On the tenth anniversary of the now-discontinued Steam Controller’s initial release, rumors that Valve will be announcing an updated version are cropping up once again, and a reliable insider source has reportedly obtained information regarding the design of the updated peripheral. The source also claims that Valve will reveal the new Steam Controller to the public soon, although a specific date was not provided.
2025 has seen several rumors regarding physical Steam-adjacent products. Valve is also theorized to be announcing a wireless VR gaming headset in the near future, which may be called the “Steam Frame.” Now, it seems that the updated Steam Controller, drawing inspiration from the design of the popular Steam Deck, could be announced at the same time.
Leaked Steam Controller Features Chunky Design, Several Key Features
Valve insider Brad Lynch, who first teased a new Steam Controller in 2024, has now revealed information about the controller’s design on Twitter. Lynch clarified that the image shared on the platform is not a picture of the controller, but an AI-generated approximation based on a prototype he has personally seen. The image shows a large, chunky controller with two joysticks, a Steam button in the center, and double trackpads that clearly show its Steam Deck inspiration.
Commenters on Twitter were quick to compare the new Steam Controller to The Duke, an old-school Xbox controller also infamous for its large size. Some praised the controller for its similarity to the Steam Deck, while others felt it was too big or disliked the inclusion of the two touchpads. When a commenter asked when Valve might officially reveal the updated design, Lynch replied that they were “extremely close” to doing so. In addition to revealing the controller’s design, Lynch shared that it can “detect how far your hands are from the handles using a simple capsense feature.” ‘Capsense’ is short for “capacitive sensors,” which the recently updated Steam Deck also boasts. He clarified that this feature “is not full finger tracking in the grips” but a more basic version that may be utilized for gyroscopic movements.
It has been a little over five years since Valve discontinued the original Steam controller, and one year since the rumors began that it was developing a new one. If it is indeed as close to release as Lynch claims, it is possible that this new controller, alongside the Steam Frame VR headset, could see release as early as the 2025 holiday season. If that is the case, the new and improved Steam Controller could be a hot ticket item on gamers’ Christmas lists this year.
