Steam Controller (2026) Review: One Gamepad to Rule Your Steam Library

I Hated the Original, But I Absolutely Adore the New $99 Steam Controller | PCMag

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Editors' Choice 4.0 Excellent this.$refs.template.innerHTML, onCreate: (instance) => this.tippyInstance = instance, onShow: (instance) => { this.escapeHandler = (e) => { if (e.key === 'Escape') instance.hide(); }; window.addEventListener('keydown', this.escapeHandler); }, onHide: (instance) => { if (this.escapeHandler) { window.removeEventListener('keydown', this.escapeHandler); this.escapeHandler = null; } }, onMount: (instance) => { const closeBtn = instance.popper.querySelector('[data-tooltip-close]'); if (closeBtn) closeBtn.addEventListener('click', () => instance.hide()); }, }; }, }">   What Our Ratings Mean 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies. The Bottom Line The new Steam Controller is a terrific-feeling, feature-packed gamepad that leaps multiple generations beyond its predecessor and works with your PC, Steam Deck, phone, or tablet. MSRP $99.99 $99.99 $99 at Steam PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Pros & Cons Packed with features, including TMR thumb sticks, detailed haptics, touchpads, gyro controls, and rear buttons Extensive customization options through Steam Clever charging puck/transmitter Multiple connectivity options Only works through Steam Incompatible with Xbox Game Pass games Expensive I've used many gamepads across many platforms, and to date, only two have actively repulsed me due to their build quality. The first was the Ouya gamepad. The second was Valve's original Steam Controller. Ouya is long-dead, but Steam remains the biggest name in PC gaming. Now, 11 years after the original Steam Controller debuted, Valve has released a new version. It's a pricey $99.99, but fundamentally better in every way thanks to a deep feature set, terrific feel, and customizable controls like those on the Steam Deck. The downside? Although the Steam Controller is compatible with the Steam Deck, PCs running Steam, mobile devices through the Steam Link app, and (eventually) the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, it doesn't support consoles or Xbox Game Pass games on Windows. Even with those limitations, the Steam Controller is an excellent gamepad. It's easily one of the top options for anyone with a huge Steam library, and that's why it earns our Editors' Choice award for game controllers.Design: New and Improved in Every WayI can't overstate how much better the new Steam Controller feels in terms of build quality. One of my biggest complaints about the first version was how light and cheap it felt. It seemed almost hollow, practically rattling and wobbling between the loose-feeling triggers and the removable back panel that flexed to serve as the rear buttons. The new Steam Controller is much more solid, comparable with an Xbox gamepad in heft and grip curve. It’s still mostly plain, matte black plastic, but textured to be more secure and less slippery than its half-glossy predecessor. The touchpads have a smooth, satiny finish that's so much nicer under the thumb, the triggers have smooth tension that doesn't feel remotely spongy, and the permanently attached rear buttons are nice and clicky. It feels better to hold in all regards. Left: Original Steam Controller. Right: New Steam Controller (Credit: Will Greenwald) The build isn't the only major improvement the new Steam Controller has received: Its control layout is completely overhauled. The original gamepad had only one analog stick, located to the left of the four face buttons, with the two circular touchpads above them. This meant your thumbs would naturally fall onto the touchpads, making it slightly awkward to move them to the stick and buttons. It also had no digital direction pad whatsoever.Now, the controls are laid out just like the Steam Deck, only without a huge screen between the left and right grips. There are two analog sticks, located parallel to each other like on a PlayStation controller, with a plus-shaped direction pad and four face buttons (ABXY in the Xbox arrangement) sitting to the upper-left and upper-right of the sticks, respectively. The difference in height between the sticks and the other controls is slight; all four elements are almost in a line to make room for the Steam Deck-like square touchpads in the gamepad's center. This makes the touchpads feel secondary to the sticks, pad, and face buttons, which they should be; they can be advantageous in many cases (strategy games, for example), but an overwhelming number of PC games support a conventional gamepad. The pads are still accessible, and their lower positions mean you probably won't accidentally brush your thumb against them when you use the conventional controls. Similar Products

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