Valve has finally confirmed that the new Steam Controller will arrive on May 4 and will be available through Valve’s official website starting at 10 AM PT for $99. Interestingly, it will launch before the Steam Machine, and the reason is simple: because the controller does not need RAM, which makes it much easier to produce during the current global shortage of memory and storage components.
Right now, both the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame VR headset depend heavily on expensive RAM and storage parts, and these components are still facing supply problems around the world. Because of this, production for those devices is slower and more difficult.
Speaking to Polygon, Valve hardware engineer Steve Cardinali explained that the Steam Controller “doesn’t have RAM in it, and it’s not as complicated to start getting out the door for us.” Since it avoids that problem completely, Valve can manufacture and ship it much faster without major delays. Cardinali also said that Valve has already produced a good number of controllers for launch, but there is still a chance that demand could be higher than expected.
As for features, Steam Controller includes TMR analog sticks for better precision and long-term protection against stick drift, along with larger dual trackpads designed for smoother mouse-like control. It also has four back buttons, dual-stage triggers for separate actions like aiming and firing, and Grip Sense technology that can automatically turn gyro aiming on or off depending on how the controller is held. The controller supports wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C connections, and its battery can last up to 35 hours on a single charge.
In other news, Steam has updated its regional pricing system, giving developers more ways to set game prices across different countries, which could lead to lower prices in some regions.
