There’s a new official Steam controller – but it’s not from Valve

The prolonged anticipation has come to an end with the recent announcement from peripheral manufacturer Hori, who is teaming up with Valve to release a new Steam controller.

Despite being first released in 2015, the official Steam Controller was discontinued five years ago. Since then, PC gaming enthusiasts have eagerly awaited a potential new version of the controller, but no news had surfaced until Hori recently made a surprise announcement.

Hori is most recognized for its top-notch gaming controllers, including the Hori Fighting Commander Octa which earned a place on our list of the Best PS5 controllers. The recently unveiled Hori wireless Steam controller is officially endorsed by Valve, with the two companies working together to guarantee its compatibility with all Steam features.

The initial Steam controller opted for touch-based trackpads instead of analog sticks, a choice that was not universally favored by players. Additionally, its unconventional button arrangement caused confusion for those who were used to the traditional four-button layout.

new Hori official Steam controller — That

The latest Hori Steam controller has a conventional design, featuring unevenly placed analog sticks and a four-button arrangement similar to an Xbox controller. However, the analog sticks lack drift-proof Hall Effect sensors.

The controller also includes additional features like a specific button for accessing Steam Big Picture Mode and the Steam Quick Access overlay. Like most high-end controllers, it also has four customizable buttons that can be programmed for tasks like macros or combos.

The Hori wireless Steam controller offers users the option to use either a Bluetooth connection or a wired USB connection for Steam Input. This feature is compatible with the Steam Deck and can also be used with non-Steam Windows games in Xinput mode.

As of now, Hori has only confirmed a Japanese launch for the controller on October 31. Pre-orders can be made through Hori’s official store for 7,980 yen, which is approximately $50.