Valve has revealed the official store page for the Steam Controller, as well as a confirmed release date of November 2015.
The Steam Controller – available in November -
receive updates and pre-order information here:
http://t.co/jYafff1Sz7 pic.twitter.com/PZRNVSfHbw
— Steam (@steam_games) March 27, 2015
They also asked fans to stay tuned for pre-order information, but there’s a lot of information that can be gleaned from the store page today.
The controller will be $ 49.99, and is described as having dual trackpads, HD haptics, dual-stage triggers, and configurable controls.
No information for now if Valve is planning to have the controllers work out of the box with Windows or Mac. Of course, the opportunity is there for Valve to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller for Windows as the default developer controller for choice. This status has made it so that the vast majority of games were made Plug-And-Play with the Xbox 360 controller.
Also no information for now where the product will be manufactured/shipped from. It’s most likely that they will go with cheaper manufacturers, such as Foxconn, to keep manufacturing costs and prices down. If they do go a little more upscale with manufacturing, such as Microsoft did with the Taiwan-only manufactured Surface, it will drive costs up a bit, so much so that at $ 50, Valve may be subsidizing the controller.
Are you eager to buy the Steam Controller today? Or will you wait it out until we learn more about its compatibility on OSes outside of SteamOS/Steam Machines, including non-Steam games? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. You can read the controller’s full description below.
About This Hardware
Experience a new level of precise control for your favorite games. The Steam Controller lets you play your entire collection of Steam games on your TV—even the ones designed without controller support in mind. Featuring dual trackpads, HD haptic feedback, dual-stage triggers, back grip buttons, and fully-customizable control schemes. Find your favorite mappings in the Steam Community, or create and share your own.
A different kind of gamepad
We’ve improved upon the resolution and fidelity of input that’s possible with traditional gamepads. Built with high-precision input technologies and focused on low-latency, wireless performance, the Steam controller enables you to experience your games in powerful new ways.
Dual trackpads
The Steam Controller‘s dual trackpads enable the high-fidelity input required for precise PC gaming in the living room. Allowing for 1:1 absolute position input via virtual controls like a trackball, adaptive centering joystick, or steering wheel, these surfaces can be programmed to serve up whatever a game needs.
HD haptics
Haptic force actuators on both sides of the controller deliver precise, high fidelity vibrations measured in microseconds. Feel the spin of a virtual trackball, the click of a scroll wheel, or the shot of a rifle. Every input, from the triggers to the trackpads, can offer haptic feedback to your fingertips, delivering vital, high-bandwidth, tactile feedback about speed, boundaries, thresholds, textures, or actions.
Dual-stage triggers
With a satisfying digital click at the end of the trigger pull, dual-stage triggers can be used as analog, digital, or both types of input at the same time. Put your iron-sights on the sweep-in, and then fire with the reliable feel of a tactile switch, all on the same trigger.
Ergonomic control
Each of the Steam Controller’s input zones and buttons has been positioned based on frequency of use, required precision, and ergonomic comfort.
