Valve’s Steam is ambitious. Last November, the game platform revealed that it is making a Steam “living-room PC,” along with a VR headset and a game controller. The former two are not here yet, but the controller is. Well, available for reservation, that is. The Steam Controller, as it is called, is like an Xbox controller that got buffed.
The first thing you will notice is the size. This thing looks chunky, almost like Valve took a standard controller and sent it to the gym. Then there are the dual high-precision trackpads sitting where analog sticks would normally live. Valve says the idea is to make PC-style controls feel more natural on a controller, especially for games traditionally designed around mouse input.
The trackpads are backed by advanced haptic feedback too, allowing them to simulate clicks, textures, and movement sensations. Valve even claims the haptics are precise enough for the pads to behave almost like speakers for your thumbs. Which sounds slightly ridiculous until you remember this is Valve we are talking about.
The Steam Controller also features dual analog sticks with TMR technology, capacitive touch sensors, gyro aiming support, four programmable rear buttons, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, plus over 35 hours of battery life. It is designed primarily for Steam Machines and SteamOS, but also works with regular PCs through Steam’s Big Picture ecosystem.
Valve is also embracing the modding crowd by releasing CAD files for the controller under a Creative Commons license, allowing users to design and 3D-print accessories and modifications.
The Steam Controller is currently available through Valve’s reservation system (US$99), though demand has been strong enough that scalpers immediately showed up to remind everyone why online shopping cannot be peaceful for even five minutes.
Image: Valve.