Steam Controller launch imminent as Valve uploads 'secret' unboxing — here's what you need to know

Valve's Steam Machine may be taking its sweet time to arrive, but at least the company could be about to show off its new controller. According to a leak posted by industry insider Brad Lynch on X earlier this week, the Steam Controller could arrive any day now.

Lynch found evidence of a "Steam Controller Unboxing" video that was uploaded to SteamDB. It's set to private and can't be watched, but it serves as a good indication that the updated version of the controller is ready for primetime.

Separately, Lynch says he's seen shipping documents that suggest Valve has received its first large batch of the new controllers.

The Steam Controller was announced alongside the Steam Machine in 2025, but details have been very thin on the ground since then. While we expect it to be packaged with Steam Machine when it (eventually) launches, the controller is also going to be sold separately.

There's no reason why Valve has to release them at the same time; the company could easily decide to launch the peripheral first.

Assets appear on Steam's Japan storefront

Adding fuel to this fire came when Komodo Station — the Japanese storefront for Steam hardware — uploaded all the assets for the controller this week, before hastily pulling them down again. A trip to the Internet Archive will still let you see them, and since Komodo Station has a track record of following Valve's global sales schedule, the signs are good.

While we know Valve is also prepping the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame for launch, neither of those assets appeared on the storefront.

Of course, anyone that's following the Steam situation as it unfolds will know about the crushing impact of the current RAM crisis. Valve has already delayed the Steam Machine to "revisit" the cost of the device, but all these signs point to a new controller being the first product out the door.

There's still so much we don't know about the peripheral: pricing, release date, specs and feature updates — but hopefully it won't be a long wait before we find out.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm obsessed with Tomodachi Life — these Nintendo Switch accessories upgrade any cozy gaming setup
• Saros is everything I wanted from a Returnal sequel — and it fixes its predecessor's biggest problems
• Panther Lake handhelds could put AMD on notice, but there’s a big hurdle to overcome