Khizar Mundia 
Reports of the Steam Controller 2 have floated around for years, but is it finally happening?
The Steam Controller debuted in 2015 but was quietly discontinued in 2019. After Valve scrapped the original, most assumed the project was a failure. Few expected a successor for the controversial controller. In 2022, Steam Deck designer Lawrence Yang teased fans otherwise. In an interview with The Verge, Yang stated that Valve wants a Steam Controller 2 to happen. “It’s just a question of how and when,” said Yang.
Two years passed since the interview and no news of the Steam Controller 2 materialized. That changed in November 2024 when a leaker shared images of the sequel to the controller. Fans wonder whether the reports are true and if the Steam Controller 2 will debut soon.
An alleged prototype of the Steam Controller 2 has leaked
In November 2024, Brad Lynch shared a prototype image of the Steam Controller 2 that was data mined from SteamVR files.
Despite the original controller’s divisive design, it still had many fans. Those players clamored for a successor to the OG Steam Controller. Yang’s claims that it will happen have only made fans more impatient. Brad Lynch, a notable Valve hardware leaker, gave players a glimpse of what the Steam Controller 2 may look like.
Lynch also claims that Valve has plans to mass-produce the hardware. He also clarified that the controller is still early in development. “(It) can take up to a year for tooling to finish and lead up to the product shipping to consumers. But you don’t collaborate this type of effort unless you’re planning to launch it,” said Lynch about the controller’s potential release date.
SteamVR controller design reportedly discovered in leaks
Allegedly leaked images of Valve Deckard’s “Roy” controllers were also data mined from SteamVR files.
Fans also get to see the long-awaited “Deckard” VR controller. Lynch has shared images of the upcoming VR hardware’s design. According to the leaker’s source, the Roy controller will also be mass-produced. From the numerous buttons, some fans speculate it may also function as a Steam gamepad.
It’s important to note that the images shared by the leaker are in the prototype stage. The final product may look vastly different, or the controller may get scrapped completely. Some have already begun to worry about “Valve time” delaying its progress. Regardless, many eyes are on Valve’s next hardware release.
