Valve opens Steam Controller reservation queue to fight scalpers

Valve is changing how players can buy the new Steam Controller after a messy launch rush. The controller went on sale on May 4, sold out quickly in several regions, and immediately appeared on resale sites at inflated prices. Valve is now opening a reservation queue starting May 8 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. Users can reserve a place in line, then receive an order email when stock returns. Once that email arrives, they will have 72 hours to complete the purchase. Reservations are limited to one Steam Controller per user, and people who already bought one cannot reserve another. This is a practical move, but it also says something bigger about gaming hardware in 2026. Demand for PC-adjacent devices, Steam Deck accessories and living-room PC setups is still strong, while supply chains remain uneven. For players, the reservation system is better than refreshing store pages and losing to bots. For Valve, it is a test run for how future hardware launches may need to be handled.