new steam controller They sold out within minutes of their release on May 4, and scalpers have already listed them on eBay for up to three times the original price. Valve's storefront, Steam, was the exclusive platform for the launch, and demand for the company's new peripherals was so high that the site was reportedly down and misbehaving for a while.
In February 2026, Steam Deck suddenly sold out at Valve's US store and several other retailers. At the same time, there were also reports that the maker of the popular portable device may soon face supply issues due to ongoing RAM shortages. Now fans are worried that they may also find it difficult to get their hands on the new Steam Controller, although it appears to be unaffected by the memory shortage.
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Listings for Steam Controllers on eBay can cost over $300.
According to reports, the Steam Controller sold out within the first 30 minutes, and scalpers' eBay listings appeared almost immediately with steep price increases. One listing in particular with “Confirm Purchase” in the title is priced at around $330. For comparison, Valve's official price for the new Steam Controller is $99 USD. This means that the reseller will charge you more than 3 times the original price.
An interesting detail is that none of the Steam Controller buyers have actually received their products yet, as shipping takes several days. This means that your eBay listing effectively resells successful orders placed through the Steam store rather than the actual product itself.
Hundreds of users took to social media to express their displeasure with the launch and how Valve handled it, with many saying they couldn't even access the store page. Third-party tools like DownDetector show spikes in problems around the time the controller is activated. Some of those who secured peripherals said the process was not smooth, noting that they had to refresh the payment page multiple times before completing their purchase.
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The situation has sparked comparisons between Valve and Japanese gaming giant Nintendo. During the Switch 2 launch, Nintendo implemented a number of measures to curb scalping in Japan, including requiring proof of purchase for warranty claims and limiting reservations to users with verified accounts. Now, some fans believe that Valve could adopt similar safeguards to prevent scalpers and bots from quickly depleting Steam Controller stock, just as Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are protected from resellers.
Thousands of fans who were unable to purchase the device at launch are now waiting for Valve to clarify its restock plans. As of this writing, the company has not commented on the sellout or provided a schedule for replenishment. However, as has been the case with most Steam peripherals in the past, there's a good chance the popular controller will be back in stock more soon.
Valve also has two gaming products that fans are eagerly anticipating: Steam Machine and Steam Frame. The launch has reportedly been affected to some extent by the ongoing RAM shortage, but it looks like the company is still planning to release it later this year. Ideally, these launches will go more smoothly, giving more players the opportunity to pick up a product without having to go to eBay or pay inflated prices.
