Valve, which announced plans to create a successor to the iconic Steam Controller two years ago, has moved from words to deeds. According to blogger Brad Lynch, Valve has started preparations for the mass production of Steam Controller 2, codenamed Ibex.
Steam Controller was released in 2015. Instead of traditional sticks, the device had two touch panels that imitated the operation of a computer mouse for precise aiming and menu navigation. In 2019, Valve stopped production of the controller but used some of its technical solutions when developing the Steam Deck laptop computer.
Lynch also found references to a new Roy controller in the form of a «stick» in the SteamVR code. According to his sources, this device is also being prepared for mass production. Roy may become a part of the Deckard project, a standalone VR headset that has long been rumored as a wireless alternative to Meta Quest and a replacement for the outdated Valve Index model.
Unlike the Index controllers, Roy will have a unique feature — it can be used for both virtual reality and regular games. The developers have equipped the device with a D-pad, bumpers, and a full set of ABXY buttons.
Valve has not yet confirmed this information.
Source: The Verge