Remember when Valve casually resurrected the Steam Controller and everyone collectively lost their minds? Well, turns out Valve did too - because according to PCGamesN, the company has openly admitted it wildly underestimated how many people actually wanted the thing.
If you were one of the hopeful souls who put in a reservation thinking you'd be gaming with those iconic haptic pads sometime soon, we have some bad news. Valve is now warning buyers that they could be facing a lengthy wait before they can actually get their hands on a new unit - and no, we're not talking a quick loading screen here. More like the kind of wait that makes you question your life choices.
Classic Valve, honestly
This is a company that famously struggles to count to three, so maybe we shouldn't be shocked that their demand forecasting is also operating on a similar difficulty setting. The Steam Controller, originally discontinued back in 2019, has been making a comeback and fans have been eager to revisit - or discover for the first time - its unique dual trackpad design that turned every thumb into a mouse.
The demand surge makes total sense if you think about it. A dedicated controller with native Steam integration that lets you play literally anything? Yeah, people want that. Valve just apparently didn't get the memo that their own fanbase is enormous and extremely willing to throw money at cool hardware.
So what now?
For those already in the queue, it's essentially a waiting game - much like sitting in a matchmaking lobby for a game that nobody plays anymore. Valve hasn't given a concrete timeline on when supply will catch up to demand, which is very on-brand for a company that treats release dates like optional suggestions.
The silver lining? At least the reservations system means you're theoretically in line rather than refreshing a sold-out page into oblivion. Small wins, people. Small wins.
If you're thinking of jumping in now, maybe go touch some grass first - because by the time that controller arrives, you might genuinely need the outdoor experience to tide you over.
