Look, let's be honest: the Steam Controller caused such a stir upon its initial release—selling out instantly and turning the server access into a chaotic mess for over an hour—that it is little wonder we are now looking at a new reservation system.

Valve announced on the 8th, Steam Controller that they are implementing a reservation system to finally tackle the supply shortages and the inevitable swarm of scalpers. It is a necessary shift to smooth out those purchase frustrations and, frankly, to ensure a fairer playing field for everyone.

Reservations open on the 9th at 2:00 AM (Korea Standard Time). Once you have secured your spot in the queue, you will be assigned a position, and Valve will fire off a notification email as stock becomes available. Just a heads-up: if you get that email, you must complete the payment within 72 hours to claim your kit.

Alongside this move, they are tightening the screws on dodgy transactions. You are restricted to one unit per account, and those who have already nabbed one are barred from the queue. Furthermore, they have added a bit of extra security: only accounts with a verified purchase history prior to April 27, 2026, are eligible to join the reservation process.

As for when these will actually arrive on your doorstep, the rollout is staggered by region. The US and Canada will start processing reservations as soon as next week, while the UK, Europe, Australia, and other territories will follow in due course. Best of luck with the queueing.