Steam's new $99 controller leaked early as Valve's secrecy falls apart

The Steam Controller's new model leaked early when Techy Talk dropped a full review video on April 24, breaking the embargo. Price: $99. Valve pulled the video, but Reddit users reuploaded it to Streamable—awkward all around.

The hardware itself borrows Steam Deck's design language: matte black finish, standard button layout. Grip looks decent from the footage, but critical specs like haptic response and stick dead zones remain unknown until official reviews land.

$99 sits in an odd spot. Cheaper than Xbox Elite controllers, double the cost of standard gamepads. If it's just baseline features, the value proposition collapses. Valve needs to deliver—programmable back buttons, refined haptics—or that price won't hold.

About the leak: either Techy Talk chased clicks over contracts, or Valve's NDA enforcement is weak. Early pricing helps consumers, but this kind of breach makes manufacturers tighten future access, hurting coverage quality long-term.

Don't preorder yet. Wait for input latency tests and compatibility reports post-launch. $99 isn't trivial, and returns are a hassle if the feel's off. If you already own an Xbox or PlayStation controller, skip this unless Steam-exclusive features prove genuinely compelling.