New Steam Controller reservations are slipping into 2027
Valve says current Steam Controller reservations now show a 2027 shipping window after demand exceeded its production plans.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Valve says new Steam Controller reservations are now being assigned shipping estimates that can stretch into 2027, a sign that demand for the gamepad is running well ahead of supply. The delay matters for buyers because the reservation system now gives only a rough window for when they may get the chance to place an order.
According to Valve, customers reserving a Steam Controller will see one of three expected timing ranges: by September 2026, by December 2026 or sometime in 2027. Valve said reservations placed as of June 18 “indicate a 2027 date for shipping.”
Valve said it is not ending production of the controller. The company said it is comparing current demand with the number of units it expects to produce by the end of the year and is trying to set clearer expectations for customers waiting in line.
Queue follows a rough launch
The new Steam Controller went on sale in early May, according to The Verge. The Verge reported that early buyers ran into checkout problems during the first rush, before the controllers eventually sold out.
Valve later announced a reservation queue for people who still wanted to buy the controller, according to The Verge. Under that system, customers join a waitlist and receive a notice when a unit is available for them to purchase.
Valve says buyers have 72 hours to complete their order after they are notified that a Steam Controller is ready. The reservation process was meant to reduce customer frustration and help Valve plan production, the company said.
Valve said the controller’s launch drew more demand than it expected. The company said the queue has helped it work out how to get as many controllers shipped as it can.
Other Valve hardware remains in limbo
The controller is part of Valve’s broader return to Steam-branded hardware, according to The Verge. The Verge reported that Valve’s three major hardware products were delayed from a planned early 2026 launch because of a component crisis.
Valve has not announced when the Steam Machine PC or the Steam Frame VR headset will go on sale, according to The Verge. For now, the Steam Controller is moving through a reservation system that gives some buyers an estimated wait lasting into next year.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.