Valve addresses Steam Controller shipping delays and reservations amidst stock issues

The Steam Controller launched last month to higher demand than Valve anticipated, prompting a switch to a reservation queue system shortly after launch. Valve says the queue has helped on both the customer and production planning side, but the gap between current demand and what the company can manufacture by year’s end is significant enough that it felt transparency was needed.

If you’re waiting on a Steam Controller, or are thinking about reserving one, we’ll dive into the update Valve has issued on shipping timelines and delays, with the wait potentially longer than many will have hoped.

Steam Controller shipping delays could take until 2027 to resolve

As previously alluded to, Valve has confirmed that demand for the Steam Controller has outpaced its production capacity. It has somewhat eased with the reservation system, which is stopping scalping since people can’t guarantee a purchase and hoard them.

Now, Valve states that the Steam Controller page should show an estimated order window to manage expectations if you have already entered the reservation list. There are roughly three shipping windows, currently set for September 2026, December 2026, or 2027, with the latter applying to anyone placing a reservation from today onwards.

New reservations are still being accepted, with the aforementioned estimated delivery window displayed before you confirm, so there are no surprises at checkout.

One detail worth noting for both existing and prospective reservation holders: when your place in the queue comes up, Valve will email you with the option to purchase. You’ll have 72 hours to complete the order, after which your reservation is cancelled, and the spot passes to the next person in line. So keep an eye on your inbox if you’re in the queue.

Valve was clear that it has no plans to stop making the Steam Controller, and says it will update the 2027 estimate with more specific timing as production progresses. For now, though, if you’re yet to reserve, a 2027 delivery is the realistic expectation.

In other news, rumors are floating around that the Steam Machine might even come with a Stream Controller in bundles, according to some questionable leaks. That might make some of the supply issues easier, if you were intending on buying a Controller.

Authored by Craig Robinson

Craig Robinson is an experienced gaming and esports writer with nearly a decade of coverage experience since 2015. With a background in software engineering, he combines his journalistic expertise with a strong understanding of technical SEO and web development fundamentals. He’s passionate about covering MMO games, competitive esports, and crafting guides that help players get the most out of their favorite titles. He's been writing about gaming and esports for over 10 years, which started as for fun project during university. He has since developed his skill set, contributing to newsrooms coverage of key games and event, and blending evergreen content strategy and a solid grasp of content marketing fundamentals. His work has appeared in Esports News UK, Gamer Guides, theEscpaist, and VideoGamer, and he now contributes to Gamehub's review team. When he’s not writing, Craig can usually be found running, at the gym, or tinkering with coding projects to keep his GitHub active.

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