Gaming hardware launches can often feel like a warzone, especially when new bits of technology are hotly anticipated. That said, I feel like most manufacturers have learned by now that reselling is a common plague if left unchecked, and many now do what they can to defend consumers against it. That doesn't seem to be the case with Valve's new PC controller, which is already seeing inflated resale prices on eBay.
Valve's new Steam Controller launched on May fourth (May it be with you, and such), and in both the US and UK, it sold out almost immediately. The issue is that Valve only tends to sell its hardware through the Steam store, so without any stock being split between wider retailers, chaos is beginning to ensue.
I can see eBay listings for the new Steam Controller (which definitely won't have had time to ship to the folks listing them yet) on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, the £85 gamepad is seeing prices of up to £250, "or best offer". Shockingly, its condition is being listed as "new" in each one. In the US, even more listings can be seen on eBay, with prices stretching up to $236 despite its $99 official cost.
You can do you, but this is my reminder that you should never buy from resellers like this. In fact, if you have the chance, you should shun and disgrace them whenever possible. As a consumer, your best bet, and your best assurance you're going to get a working and fairly priced bit of technology, is to buy through the official channels.
If you're worried about how long Valve will take to replenish its supply of controllers, I wouldn't stress. Yes, it's proving to be a popular bit of kit, but given it's been designed to work alongside the upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine, I would expect Valve to be saving the bulk of its stock for when those two platforms can launch. Maybe there will even be bundles available?
Even if not, the current RAM shortages aren't going to impact the cost or the supply of the Steam Controller because there's no memory inside it, so there's no need to stress that if you don't get your hands on one now, you won't be able to for a long while, or that you'll need to pay more than the official price tag.
Meanwhile, resellers are actively hurting everyone. They're taking Valve's stock and turning a profit from hardware they have no hand in creating or selling. This isn't the same as selling a used bit of technology on for cheaper than it would be officially - this is buying something with the intention of selling it for a higher price because there's a limited supply.
They're hurting consumers by taking up a limited supply of a new product, often by buying more than one at a time. They might say it's all to do with supply and demand, but those supply issues wouldn't be such a problem if people weren't buying up stock simply to sell onward.
It may seem really exclusive for Valve to only sell its hardware through the Steam store, and I grant that it's been a while since it launched anything new like this. But other brands like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and more in the gaming hardware space have done their part to defend consumers from reselling in recent times. That includes widening the supply pool of new releases to other retailers. It also includes things like sending pre-order invites and codes after registering interest, and it also means limiting products to one or two per customer in the initial launch phase.
These things might seem like an annoyance when ordering a new controller, but they're actually great changes for consumers that have come as a result of the last decade of technology shopping being plagued by inflation and needless stock shortages. I grant that you're never going to stamp out this problem entirely, especially when current financial climates are so tough, but all I'm saying is that a few more preventative measures could go a long way.
With what will likely be a much more limited pool of Steam Machines and Steam Frames coming later this year, I hope Valve is learning from this and preparing.
For more on controllers, check out the best PS5 controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.
