Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Check out the new skins and accessories for Valve Software's Steam Controller

By

steam controller link accessories skins valve software
Valve Software’s Steam Controller originally hit the PC gaming scene in November 2015 for a mere $50. Now the company is unleashing a number of accessories to customize the peripheral, with the current batch consisting of the Steam Controller Wireless Receiver, the Steam Controller Battery Door, the Steam Controller Carrying Case, and three special “skins” to decorate the controller’s outer shell. Of course, these skins are based on Valve’s own games spanning Portal and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The accessories arrive after Valve Software said in June that it had sold more than 500,000 Steam Controllers since launch. The peripheral is compatible with thousands of PC games available on the Steam platform. It packs two trackpads for your thumbs instead of a D-button and second analog stick, high-definition haptic feedback, back grip buttons, and more. Users can even customize the control schemes through the Steam client.

Recommended Videos

“The Steam Controller‘s dual trackpads enable the high-fidelity input required for precise PC gaming in the living room,” the product page states. “Allowing for 1:1 absolute position input via virtual controls like a trackball, adaptive centering joystick, or steering wheel, these surfaces can be programmed to serve up whatever a game needs.”

Related

The Steam Controller is part of Valve’s transformation of the living room. The company wants to see PC gaming take precedence over traditional consoles by offering powerful, compact gaming PCs that do more than just play games. The initiative even includes a $50 set-top box called Steam Link that will stream PC games to the living room TV if a gaming PC is already present in the home.

As with the Steam Controller, the Steam Link box can now be customized too. Valve Software currently lists three skins that can be applied to the device’s surface, all of which stem from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The choices consist of a blue/orange combo, blue camouflage, and gray camouflage.

Valve recently said that more and more developers are jumping on the Steam Controller bandwagon. A few examples include games like Doom, XCOM 2, and Dark Souls III for Windows PC. Users can also use the controller on non-Steam games, and create a template of their favorite settings that can be used across multiple titles. The controller can even work in Steam’s VR Game Theater mode.

“With every controller that comes online we get the opportunity to get more feedback on how to make the Steam Controller even better,” Valve previously said. “We’ll continue to add features and functionality going forward, so be sure to keep giving us feedback on what would make the Steam Controller even better.”

There was a lot of hoopla in the PC gaming community during the development of Valve’s Steam Controller. It was to evolve the way we play PC games, and still serves as a required component for the company’s Steam Machine initiative for PC manufacturers. All that excitement came and went like a puff of hot steam, and now gamers can purchase the controller through Valve itself or from the likes of GameStop. The full accessory lineup can be seen on the Steam website by heading here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kevin Parrish
Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
The Steam Deck won’t have any exclusive games, says Valve
Steam's new handheld console, the Steam Deck.

When it launches next year, Valve's Steam Deck will be able to run a suite of PC games, none of which will be exclusive to it. The mobile console, which is really more of a handheld Steam machine, won't have any exclusive games according to Valve.

In a beefy FAQ section for developers, Valve says it won't support exclusive games on its upcoming console. "No, that doesn't make much sense to us," reads an FAQ answer. "It's a PC and it should just play games like a PC." In short, don't expect a "killer app" that's only available on the device.

Read more
Valve delays Steam Deck to next year, cites component shortages
Someone playing the Steam Deck.

Valve's Steam Deck has been delayed until February 2022, according to an email sent to people who placed a reservation on the handheld device. In the email, Valve apologizes for the delay and cites the global supply chain issues and material shortages that have been plaguing both consoles and GPUs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Due to material shortages, components aren't reaching our manufacturing facilities in time for us to meet our initial launch dates," states the email sent to those with a reservation. The email did not provide information for those who want to purchase a Steam Deck but don't want to place a reservation. The current backups in the global supply chain and issues with part sourcing and manufacturing will likely also push back the date of widespread availability for the handheld.

Read more
Steam Deck: Everything we know about Valve’s upcoming handheld
Someone playing the Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck is Valve's first attempt at making a game console -- if you ignore the fiasco that was Steam Machines, that is. Although Valve doesn't have a great track record with hardware, the company's recent Index VR headset proved it has the prowess to produce excellent devices. And the Steam Deck looks to continue that trend.

It's not here yet, but the first devices are set to ship in a matter of months. Before they arrive, we rounded up everything you need to know about the Steam Deck, including its release date and price, and what you can expect in terms of performance.
Pricing and release date

Read more