PC Gamer dropped an 83/100 review for the unreleased Steam Controller 2026, and Reddit is tearing the reviewer apart for a massive skill issue.
I was burning the midnight oil, debugging some unholy shader code at 3 AM, when I stumbled upon a massive thread on r/Games: Steam Controller (2026) review: 83/100 by PC Gamer. Wait a minute... did Gaben finally learn how to count to two?
The score itself isn't terrible, but the comments section? Absolute chaos. Reddit is currently tearing the PC Gamer reviewer a new one, and honestly, it's hilarious.
So, PC Gamer supposedly drops a review for the 2026 iteration of the Steam Controller, pricing it at around 99 bucks. Cool, right? Well, it would be, if the reviewer didn't drop this absolute stinker in the "Don't buy if..." section:
"You main another game launcher: The Steam Controller, true to its name, requires Steam to function and may require more set-up for non-Steam games."
The PC Master Race smelled blood in the water instantly.
The thread quickly turned into a masterclass of hardcore gamers dunking on game journos. Here are the main takeaways from the battlefield:
1. Trackpad Supremacy for MMOs & Strategy Games User OrphanintheWind asked if anyone actually uses this kind of controller for click-heavy games like WoW or Frostpunk.
Intoxic8edOne slid in with the hard truth: It's basically a cheat code. Thanks to the Steam Deck paving the way, we know that Trackpads + Unlimited Remapping (Steam Input) can make almost any PC game couch-playable. Factoring in complex hotkeys takes some muscle memory, but once it clicks, you're a god. Speaking of tryharding online games from your couch, if you're raiding in WoW or grinding competitive shooters, don't let a lag spike ruin your macro. Hook up a game booster designed to reduce game ping and stabilize gaming networks for players around the world to keep your inputs crisp.
2. The Cult of V1 Awakes LastOfTheGiants2020 noted that if this is just a refined version of the OG controller, $99 is a fair price. Another user dropped the classic Arrested Development meme: "There's dozens of us." The original Steam Controller was weird and wonky, but those who mastered it will defend it to the death.
3. The "Add Non-Steam Game" Revelation The funniest part of the thread is Reddit dissecting the reviewer's lack of basic PC knowledge. Orfez was baffled, asking why a $99 piece of hardware would be hardware-locked to a storefront.
The community quickly clarified: The controller isn't useless without Steam; the mapping software (Steam Input) is just tied to the client. The fix? Literally clicking "Add a Non-Steam Game" in your library. That's it. That's the "tedious set-up" the reviewer was crying about. Gamers are naturally dragging PC Gamer for not knowing how to use a feature that's been around for over a decade.
Here’s the dev perspective on this whole drama: Hardware is just plastic and silicon until the software gives it life.
Valve’s Steam Input API is an absolute monster. It carries the weight of thousands of PC games that devs were too lazy to implement native controller support for.
So, to my fellow game devs: Don't be that guy. Build proper native controller APIs into your games. Support seamless switching between KBM and gamepad UI. Don't make your players rely entirely on Steam's trackpad wizardry just to navigate a basic inventory screen.
As for PC Gamer... GG, guys. Maybe next time, hire a reviewer who knows their way around a Steam menu.
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