Valve is currently working on a sequel to the Steam Controller, along with a controller for its Deckard VR headset, according to spatial computing expert and unofficial Valve oracle Brad Lynch, whose datamining frequently uncovers interesting details on Valve products.
According to Lynch, both the Steam Controller 2 (codenamed “Ibex”) and a controller for the currently unconfirmed Deckard VR headset–aptly codenamed “Roy,” an homage to Blade Runner’s renegade Replicant, Roy Batty–are under development at Valve. Per Lynch, both products are reportedly “being tooled for a mass production goal in [Valve’s] factories right now.”
“That’s why I know they’re in later stages of productization,” Lynch added in a post on Twitter.
But Lynch was also quick to point out that “being tooled for a mass production goal” does not mean “currently being assembled at a factory.” He noted that it could be up to a year before the controllers begin the process of mass production, but his datamining efforts have left him feeling confident that Ibex, Deckard, and Roy are all legitimate products that Valve will soon bring to market.
Some of Lynch’s datamining appears to have revealed the inputs for the “Roy” controller, which appears to be highly customizable.
Datamining SteamVR’s client gave us deeper info of every input that is currently assigned to Valve’s Roy VR controllers
Thanks @ShinyQuagsire ! ❤️
(Touch means a button has capacitive sensing)
All inputs assigned to Roy:
Left Hand Controller:
— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) November 20, 2024
Valve, for its part, has neither confirmed nor denied Lynch’s findings.
When Valve debuted the original Steam Controller in 2015, it was an ambitious attempt to bridge the gap between console-style controllers and the precision of a mouse and keyboard. Its defining feature was its dual trackpads, which provided a then-unprecedented level of customizability for controller input. The Steam Controller’s design was polarizing: Some praised its innovation, while others found it difficult to use, especially for more traditional gaming experiences.
Despite this, the Steam Controller was instrumental in furthering Valve’s vision for SteamOS, the Linux-based operating system designed to run on Steam Machines, which themselves struggled to gain traction in the market. However, Valve’s move to focus on the Steam Link, Steam Deck, and Steam Cloud Gaming ultimately left the Steam Controller largely forgotten, relegated to a niche community of loyal enthusiasts.
The Steam Controller 2 represents a chance for Valve course-correct, addressing previous shortcomings while capitalizing on new technologies and gaming trends. But Valve’s not the only company working on a new Steam-focused controller–Hori recently unveiled its new Steam controller, known as the Wireless Horipad for Steam, which is currently available for preorder.
