Following last week's report that Valve is working on a new version of its brilliant (if divisive) Steam Controller, a new leak has offered what could well be a first look at its revamped design, and it probably won't come as a complete surprise. see that it takes a lot. of Steam Deck signals.
Valve's original Steam Controller was initially introduced in 2013, accompanying talk of third-party Steam machines. But although this latest initiative ultimately failed, the controller lived on and was finally released in November 2015. Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye just four years later, amid a patent infringement lawsuit related to its shaped back buttons. of palette.
Valve initially lost that case and was ordered to pay $4 million in damages, but successfully appealed the verdict in August 2021, paving the way for a Steam Controller 2. All of which brings us to last week, when the source Valve insider, Brad Lynch. stated that not only was a new Steam Controller in the works, but it was “getting ready for mass production… right now.”
Lynch also reported that the “biggest change to the new device will be the shape/size of the trackpads,” with Valve moving toward a more traditional “gamepad-y shape.” And, again thanks to Lynch, we now have a much better idea of what the new Steam Controller would look like, via a low-quality image built into Valve's SteamVR controllers.
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And it looks like Valve is taking a lot of its design cues from the Steam Deck this time around, which seems entirely appropriate given how much the portable PC owes to the original Steam Controller. Assuming the newly discovered render is accurate, Valve's second iteration could, like the Steam Deck, feature a more traditional dual analog stick setup along with twin track pads, all packaged in what appears to be a much more ergonomic design.
The original Steam Controller's single analog stick setup wasn't universally loved, but it's been a staple of my couch/PC setup since its release thanks to those track pads. This newly discovered design is definitely encouraging and promises the best of both worlds.
Officially, of course, Valve's Steam Controller 2 remains nothing more than a rumor at this point, but it's exciting nonetheless (although I admit I probably love the original controller more than most). And it's not the only new hardware rumored to be in the works at Valve: the company is also said to be working on a new standalone hybrid VR headset known as “Deckard,” which will apparently include new wand-shaped controllers, whose code name is Roy. .