1. The Steam Controller sold out quickly, leading Valve to implement a reservation system to prevent resellers from hoarding units.
2. References to multiple Steam Machine packages in a recent Steam update suggest Valve plans to use a reservation system for the Steam Machine at launch.
3. Limiting reservations to one per user and requiring prior Steam purchases help ensure genuine users have a better chance of acquiring the products.
High Demand for the Steam Controller
When Valve launched the Steam Controller on May 4, the demand was so overwhelming that it was sold out within less than an hour. The high demand caused the product to quickly disappear from availability, leaving eager customers unable to get one. Not long after, third-party sellers and scalpers jumped into the scene, listing the controller at insanely high prices, some going hundreds of dollars above the original retail cost. This influx of resellers made it very difficult for genuine users to buy the controller at its intended price.
Reservation System to Combat Scalping
In response to this chaos, Valve introduced a reservation queue system for the Steam Controller on May 8. This system was designed to give real users a better chance of obtaining the controller by limiting the number of units per person and filtering out suspicious accounts. To qualify, users had to have an active Steam account in good standing and had to have made at least one Steam purchase before April 27, 2026. The reservation process was limited to one unit per user, effectively reducing the number of bots and resellers trying to buy up stock. This method showed Valve’s efforts to prioritize genuine customers, and it now looks like a similar system might also be used for the upcoming Steam Machine.
Hints of a Reservation System for Steam Machine
Recent updates in Steam’s software hint at the possibility that Valve is preparing a reservation system for the upcoming Steam Machine. In a recent Thursday update, references were found to multiple Steam Machine packages within the code of the reservation system. These references, found inside a specific JavaScript file, mention four different Steam Machine package IDs, as well as two Steam Frame packages, alongside existing packages for the Steam Controller and Steam Deck.
Potential Models and Bundles
The four Steam Machine packages likely represent various models and bundles on offer. The confirmed models include versions with 512GB and 2TB storage, but the other two packages might be bundle deals that include a Steam Controller or additional accessories. If Valve employs the same reservation system for the Steam Machine, it might give genuine users a higher chance of getting a unit at launch, instead of battling bots and resellers in a chaotic black market. Overall, it indicates Valve’s ongoing efforts to better regulate the launch and make it fair for all interested customers.










