As reported by Vice, a leaked review from YouTube channel TechyTalk has provided an early look at Valve's latest hardware. Although the video was quickly pulled from the platform, users have already shared screen recordings via sites like Streamable. The most significant revelation is that a new Steam controller reportedly $99 is arriving with an MSRP of approximately $100.

While that price may seem high at first glance, it positions the device in the 70th percentile of the current market. When compared to the wider field of peripherals, the controller sits firmly in the middle-to-high end of the pack.

How the New Steam Controller's $99 Price Compares

To understand where Valve’s hardware fits, we looked at various offerings from major manufacturers and our own buying guides. Here is how the competition stacks up, arranged from cheapest to most expensive:

  • GameSir Nova Lite: $23
  • Xbox standard wireless: $49–$70
  • PlayStation DualSense: $74+
  • GameSir G7 Pro: $80
  • Switch 2 Pro: $90
  • SCUF Valor Pro: $110
  • Xbox Elite Series 2: $158–$200+
  • PlayStation DualSense Edge: $200
  • Razer Wolverine: $200

Mid-Tier Features and Market Tiers

The current controller market generally follows a predictable structure. You have the sub-$50 budget selection, a mid-tier of $50–$100 premium controllers (including first-party console options), and then a significant gap before the "tryhard" esports bracket of $150+.

This new Steam controller reportedly $99 slots in right at the top of that mid-tier. While it misses some ultra-premium features, such as the 8,000 Hz polling found on the Razer Wolverine, it offers unique advantages. Specifically, it includes trackpads and Hall Effect analogue sticks, a technology that the "big three" console manufacturers have been famously slow to adopt.

Evolution of the Steam Controller

It is worth noting how much the landscape has changed since 2015. The original Steam Controller launched for $49.99—which, when adjusted for inflation, is about $70 today.

If Valve tried to charge $70 for the old hardware now, they would likely be laughed out of the room. The original was a "Fisher Price-feeling," owl-faced device with only one analogue stick, mushy buttons, and a reliance on AA batteries. I personally loved my original unit, but I learned the hard way not to leave batteries inside for too long after they eventually burst. This new Steam controller reportedly $99 clearly aims to move far beyond those early limitations.