← Steam Controller
Adam Savage’s Tested
Tested: Steam Controller Review + Valve Interview!
3 min read30 Apr 2026Worth watching
TL;DR
Norm from Tested reviews Valve's new Steam Controller ($99, launching May 4th), covering hardware specs, a developer interview, and hands-on impressions alongside senior producer Josh Self. The video examines whether the premium price is justified and how it compares to Xbox and PlayStation controllers.
Key points
1
The Steam Controller costs $99 USD, launches May 4th via Steam, and includes a magnetic charging puck that supports up to 4 controllers at 250Hz with no latency degradation as more devices connect.
2
It uses TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistance) thumbsticks — more durable, more accurate, and lower power than Hall effect sticks — with firmware offsets built in to counteract magnetic interference from the charging puck.
3
Grip Sense detects whether hands are on left, right, or both grips (capacitive, not pressure-sensitive) and can be used to activate a 3-DoF gyroscope for precision aiming in shooters.
4
Valve designed it primarily for Steam Deck parity so users docking their Deck can switch seamlessly, and thousands of existing community controller configs for Steam Deck work on day one.
5
Valve will share external geometry files publicly (like they did for Steam Deck), partner with iFixit for replacement parts, and the controller supports up to 16 controllers across 4 pucks tested internally.
Verdict
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If you already use an Xbox controller as your PC gamepad and do not care about gyro aiming or touchpad mouse input, the Steam Controller will feel like a lateral move with a higher price tag — the Xbox ergonomics and D-pad are arguably better.
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The gyro is most effective in shooters like Doom 2016 when mapped to activate on thumb-stick touch, giving precision fine-tuning on top of stick aiming — but Forza-style steering use cases expose the grip sense limitations.
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Buyers who plan to get a Steam Machine or Steam Frame will likely find more value, as the Steam Machine has a built-in puck receiver (no separate puck needed) and the Steam Frame will enable 6-DoF tracking via the controller's IR LED.
Notable quotes
“I could see a hundred bucks worth of stuff in there... am I getting a $100 experience from it?”
“This feels like an $80 controller to me. And maybe it's because I don't make use of the touchpads nearly as much as maybe some other people do.”
“It's hardware awaiting more hardware.”
Worth watching?
✅
Worth watching the full video?
Watch if you want to see the hands-on footage and hear the unfiltered Valve developer interview — the key specs and opinions are captured here, but the live gameplay and teardown visuals add useful context for a $99 purchase decision.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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