I'm a lifelong gamer, and I can't wait to try the Steam Controller — 3 reasons why

Gaming Gaming Peripherals I'm a lifelong gamer, and I can't wait to try the Steam Controller — 3 reasons why Opinion By Tony Polanco published 28 April 2026 The Steam Controller could be the best PC game controller yet When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Valve) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Steam Controller is almost here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The first wave of Steam Controller reviews began circulating today (May 27), and they’re almost universally positive. I was already on board when Valve announced the controller and the Steam Machine, but after reading some reviews, I’m even more eager to get hands-on with this peripheral.This isn’t the same Steam Controller from 11 years ago. It features a brand-new, more ergonomic design. Standout features include TMR thumbsticks, large touchpads, and a unique USB dongle that also serves as a charger. Though the controller looks large and unwieldy, reviewers say it feels extremely comfortable.I’ll have a full review once I’ve had some hands-on time with the Steam Controller. For now, here are the three main reasons I’m excited to try it.Article continues below You may like Steam Controller reviews are in: 'I can’t imagine playing my PC games with anything else' Steam Controller launch imminent as Valve uploads 'secret' unboxing — here's what you need to know Steam Controller price leaked — and I'd start saving now Steam Controller: $99 at store.steampowered.comThe new Steam Controller could be one of the best PC game controllers thanks to its Magnetic thumbsticks, a full set of inputs for your Steam games, haptic motors, and claimed 35+ hours of battery life. It's not on sale yet, but the product page says it will be available on May 4.View DealTMR thumbsticks Steam Controller: Official Overview and Quick Start Guide - YouTube Watch On Hall Effect magnetic sticks and buttons have been all the rage for gaming controllers in recent years, but Valve has taken the next step by using more advanced TMR technology. In short, these sticks should be even less prone to stick drift because they use magnetic sensing with no physical contact, unlike traditional analog sticks. This should, in theory, keep the sticks performing like new for many years.The Scuf Valor Pro controller I reviewed also features TMR sticks, which I find extremely smooth and responsive. Given that the Steam Controller uses the same technology, I’m expecting a similar experience. Thankfully, virtually all reviews I’ve seen say the sticks are great to use and extremely responsive.I’ll need to test the controller’s thumbsticks for myself to see if they’re up to snuff, but I have faith they’ll be as great as I imagine. This alone could make the relatively steep $99 asking price more than worth it—but there are other features I’m excited about as well.Customization (Image credit: Valve)Since it’s designed for PC gaming, the Steam Controller is highly customizable and reprogrammable, so you can adjust it for whatever game you’re playing. window.sliceComponents = window.sliceComponents || {}; externalsScriptLoaded.then(() => { window.reliablePageLoad.then(() => { var componentContainer = document.querySelector("#slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-pbL7GG7gvAyLNzPWKPcT2B"); if (componentContainer) {…

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