Valve's $99 Steam Controller Impresses, but Blocks Xbox PC App and Game Pass Titles
Updated
Updated · Windows Central · May 23
Valve's $99 Steam Controller Impresses, but Blocks Xbox PC App and Game Pass Titles
3 articles · Updated · Windows Central · May 23
$99 Steam Controller delivered a strong first-week showing in Windows Central's review, with comfortable ergonomics, responsive controls and a magnetic charging puck standing out.
Steam support drives that performance: Steam Input, community layouts and Big Picture Mode made most Steam library games work smoothly, though some older API-based titles still caused overlay and detection issues.
Xbox PC app and PC Game Pass titles were the clearest failure point, with games such as Forza Horizon 6 not working on Windows without third-party software.
Valve is still limiting access after launch-day sellouts, requiring Steam account reservations; UK delivery estimates stretched from 3-5 working days to 6-10 shortly after release.
The review concludes the controller is worth buying for players who mostly use Steam and will tinker, but not for anyone expecting plug-and-play support across Microsoft's PC ecosystem.
Is Valve's new controller a play to lock gamers into Steam, or a true gift to the entire PC gaming community?
Valve's new controller claims to end stick drift forever. Has it truly solved gaming's most frustrating hardware flaw?
The Steam Controller's magnetic charger can short-circuit. How did this convenient feature become a potential fire hazard for users?