Steam Controller sells out in 30 minutes; scalpers are already charging nearly $300

The Steam Controller disappeared from stock in 30 minutes, with resales reaching $300 and items hitting $556 on eBay.

The launch of the Steam Controller sparked a rush for the unit: in just 30 minutes, the official page was already showing it as unavailable.

Those who searched quickly had to deal with high demand, which led scalpers to ask for prices well above the original cost.

Price and demand

• Suggested retail price: $99
• Typical market range: $200 to $280
• Highest price observed on eBay: $556 (approx. 461% above the original price)
• Note: some listings include the old Steam Link to take advantage of the demand

Valve has not informed when the Steam Controller will be back in stock. There are reports of intermittent reappearances since the launch, followed by new unavailability.

Reception and strengths

The first reviews highlighted the comfort, customization, the trackpads, the gyroscope, the TMR thumbsticks, and the layout similar to the Steam Deck. On the other hand, critics point out that $99 is a high price and the dependence on the Steam platform may limit its reach.

How it works and why it is unique

The concept comes from the evolution of how people use the Steam Deck, especially when connecting it to a TV. In an interview, programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais and mechanical engineer Steve Cardinali described the controller as the natural next step: maintaining the familiar Deck layout while making it easier to play with a keyboard and mouse from the couch.

Among the features are Grip Sense, which detects where the hand is touching the device, in addition to four back buttons and the trackpads.

The set is accompanied by the Puck, which acts as a 2.4 GHz wireless receiver and charging base. According to Valve, the proprietary protocol allows connecting up to four controllers without the latency issues common in Bluetooth.

Compatibility and limitations

On Windows and macOS, the controller acts as a mouse and keyboard when Steam is not in use. Support on Linux is at the kernel level, but Valve states that avoiding an external kernel driver reduces the risk of instability, which may disappoint those who were hoping for a universal Xbox-like solution.

Conclusion: the launch generated excitement, but limited stock and high demand created a scenario of intense purchasing. Valve has not released a restocking date and keeps interested buyers in suspense.

If you are following this news, let us know in the comments: would you buy the Steam Controller in this high-demand scenario, or would you wait for an official restock? What is your opinion on the prices charged by resellers?

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