Valve’s new Steam Controller is already looking like one of those hardware drops where you either camp the page or kena tinggal.
According to Automaton Media, the newly launched controller sold out globally in around 30 minutes. Japan saw the same level of chaos, with official regional distributor KOMODO facing a huge traffic spike on its sales platform, KOMODO STATION.
The controller launched on May 4, with KOMODO handling official distribution in Japan. By the same morning, units were gone. KOMODO later issued an apology after users had trouble accessing the store from around 2 AM JST on launch day, explaining that the problem came from too many people trying to buy the device at once.
The site issue has reportedly been resolved, but the launch was not exactly smooth for everyone. Some customers said they spent hours trying to complete their purchase, while others ran into errors during payment. If that sounds familiar, it is because Japan also had a messy rush around the Steam Deck launch.
For Malaysian and SEA players, this is worth watching even if Japan is not our official market. Valve hardware has always had that “want it, but how to buy ah?” energy in this region. The Steam Deck already built a strong enthusiast crowd here through importers, Shopee/Lazada resellers, and grey-market units. If the new Steam Controller is already selling out in official regions, expect local pricing to be spicy if stock starts appearing through unofficial sellers.
The controller is priced at US$99, which is roughly around RM470 before tax, shipping, reseller markup, or any local warranty situation. So if it lands in Malaysia unofficially, don’t be shocked if the early-bird price is much higher than a normal premium gamepad.
As for why people are rushing it, the feature set is very Steam-focused. The Steam Controller supports wired and wireless play, and it works with PCs running Steam, Steam Deck, and the Steam Link mobile app. It also comes with a Steam Controller Puck, which functions as both a wireless transmitter and a charging station.
The biggest hook is the pair of haptic touchpads on the lower front. Like the Steam Deck, these can help players handle PC games that were never really designed for traditional controller support. That matters a lot if your Steam library is full of strategy games, older PC titles, indie experiments, or mouse-heavy games that feel awkward on a standard Xbox-style pad.
Valve has also packed in four customizable rear grip buttons, gyro controls activated by motion, and a quick-access menu button for notifications and the friends list. Basically, this is not trying to be just another controller. It is built for Steam users who like tweaking inputs until a game feels just right.
There is currently no confirmed restock timeline. Some users have reportedly managed to grab units by repeatedly checking official channels when stock briefly reappears, but for now, demand is clearly outpacing supply.
For SEA gamers, the smart move is probably to wait before panic-buying from scalpers. If official availability expands or restocks stabilise, prices should calm down. But if you are deep into Steam Deck, couch PC gaming, or weird PC games that hate normal controllers, yeah — this one is definitely worth keeping on your radar.
Source: Automaton Media