Steam's new controller launches in China at 899 yuan with TMR sticks, IGN scores it 9/10

Valve's Steam Controller is now listed on JD.com's global store at ¥899 plus ¥82 in customs fees, with pre-orders opening at midnight on May 24. The controller uses TMR magnetic stick technology and earned a 9/10 from IGN, which called it the new benchmark for PC gamepads.

Compared to the overseas price of $99 (roughly ¥675), the mainland version costs ¥224 more. But stack it against the Xbox Elite Series 2 (¥1,398) or Sony's DualSense Edge (¥1,299), and the Steam Controller's ¥981 landed price sits squarely in the mid-tier. The real differentiator is the tech: TMR magnetic sticks deliver higher sensitivity and durability than common Hall effect solutions, virtually eliminating drift. The Elite Series 2, meanwhile, still relies on traditional potentiometer sticks—drift complaints have never stopped.

Hardware-wise, you get four assignable grip buttons, two 34.5mm square trackpads, and four haptic motors (two under the trackpads, two in the grips). This setup offers deeper customization on PC than any console controller. The tradeoff: Valve dropped the original's swappable parts and pressure-sensitive trackpad clicks, which will disappoint modular enthusiasts. Battery life exceeds 35 hours, weight sits at 292 grams, and connectivity covers 2.4GHz wireless (4ms polling), USB-C wired, and Bluetooth. A wireless receiver charging dock comes in the box. The battery capacity is 8.39Wh.

Compatibility spans PC, Mac, mobile devices, and Steam Deck—basically every platform that matters. If your primary setup is PC and you want a controller that balances durability with customization, the Steam Controller has no real competition at this price point. Console-exclusive players might prefer the DualSense for its better haptic integration with first-party titles. Set an alarm for the 24th—these launch drops typically sell out within 30 minutes.