Thanks to a SteamVR driver leak, we now have a pretty good idea of what the new Steam Controller 2 will look like. Data mining has revealed a low-resolution render that mocks up how Valve’s next-gen controller (code-named Ibex) will look although, without an official announcement, it could still be subject to changes.
It’s been five years since Valve discontinued the original Steam controller for PC users, but there have been plenty of rumors about a replacement since. The last, concrete bit of news up until recently was four years ago, thanks to a Steam controller patent that leaked out, but the trail went cold. Now, however, it appears that Valve is finally ready to take the best PC controller market by storm with this new release.
Like our last Steam Controller rumor, this data-mined render was identified by prolific Valve leaker Brad Lynch. According to Lynch in a post on X (previously Twitter), the low-quality image is a rendered thumbnail that was hidden in the SteamVR drivers.
As we mentioned last week, previous data mining had identified two new Valve controllers, including a new VR controller, but this is the first credible image we’ve seen of the new PC controller’s appearance. One immediate thought about the render is that it seems to take inspiration from the Steam Deck controls.
Like the Steam Deck, it has two joysticks, two trigger buttons, and two trackpads on either side, along with several additional buttons. However, it’s also a big departure from the appearance of the original Steam controller, with a much smaller D-Pad and a different location for the ABXY buttons in the top-right corner, reflecting the change in gamer’s preferences.
This is just one, low-quality image, but as Lynch mentioned last week, Valve is reportedly “tooling” this controller, ready for mass production. That doesn’t mean it’s in production just yet. However, this early preparation would indicate that production won’t be too far away, and if that’s indeed the case, any changes that Valve does make will most likely be minor.
While Valve is cooking up a treat, take a look at our Thrustmaster Eswap Pro X review. It doesn’t have trackpads like this new Valve controller image, but it still offers some of the best mouse-like accuracy of any PC controller you can buy right now.