PC avid gamers are feeling the sting of disappointment after Valve’s new $99 Steam Controller bought out half-hour after it went on sale at this time. Nevertheless, it seems to be like the corporate is attempting to restock.
Valve’s web site kicked off preorders at 10 a.m. PST. However the flood of curiosity precipitated some shoppers to report troubles finishing their orders, with Valve’s website warning: “There appears to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction. Please wait a minute and check out once more or contact assist for help.”
Buyers discovered themselves repeatedly clicking by means of the checkout course of earlier than their order was confirmed. “Actually precisely 30 clicks made it work for me. Is that this a brand new model of DRM, Steam?” wrote one buyer.
Others weren’t so fortunate and did not safe the controller as provides ran out across the 30-minute mark. Some scalpers on eBay at the moment are capitalizing on the out-of-stock product, hawking the system for $250 to $700.
Valve didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. However the controller has reappeared on the positioning for some. I received it to point out up about an hour and 50 minutes after the sale began, although once I tried to buy it, Valve advised me: “Your order can’t be accomplished as a result of a number of objects in your cart is at the moment out of inventory. Please strive once more later.” Womp womp.
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Nonetheless, keen prospects ought to maintain watching Valve’s order web page, which now lists a supply time of six to 10 enterprise days.
At 11:52 a.m. PST, the product gave the impression to be again in inventory. (Credit score: Valve)
Within the meantime, buy troubles are prompting some avid gamers to induce Valve to repair its ordering system, particularly for the upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Body, which may very well be launched quickly after a delay attributable to a reminiscence scarcity.
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Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
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I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I received my begin as a faculties and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web providers, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am at the moment primarily based in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, masking the nation’s expertise sector.
Since 2020, I’ve lined the launch and explosive development of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but in addition the regulatory battles over the growth of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the trouble to increase into satellite-based cellular service. I’ve combed by means of FCC filings for the most recent information and pushed to distant corners of California to check Starlink’s mobile service.
I additionally cowl cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC pressured Avast to pay shoppers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private data to third-party purchasers, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I additionally cowl the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in entrance of a Finest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how the AI-driven reminiscence scarcity is impacting your complete client electronics market. I am at all times wanting to study extra, so please bounce within the feedback with suggestions and ship me ideas.
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