According to well-known whistleblower Brad Lynch, Valve received the first batch of imported "wireless PC controllers" in large quantities in the United States last week. This information comes from public import data. Ordinary players usually do not notice this kind of information, but hardware enthusiasts and industry observers generally believe that this is most likely the long-rumored new Steam Controller.
News about the new Steam Controller can be traced back to November 2024. There were rumors at the time that Valve was developing a new controller that would inherit the Steam Deck input configuration. Then in November 2025, Valve officially announced this new controller, along with the new Steam Machine PC and Steam Frame VR headset.
Meanwhile, Valve previously issued a statement regarding Steam Machine supply issues, before later clarifying and reaffirming its commitment to a 2026 launch. This back and forth once caused fans to worry about the possible delay of Steam Machine.
However, the import data of the new Steam Controller seems to indicate that this controller may be available earlier than the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Valve has also added compatibility support for this new controller on the Steam platform, preparing the software for its official release.
It's unclear whether the new controller will be released bundled with Steam Machine or Steam Frame, or whether Valve plans to release it separately first. But what is certain is that Valve’s hardware layout in 2026 has quietly started, and the new Steam Controller is likely to be the first product to debut this year.