I’m job searching right now and can’t really justify the Steam Controller purchase this week. Before getting laid off and RAM-pocalypse, the plan was to buy a Steam Machine and controller when it was going to release early 2026, but clearly that plan has changed a bit.

The FOMO is hitting after the previews this week! Do we think we need to worry about Steam Controller availability later in the year?

I use a DualSense Edge for my PS5, and either an old PS controller when docked or my 8BitDo SN30 when I travel for the Steam Deck. If I had the Steam Machine I’d buy it instantly, but who knows when that will happen and how much it’ll cost.

  • commander@lemmy.world
    2·
    2 hours ago

    I’m certain it won’t be a problem past a month. Primary input on PC is mouse and keyboard. The primary users for this gamepad will be steam machine owners. The controller for now requires steam. Some sunset of ~150 million people will buy this. I’d be surprised if this sold to even 10% in 5 years. It’ll be competing with the likes of 8bitdo and others that while they may have less buttons, no trackpad, it’s the amount of buttons devs design around. Steam controllers until they become overwhelmingly popular along with other controllers that mimic it, those rear buttons won’t be essential for gamepad native games. Steam controllers have nice to haves rather than being the minimum needed. Vast majority of gamers would be served by a $30 8bitdo perfectly well for their uses

    I’d expect the PlayStation and Xbox regular first party controllers and maybe even the premium first party consoles controllers to sell more than this and they don’t seem to have supply problems. Those are essential to the console experience. Steam controller is not to PC gaming