Valve delays Steam Controller orders into late 2026 and 2027

Valve updated its Steam Controller reservation system and assigned estimated order windows beginning in September 2026, with a second window in December 2026 and remaining reservations scheduled into 2027. The change covers customers already in the queue and new sign-ups; new registrants are placed at the back of the queue with an estimated 2027 purchase date.

Valve posted that “initial demand exceeded our expectations” and said it added the schedule to manage customer expectations. The company wrote, “We have no plans to stop making Steam Controller,” and said it must match demand with how many units it can produce by the end of the year.

Customers who log in to Steam and visit the Steam Controller page will see one of three windows tied to their reservation date. The reservation system requires a Steam account that has been active for at least three months. When an order window opens, buyers have 72 hours to complete the purchase before losing their place in line.

Valve has not provided a specific unit count or detailed changes to production capacity linked to the new schedule. The company has not confirmed whether the Steam Frame and Steam Machine launches will use a similar reservation-and-window system; both products are expected to ship this summer.

Interest in the controller increased after Valve revived the product, with attention in part focused on its trackpad design. Valve said early demand created a backlog that led to the introduction of estimated order windows to give buyers clearer timing for when they might receive an order email.

Customers can check their reservation status by signing into Steam and visiting the Steam Controller product page.