GoKawiilSince time immemorial, serious PC gamers have proselytized about the superiority of mouse and keyboard control schemes over the more input-limited handheld controllers used by most console gamers (and others). In recent years, though, many PC gamers have started keeping a spare Xbox controller (or similar) nearby for the increasing number of PC games designed primarily or exclusively with thumbsticks and buttons in mind.
Valve’s upcoming Steam Controller (not to be confused with the 2015 controller of the same name) is the Steam maker’s effort to replace those controllers with something more explicitly designed for the PC, and for the upcoming Steam Machine. After spending a few weeks with the controller, though, we’re not quite sure it sets itself apart from the competition enough to justify its high $99 asking price.
Kyle Orland The rear buttons are pretty perfectly positioned for your middle and ring fingers to rest comfortably. The rear buttons are pretty perfectly positioned for your middle and ring fingers to rest comfortably. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland There’s a nice lip on the shoulder trigger to prevent your finger from sliding off the back. There’s a nice lip on the shoulder trigger to prevent your finger from sliding off the back. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The face buttons on the Steam Controller are suitably springy and responsive. The face buttons on the Steam Controller are suitably springy and responsive. Kyle Orland There’s a nice lip on the shoulder trigger to prevent your finger from sliding off the back. Kyle Orland The face buttons on the Steam Controller are suitably springy and responsive. Kyle Orland
Baseline quality
From the first time you hold a Steam Controller in your hands, it’s clear that this is a well-made piece of hardware. There’s a sturdy build quality to all the pieces that makes the controller feel solid in the hand, with just enough heft to feel substantial without being too heavy.
The controller’s matte finish provides a solid connection to the comfortable palm grips, which are angled to naturally position your thumbs easily over the thumbsticks and face buttons. And those buttons all have a nice, springy response, including four well-positioned programmable rear buttons and analog triggers with plenty of comfortable travel distance.
The Steam Controller has a rumble motor that can alternate between strong and subtle vibrations with equal utility, and magnetic TMR thumbsticks that should be less susceptible to the kind of drift inherent to sticks with physical contacts. And there are well-labeled and easy-to-access menu buttons to access in-game controls or system-level options in Steam.