Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Meet the release-ready Steam Controller

By
Introducing the Steam Controller
Valve’s Steam Controller has undergone an evolution since we first got a look at it in 2013. The initial configuration of two touchpads has been supplemented with an actual thumbstick and the now-standard four buttons as a concession to traditionalists, for instance.
Recommended Videos

Now the controller is finally ready for the spotlight, and pre-orders are available for a limited initial release on October 16, alongside the first wave of official Steam Machines and the in-home streaming Steam Link. In order to catch up and excite gamers that haven’t necessarily been following news of the controller’s development with bated breath, Valve has released a new overview video about the Steam Controller, outlining its basic features and what separates it from standard gamepads.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!
Privacy Policy

Although physical controls have been added, the two touchpads are still the most distinctive and potentially game-changing feature of the Steam Controller. One of Valve’s primary design objectives was to develop a gamepad that could substitute for a keyboard and mouse, allowing for couch play of games that did not previously lend themselves without a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.

In the video they show someone playing Cities: Skylines. Previous demonstrations have used Civilization V as an example — one of my all-time favorite games, and one which I could not have imagined playing on a gamepad before seeing it. Having two touchpads also opens up interesting possibilities like a much faster virtual keyboard, with both of your thumbs available to find letters instead of the tedious hunting and pecking with a thumbstick.

The other major point in the Steam Controller’s favor is that it is fully customizable for every game. You will be able to map out any game’s controls scheme in any way you like. If you would rather not spend the time experimenting with optimal set-ups for every game, you will be able to peruse configurations that the community has shared in order to find the most popular options and then adjust to taste.

A limited quantity of Steam Controllers are available for pre-order now from Valve for $50. This first round will ship on October 16, and then hit store shelves officially on November 10.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Will Fulton
Will Fulton
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…
Steam Deck 2: release date speculation, specs, pricing
Steam Deck held between two hands.

It's a matter of when we'll see the Steam Deck 2, not if we'll see it. Valve has talked publicly multiple times about its plans for a next-gen Steam Deck, which shouldn't come as a surprise given that the original is easily the best handheld gaming PC you can buy.

Although the Steam Deck 2 is still a few years off, Valve has been dropping hints about the handheld for a while. Here's everything we know about the Steam Deck 2 right now, from the possible release date to details on specs and performance.
Steam Deck 2: release date speculation

Read more
When will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth be on PC?
Cloud,. Aerith, and Tifa stand together in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

PlayStation 5 players have been raving about the second part of the FF7 remake project Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. As with the first part, it was made clear well in advance that this game would be a PlayStation exclusive at launch, however, we did eventually get Remake of the first part on PC around a year later. This gives PC players hope that the same treatment will be given to Rebirth, but the big question becomes how long will we have to wait this time? Is it possible to see it come to PC storefronts faster than its prequel, or will we need to bide our time avoiding spoilers for months on end? Here's our best estimate as to when you can expect to see Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC.
What is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC release date?

The sad fact of the matter is we don't have an official release date for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC or any other platform at this time. But there is reason to at least hope that the wait won't be as long this time around. Our only clue is that the marketing for Rebirth states that it is a PlayStation 5 exclusive until at least May 29, 2024. That's exactly three months after its initial release.

Read more
Meet Blackwell, Nvidia’s next-generation GPU architecture
Nvidia introducing its Blackwell GPU architecture at GTC 2024.

We finally have our first taste of Nvidia's next generation of GPUs, named Blackwell. Sure, they're built for enterprises, and no, they won't run Cyberpunk 2077 (at least not officially). But this is the first look we've have at what Nvidia is cooking up for its RTX 50-series GPUs, which are rumored to launched sometime in the next year.

The GPU we have today is the B200 -- Blackwell 200, if you can spot it -- that comes packed with 208 billion transistors. The architecture is built on TSMC's 4NP node, which is an enhanced version of the 5nm node. It's a little surprising given that Nvidia's Ada Lovelace GPUs are built with TSMC's 4N node -- one refinement step away from 4NP. Nvidia notes that it's using a custom version of this process, however.

Read more