Valve deploys reservations queue for Steam Controller to curb scalpers and restore order
The queue opens Friday for eligible accounts with purchase history prior to 27 April, with fulfillment rolling out regionally starting next week.
Valve has introduced a new reservations system for the Steam Controller in a direct response to the difficulties encountered during the product's initial release. The software giant launched the queue on Friday at 1 PM ET specifically for customers who missed the initial sale on Monday, aiming to address the frustration caused by checkout bottlenecks and inflated resale prices on secondary markets.
The primary objective of this initiative is to limit reseller activity and improve the overall purchase experience for genuine consumers. During the first sale, many buyers were unable to complete transactions before stock vanished, prompting some sellers to list controllers on eBay at prices significantly higher than Valve's $99 asking price. Valve acknowledges that while interest was high, the experience for many attempting to buy was incredibly frustrating, necessitating these changes to restore order.
To qualify for the queue, strict eligibility criteria have been established to prevent abuse of the system. Reservations are limited to one controller per account, and users must have a purchase history on Steam prior to 27 April. Furthermore, existing owners of the Steam Controller are barred from making additional reservations, ensuring that the limited stock is distributed to new customers rather than those who already possess the device.
The logistics of the rollout are designed to manage demand effectively once inventory becomes available. Once a user reserves a unit, their place in line is saved, and order emails will be dispatched in the sequence that reservations were made. Upon receiving the notification, customers have a strict window of 72 hours to complete the purchase, after which the reservation expires.
Fulfillment of these orders is scheduled to begin next week in the US and Canada. Following this initial phase, subsequent weeks are allocated for the UK, the EU, and Australia. This staggered approach allows Valve to manage supply chains and distribution logistics across different time zones and regions without overwhelming their infrastructure.
While this system resolves the immediate issues surrounding the Steam Controller, Valve has not yet committed to a firm release date for other upcoming hardware projects, including the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. The company recently imported 50 tons of game consoles, hinting at broader hardware ambitions, though specific timelines for these items remain unconfirmed.
