Valve Implements Reservation System After Steam Controller Sellout
Valve Corporation experienced high demand for the launch of its $99 Steam Controller, leading to a rapid sellout and site errors. In response, the company introduced a reservation system to manage future orders. Separately, analysis of software code suggests Valve may use a similar system for its upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame hardware.
Initial Steam Controller Launch
Valve opened preorders for the Steam Controller at 10:00 a.m. PST. The device sold out within approximately 30 minutes. During the ordering process, some users encountered an error message stating:
"There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction. Please wait a minute and try again or contact support for assistance."
Multiple reports indicated that some customers required several attempts to complete their purchase.
Following the sellout, third-party sellers on eBay listed the controller at prices ranging from $250 to $700. Valve did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Later that day, the controller appeared again on the order page for some users with a delivery estimate of six to ten business days, though some attempting to purchase received an out-of-stock notice.
Reservation System Implementation
Valve announced that orders for the Steam Controller would reopen on Friday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific using a reservation system. The system functions as follows:
- Customers reserve a place in line via the Steam Controller purchase page
- Order emails are sent in reservation order when stock becomes available
- Order emails must be confirmed within 72 hours
- Reservations are limited to one per user
- Customers who already purchased a controller during the initial launch are ineligible to reserve another
- Only Steam users who made a purchase on the platform before April 27 may participate
Valve stated that the initial launch experienced unexpectedly high demand, during which the online store allowed purchases of up to two controllers per customer. Scalpers were observed reselling confirmed orders at inflated prices on eBay. Valve previously employed a similar reservation system for the Steam Deck launch in 2021, which required a $5 pre-payment. The company acknowledged the possibility of continued site issues due to anticipated high interest.
Evidence of Reservation System for Future Hardware
Analysis of Steam's code by users, reported by Wccftech and identified via GitHub, revealed references to a reservation system for "Steam Machine" and "Steam Frame" hardware.
Steam Machine:
The code references "4 Steam Machine Packages," suggesting multiple configurations. Valve has officially announced storage options of 512GB and 2TB. Unconfirmed speculation from users includes potential bundles with or without the Steam Controller. A recent shipment report may indicate an imminent release.
Steam Frame:
The code also references two versions of the Steam Frame VR headset, though no specific details or pricing have been announced by Valve.
Current Status
- Valve has not announced pricing for the Steam Machine or Steam Frame
- The Steam Controller is priced at $99
- The information regarding the reservation system for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame is based on code analysis and has not been officially confirmed by Valve