Valve finally gives update on Steam Controller shipments

The Steam Controller officially launched last month but sold out within minutes, leading to scalpers attempting to charge console level prices for the gamepad alone. Valve quickly decided to put together a reservation queue system for future stock, but those who signed up to it have an incredibly long wait ahead. 

Valve has now updated the Steam Controller reservation queue system to give those who signed up an estimated order window for their controller. I myself signed up on May 9th, roughly 15 hours after the reservations first went live. Despite being signing up within the first 24 hours, my estimated order window is December 2026.

Those who signed up on May 8th as soon as the reservation list went live should have better luck, as Valve is also planning another wave of shipments ‘by September 2026', but if you were a little late to the party like I was, then you'll be waiting until the end of this year at the earliest and there is potential that you'll be kept waiting much longer than that.

Chances are, standalone Steam Controller shipments have been deliberately slowed down so that Valve will have enough of them to bundle with the Steam Machine, which is expected to launch within the next few weeks.

There will be bundles of the Steam Machine with or without the controller, but the controller bundle is expected to be the most popular option due to its console-like functionality, enabling the user to switch the Steam Machine on with the press of a controller button, just like an Xbox or PlayStation system.

KitGuru Says: If the waiting list is this bad for the standalone controller, I dread to think what the situation is going to be like for the Steam Machine itself. 

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