Steam Controller Launch Priced At £85 Amid Mixed Gamer Reaction

TL;DR: The Steam Controller launches on 4 May at £85, a price that has split the gaming community.

Valve positions the £85 controller as a premium input device for its platform. Chris Scullion argued the price is justified because Sony and Microsoft sell premium controllers for £150-£200.

The device will connect to PCs and the Steam Deck when it ships in May. Early hands-on reviews are positive, and the controller should sell well among core enthusiasts, even if it is unlikely to surpass the Xbox controller’s popularity. The design relies on haptic trackpads to simulate mouse controls and uses a magnetic puck for syncing and charging.

Pricing at £85 places the controller between standard console pads and premium offerings. This price is twice that of the 2015 model and reflects increased hardware costs across the industry. What to watch next is how this pricing strategy affects adoption of the Steam Machine and broader PC gaming platform growth.