Valve Investigates Steam Controller Puck After Live Contacts Scorched Pixel Watch 4 Strap
Updated
Updated · digitalfoundry.net · May 22
Valve Investigates Steam Controller Puck After Live Contacts Scorched Pixel Watch 4 Strap
1 articles · Updated · digitalfoundry.net · May 22
Valve’s Steam Hardware team contacted Reddit user /u/Toikka after a charging Puck’s always-live contacts accidentally touched a metallic Pixel Watch 4 strap and left both visibly scorched.
The incident happened while the watch and Steam Controller were charging side by side, with the conductive third-party strap bridging the exposed contacts on the Puck.
Valve offered a replacement Puck and asked for the Puck and watch charger to be sent in for investigation; neither device was disabled and no one was injured.
The case highlights a design risk around exposed powered contacts, with possible mitigations including limiting current until the Puck is attached to a Steam Controller.
Did Valve's push for 'plug-and-play' convenience in its new controller charger create an avoidable fire risk for all users?
When a simple charger scorches a watch strap, does it reveal a dangerous flaw in how our everyday gadgets are safety tested?