Valve Corporation is opening a reservation queue for the Steam Controller to manage high demand and prevent scalper resale.
The move follows a chaotic initial launch that saw the device sell out almost instantly. By implementing a controlled queue and strict eligibility requirements, Valve aims to ensure that genuine customers, rather than automated bots or resellers, can access the hardware at its retail price.
The reservation queue is scheduled to open May 8, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET [4, 5]. The system will be hosted directly on the Steam online store [2, 3].
This intervention comes after the initial sale on May 4, 2024 [1], where the controllers sold out within 30 minutes [2]. The device is priced at $99 [2].
To curb the influence of scalpers, Valve is imposing a limit of one controller per eligible account [6]. To qualify for the reservation, a Steam account must have made a purchase before April 27, 2024 [7]. This requirement is designed to block new accounts created specifically to hoard inventory during high-demand windows.
Valve said the queue is a response to the overwhelming demand that characterized the first release. The company is prioritizing long-term users to stabilize the distribution of the $99 hardware [2, 3].
“Valve is opening a reservation queue for the Steam Controller to manage high demand and prevent scalper resale.”
Valve's decision to implement a purchase-history requirement reflects a growing industry trend of using 'account aging' to defeat sophisticated scalping bots. By limiting sales to established users, the company is prioritizing ecosystem loyalty over immediate volume, attempting to protect the consumer experience from the inflated secondary markets often seen with high-demand gaming hardware.
