Due to a SteamVR driver leak, we’ve gained insight into what’s coming next for the newly released VR hardware. Steam Controller 2 will appear to be. Details of Valve’s next-generation controller, codenamed Ibex, have surfaced through information mining, presenting a low-resolution rendering of the device, although no official statement has been made, leaving room for potential modifications.
After five years of dormancy following Valve’s discontinuation of its unique Steam controller for PC users, whispers of a potential successor have persisted. Four years ago, the last tangible piece of story development came to an abrupt halt due to a leaked Steam controller patent, which subsequently went cold. Now, seemingly undeterred, Valve is poised to capture the coveted PC controller market with its latest release.
Like our previously reported Steam Controller rumors, this data-mined render was confirmed by renowned Valve insider Brad Lynch. A bizarre Easter egg from David Lynch: In a previous publication on Twitter, a low-resolution image, disguised as a SteamVR driver thumbnail, had been lurking unnoticed.
As discussed last week, early rumors suggested Valve was developing two new controllers, including a virtual reality (VR) device. However, this is our first credible glimpse at the design of the new PC controller. One notable observation about the render is its apparent homage to the design of Steam Deck’s controls.
Like its Steam Deck counterpart, this controller features dual joysticks, offset buttons, and trackpads on each side, accompanied by multiple additional buttons. Notwithstanding this divergence, the new design marks a significant departure from its iconic predecessor’s aesthetic, featuring a remarkably diminutive D-pad and an unconventional positioning of the ABXY buttons at the top-right corner, likely a direct response to evolving gamer preferences.
Despite being a single, subpar image, reports suggest that Valve is refining the design of this controller, paving the way for large-scale production following Lynch’s discussion last week. That doesn’t necessarily imply that it’s limited to manufacturing, but. Despite the current uncertainty, it’s likely that manufacturing won’t be far off, suggesting that any future changes by Valve will probably be incremental at most.
As Valve gears up to make a move with Thrustmaster’s Eswap Professional X, we take a closer look at this innovative controller in our in-depth review. Despite lacking the innovative trackpad design featured in recent Valve controller images, this device still offers some of the most precise mouse-like experiences available on the market today.
