compared to first-party options from Sony and Microsoft, so it's going to need to justify that cost. Valve has also hinted this is just the beginning of a broader slate of new hardware launching throughout the year, which makes this controller something of a statement of intent.

For anyone who games heavily on PC or uses a Steam Deck and wants a complementary controller experience, this one is worth watching closely. The May 4th on-sale date gives you just enough time to read the reviews, weigh up whether $99 makes sense for your setup, and decide if you're an early adopter or a wait-and-see type.

Full reviews from The Verge are available now, with a subscriber-focused Q&A also underway for anyone with more specific questions about the hardware.