Steam Controller Orders Delayed Into 2027 by Valve

Many Steam Controller fans have yet to hear when they'll receive their controllers. Valve may have given that answer, but it may not be the answer people wanted. It's been a long time since Steam Controller talk was heard. The controllers are already available for some users. 

We use them; we have our Steam Controller, and we're still writing a review of it. But plenty of consumers are still waiting for their Steam Controller. There have been numerous comments from folks still waiting for their emails.

Orders for Steam Controllers Will be on a Long Waiting List

Those who haven't ordered a Valve Steam Controller can get an update. The company has provided general timelines when controller emails should be received. Please allow up to September, December, or sometime in 2027 for receipt of an email. But that's a long time for a controller.

Any user can verify whether they have an order in their order window by logging in to Steam and going to the Steam Controller page. These options will not be visible to those who have already received a controller. But for those users who haven't received their estimates yet, consider three estimates: September, December, or 2027.

Valve is Set to Keep Manufacturing

Valve has announced again that it will keep manufacturing the Steam Controller. More Steam Controllers are in the works, and the company will monitor demand to ensure expectations are met. Even if no reservations have been made, it seems unlikely to get one during the year. With a reservation placed today, deliveries may not take place until 2027.

Testing with another Steam account revealed bad news. Those who didn't preorder a Steam Controller likely won't get one until next year, and no word yet on when in 2027 orders are expected. It could be January, March, April, or December. Since it's a Steam Deck queue, there's some context.

Steam Deck reservation queue was also delayed. The waiting time for many users after reserving their systems was long. Some of those with June 2021 reservations received their Steam Decks in August/September 2021. Steam Deck was originally supposed to release in November, but it has been delayed until February 2022.

An international shortage of silicon occurred during the same period, impacting production. In the end, it's safe to assume that any non-reserved Steam Controller player will get one next year. It could still be worth holding one for now, given the reservations.

Could Steam Machine Reservations Become Like?

Others have wondered, will the Steam Machine Queue be as arduous? Steam Machine will certainly be a selling item, but so far no word on pricing. It's also a PC that can be assembled relatively easily, compared to the Steam Controller, which is simply not available elsewhere. It is an experience like no other.

More Steam Machine and Steam Frame shipments have already been observed. There have been several shipments recently, and an announcement is expected soon. But Steam's reservations for the controller are already out until 2027, which suggests they don't have enough Steam devices for everyone to get in time for the products.

The Cost of Reservations Remains Unknown

Some people wonder whether they should invest a large sum up front to reserve their Steam Machine at the earliest opportunity. There is no reason to put aside $1,000. If this is true about the Steam Controller, they might not ask for any cash at first. If the Steam Deck is followed, they will only need to pay a small amount, like $5.

So it's better to spend $1,000 than to put it down. This is true of the Steam Frame as well. It's uncertain what the price will be at this time, but investing about $50 might be more realistic. Reservations may be helpful for those interested in both products. For now, it's unclear whether reservations will require upfront payment or will just get a number in a queue.

Not much else to say about the Steam Machine.

There are a lot of details that are known, but one thing isn't: the price. There is one other question that always comes up, aside from price. Many people still believe in the existence of HLX (Half-Life X) or Half-Life 3. If this is the case, some predict that Half-Life 3 will be released alongside the Steam Machine as a surprise.

It would be one of the biggest releases in gaming, but Valve has a history of releasing things when people don't expect them. The most basic issues are still in focus. What would (or should) be the maximum amount you would be willing to pay for Steam hardware, other than the Steam controller, and would Half-Life X or Half-Life 3 still be a viable thing to hope for?