Steam Controller sold out in minutes: Valve changes strategy and opens a limited access reservation system

Valve has announced the introduction of a new reservation procedure for the Steam Controller, in an attempt to manage the strong demand recorded at the device's launch and curb the phenomenon of reselling at inflated prices.

Steam Controller update: Reservations will be available on @Steam beginning tomorrow. Details here: link
-- Valve (@valvesoftware)
May 7, 2026

The controller was put on sale in Valve's official store on May 4, but the high number of accesses caused numerous technical issues on the platform. Many users reported errors during the purchase attempt, while in several regions, the stock was exhausted in about half an hour.

Shortly after the sellout, some units began to appear on resale sites like eBay with prices tripling compared to the original. For this reason, Valve has decided to modify the distribution system for the next available units.

To purchase the Steam Controller, "one will need to queue". Starting today, Friday, May 8 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (7:00 PM Italian time), users will be able to register for a dedicated reservation list for the Steam Controller. The position in the queue will be assigned based on the order of registration. When new stocks become available, Valve will send an email to users according to the sequence of reservations made.

Those who receive the notification will have a 72-hour window to complete the purchase of the controller. After this period without order confirmation, the opportunity will pass to the next users in line. The company also specified that each account will be able to reserve and purchase only one unit. Users who have already managed to buy the controller during the first launch will not be able to make a second reservation.

To reduce the activity of digital scalpers, Valve will also introduce some additional requirements. Only accounts considered "in good standing" on the Steam platform and that have made at least one purchase before April 27, 2026, will be able to access the reservation.

Finally, Valve explained that the restock will vary by region. The first shipments for users on the list will initially go out in the United States and Canada as early as next week, while the UK, Europe, and Australia will follow in the subsequent weeks.