Valve’s Steam Controller Sells Out Faster Than Anyone Predicted

Photo credit: ETA Prime
Gamers around the world had been waiting months for this moment, May 4 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, when the Steam Controller would finally be available for purchase at Valve’s store for $99.99. Instantly, online carts were filled to the brim, and the wait, along with all of the irritation, began. The supply lasted for around 30 minutes before running out.

Anyone who kept refreshing the page beyond that moment was confronted with the disheartening sight of the ‘out of stock’ message. Some unlucky folks made it through the checkout only after clicking the ‘purchase now’ button dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Others were greeted with error messages informing them that the system was unable to complete the transaction because so many other people were attempting to do so at the same time.

The Steam Controller’s gamepad design was based on lessons acquired from the Steam Deck: dual haptic trackpads that provide precise feedback, which were carried over from the handheld device. The controller also has Grip Sense, which detects when you tighten your fingers and converts it into gyro control without the need for any additional buttons. It fits nicely in the palm of your hand, is slightly heavier than other controllers, but is properly balanced so that your wrists do not ache after extended gaming sessions.

Within hours, confirmed pre-orders appeared on eBay, with sellers asking $250 or more. Some ads exceeded 300, and more than a handful reached 700 before anyone could buy one. Completed sales were already higher than the original retail price, and the usual pattern emerged: rapid profit for anyone dumb enough (or simply lucky enough) to get a unit at the cheaper price.

Throughout it all, Valve remained silent, issuing no word about restocks or site issues, even when questioned directly. For a brief two-hour period following the introduction, the controller returned on the store with a delivery date of six to ten business days away.
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