Steam Controller Reservations Open May 8 as Valve Introduces Anti-Scalping Measures

Valve has officially announced that Steam Controller reservations will open on May 8 at 19:00 CEST, following major demand and purchasing issues during the controller’s launch on May 4.

According to Valve, the initial release generated far more traffic than expected, leading to a frustrating buying experience for many users. To address this, the company is introducing a reservation queue system while it continues to restock inventory.

Under the new system, users who reserve a Steam Controller will keep their place in line. Once new stock becomes available, Valve will send purchase emails in reservation order.

Valve also confirmed several anti-scalping measures:

• Reservations are limited to one Steam Controller per user
• Buyers will have 72 hours to complete their purchase after receiving the email
• Users who already purchased a Steam Controller cannot reserve another one for now
• Steam accounts must be in good standing
• Accounts must have made a Steam purchase before April 27, 2026

Valve says inventory availability will vary by region. Reservation fulfillment is expected to begin next week in the United States and Canada, while the United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia will follow in the coming weeks.

The company stated that these changes are intended to improve the purchasing experience while reducing reseller and bot activity around the Steam Controller launch.