Valve’s recently introduced Steam Controller sold out within approximately 30 minutes worldwide, and the demand in Japan has been equally intense, resulting in temporary unavailability on the regional official sales platform.
The Steam Controller debuted today, with distribution in Japan officially managed by KOMODO. Stocks were depleted by the same morning, and a massive influx of Japanese customers to KOMODO’s official store, KOMODO STATION, caused the site to become inaccessible from around 2 AM (JST) on launch day. According to an apology issued by KOMODO, the disruption was triggered by the overwhelming number of users trying to secure the controller.
Although the problem has since been rectified, some shoppers reported requiring hours to finalize their purchases, while others experienced glitches at the checkout stage, leading to frustration. The turmoil evokes parallels with the launch of the Steam Deck in Japan.
The Steam Controller, priced at $99 USD, is a gamepad that supports both wired and wireless connections and is compatible with PCs running Steam, Steam Deck, and the mobile Steam Link app. The included Steam Controller Puck serves as a wireless transmitter and charging station.
Among its standout features are two haptic touchpads on the lower front, enabling users to play games that lack native gamepad support (similar to the Steam Deck). It also incorporates four customizable grip buttons on the back, motion-activated gyro controls, and a quick-access menu button for notifications and the friends list.
Initially unveiled last November, the controller launched globally on May 4. Currently, there is no scheduled date for restocking, but some consumers mention success by frequently checking official outlets and occasionally finding the item briefly back in stock.
Mido