Valve's Steam Controller sold out within 30 minutes of its May 4th launch, as buyers rushed to purchase the controller.

According to a PC Gamer report, the Steam Controller sold out in just 30 minutes. The first batch sold out in under 15 minutes, after which the stock was refreshed, but it sold out again in just 15 minutes.

Traffic surged on the Steam Store. Players who tried to buy the controller after its stocks finished received this error message: "There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction. Please wait a minute and try again, or contact support for assistance."

Valve also wrote via an X post, stating, "Steam Controller ran out faster than we anticipated, and we hate that not everyone who wanted one was able to get it. We’re working on getting more in stock and will have an update on expected timeline soon."

The controller's features contributed to the high demand, alongside activity from scalpers

Steam Controller Features and Scalping Activity

When the controller's multiple reviews were dropping out, it looked like a Pro controller with new features, so much so that players and scalpers were eager to buy it.

The controller has four grip buttons that can be configured however you want. Also comes with durable thumbsticks with TMR technology and two square-shaped trackpads at the front that provide haptic feedback and can serve as a D-pad, mouse, and more.

It also has a magnetic charging station that serves as a wireless transmitter, allowing the controller to connect to any device.

Because the Steam Controller's stock is set to first-come, first-served, many scalpers have gotten their hands on them and are now selling them on eBay for multiple times the original price, with listings starting at $190.

30 minutes for a $99 controller is a sellout that reflects strong consumer demand.

Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!

Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Rawat