Valve’s Steam Controller anti-scalper plan, explained

Why Valve changed course

The first sale moved quickly. PCGamesN reported that the initial batch sold out within minutes, while Kotaku reported the controller sold out within roughly 30 minutes ^[3][9]. Kotaku also reported that units were being listed on eBay for as much as $400 after launch ^[9].

One important detail: early buyers were reportedly able to purchase two controllers at a time, before Valve moved to the tighter one-controller limit for the reservation system ^[3]. That matters because quantity caps are one of the clearest ways to reduce bulk purchasing during a constrained hardware launch.

Will this actually stop scalpers?

It should make scalping harder, but not impossible. The queue reduces the value of instant-checkout races, the one-unit cap reduces bulk buying, and the account-history requirement makes fresh Steam accounts less useful for resellers or bots ^[1][2][10].

The caveat is supply. Valve is still allocating inventory as it arrives, so a reservation is a place in line rather than an instant controller for everyone who wants one ^[2][6]. The system is best understood as a mitigation plan: it gives real buyers a more orderly shot at future stock, but it does not guarantee that every interested buyer gets a controller immediately.

What buyers should do

If you want a Steam Controller, reserve with the Steam account you normally use, watch for Valve’s email, and be ready to complete the order inside the 72-hour window ^[2][3]. If an account has no Steam purchase before April 27, 2026, reports on Valve’s eligibility rules say it may not qualify ^[1][10].

Bottom line: Valve is using reservations, ordered invites, a 72-hour checkout window, one-controller limits, and account-history requirements to turn chaotic restocks into controlled allocation while more inventory comes in ^[1][2][10].