Valve has run out of Steam Controllers and is cancelling orders

(Image credit: Valve)

Last week, Valve decided that it was time for the Steam Controller to be retired, just over four years after it launched. To get rid of the last of its stock and give people one more chance to snatch it up, Valve shaved the price down to £4/$5, which was a steal, even if the controller wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Unfortunately, it looks like the remaining stock has run out before the orders have been fulfilled. 

People reported that they'd received refunds out of the blue, even for controllers that had allegedly shipped. Following that, Valve informed customers that it "mistakenly took more orders than [it was] able to fulfill." Unfortunately, since it's not making more of them, it can't just wait for more stock. 

The Steam Controller is officially dead, then. Along with the Steam Link and Steam Machines. Valve launched its bid to take over living rooms only four years ago, and now the whole ecosystem it developed has been shelved. Steam Machines were the first to go after they caused not even the slightest splash at launch, but none of the products really gained much traction. 

I still use my Steam Link, but even with a wired connection I have trouble with plenty of games, while my Steam Controller has been ignored for years. I was so enthusiastic when I got it, but it felt cheap, it was too noisy and it turns out that replacing the right analogue stick with a trackpad is a terrible idea. Both were attractive prospects that didn't live up to their promise. 

Cheers, VG24/7.

Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.