Steam Controller one step closer to launch after Valve teases ‘unboxing’ video with announcement pending

First things first, we still don’t know when Valve will be releasing its new Steam-branded hardware this year. The Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller were originally planned for early in the year, but AI-fuelled memory and storage shortages continue to push back launch day. However, the latest clue suggests Valve may be almost ready to announce something.

Now, you could argue that the new controller could be released early since it is less likely to be affected by industry shortages. It’s impossible to know exactly what Valve has planned – all we can say is there has been little action as far as the Machine and Frame go, but the second-generation Steam Controller may be ready to go soon, as a new ‘unboxing’ video is uploaded online.

Steam Controller unboxing video listed in app data

As seen in a new Steam app entry, via SteamDB, it seems that Valve has uploaded a new video titled “steam_controller_unboxing_2026”. While not currently viewable, it still serves as a clue for the company’s next hardware announcement. It’s also worth pointing out that Valve reportedly received its “first large quantity” of controller shipments last week, so an official announcement feels closer than ever right now.

Fans are eagerly awaiting further release dates and pricing news for the new trio of hardware. The last couple of times we heard from Valve, it slipped from early 2026 to the “first half of the year,” and more recent phrasing suggests the company is just targeting a 2026 release in general.

On the positive side, Brad Lynch, who is a reliable source for datamined Steam content (particular hardware & VR), suggests that launch will be happening “very soon” following this mysterious unboxing video listing.

Interestingly, similar clues are absent for the Steam Machine mini-PC and Steam Frame VR headset, which may suggest that Valve is moving ahead with the controller while the other hardware remains in limbo due to component shortages and price hikes. If we’re lucky, all three will soon launch together, and it’s just the controller information that happened to slip through the cracks.