ashecitism
Member
Some of the sites started to put these up. There's an OT (sorta), where people have been sharing their impressions.
Controller:
VentureBeat (review #1)
VentureBeat (review #2)
IGN - 5.9
TechRadar - 3 out of 5 stars
PC Gamer (WIP review)
Tested ("not a review")
Kotaku
Engadget (more like an opinion piece about the negative reception)
PC World
Previously Recorded
Maximum PC - 75/100
Linus Tech Tips
Link:
VentureBeat
TechRadar (2 pages) - 5 out of 5 stars
PC Gamer (WIP review)
PC World
Machines/SteamOS:
Gizmodo
PC World
Linus Tech Tips (SteamOS)
Controller:
VentureBeat (review #1)
Unless you have a terrible need to play keyboard-and-mouse games on your television, I’d recommend waiting before buying the Steam Controller.
Microsoft and Sony make better controllers for most kinds of games, and they both work just fine with your PC — and the DualShock 4 will even connect wirelessly over Bluetooth with a Steam Link or Steam Machine without any extra dongles. If Valve or other developers step up with games that make more sense for this controller, then maybe it will make sense. But not yet.
VentureBeat (review #2)
When I first tried the Steam Controller, I wasn’t into the idea. I was convinced that there would be no elegant way to bring the precision and speed of a mouse to the body of a gamepad.
Now, I see a concept that could make that idea work. The disc system allows for control input that is similar to what I look for in a mouse.
What’s required to really make the Steam Controller work, however, is my willingness to practice, and go through the training of physically conditioning my hands, to make the transition to this alien-feeling control scheme.
IGN - 5.9
TechRadar - 3 out of 5 stars
Until you decide you can stand a few glitches and incompatibilities, not to mention the overall lack of competitiveness of the controller, I'd recommend sticking to what you know works - whether that's a keyboard and mouse or another type of controller.
If you're willing to see what the platform has in store, add to the ground floor of Valve's next big idea and think outside of the (orange) box, this controller could be the very thing your thumbs have been aching for.
PC Gamer (WIP review)
I have no doubt that some diehard PC gamers will put in tons of time customizing Steam Controller profiles, practicing, and becoming much more accurate than they ever would be with gamepad aiming. But the best you’re ever going to get is almost as good as a mouse, and I think games designed for an Xbox or PlayStation pad will still play better with the native hardware. Spending hours trying out the Steam Controller in the living room, I realized that don’t see much reason to make that compromise. There are very few PC games without controller support that I really want to play on my TV. When I tried, I mostly ended up just missing my mouse.
Tested ("not a review")
Today, the Steam Controller should be considered an early-adopter device. It's novel technology and hardware that requires tinkering and patience to meet the needs of couch PC gaming. We waited almost two years for it to come out, and I'm glad it's not vaporware. Still, I wish Valve would've given it more time to release it "when it's done". The current Steam Controller isn't. We'll review it when it is.
Kotaku
I wish I had something more definitive to say. Let’s end on this: do I recommend that you buy a Steam controller right now? No, not really. The hardware’s still early and, in some ways, physically uncomfortable. I won’t be surprised if we see a slightly tweaked second iteration sooner rather than later. On top of that, while many games have a plethora of custom control options at this point, many others don’t. This is almost a textbook case of new hardware syndrome. Watch and wait. The Steam controller—customizable and potentially precise as it is—could grow into something truly special in the coming months and years. It’s just not quite there yet.
Engadget (more like an opinion piece about the negative reception)
It's the perfect PC gamepad for me: It's versatile enough to replace my Xbox 360 gamepad (I may never use it again), enable causal couch play for games never intended for the living room and it's made me think twice about using a mouse and keyboard in all but the most competitive or complex gaming scenarios. The Steam Controller is an amazing evolution in game control, but far too many gamers will never know. And all because change is hard.
PC World
The Steam Controller is the real story, here. It’s an elegant solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem—“How do you play every PC game ever made on a single input device?” As I said, without the Steam Controller there is no Steam Machine.
Give it three days, five days, a week. Put in the effort, and I think you’ll be pleased with what opens up to you. Do I think we’ll see pros using the Steam Controller to play Dota 2 anytime soon? No. At least not at a high level.
But for a lazy Sunday? Bringing the PC out to your couch has never been easier.
Previously Recorded
Maximum PC - 75/100
We imagine that the Steam Controller has the potential to age like a fine wine once more of the community gets their hands on it, but we unfortunately can’t review a device based on potential. As it is right now, the controller will allow you to get more headshots in if you’ve got the patience to tame its wildness, but if you’re not into the tweaking scene, we suggest you hold off until more user presets are made and the bugs are steamed out.
Linus Tech Tips
Link:
VentureBeat
I appreciate Valve’s intent here, but a lot of sections in the gaming hardware and networking pipeline need to be improved before I see something like the Steam Link being a great solution. The company may be a bit too far ahead of its time on this one.
TechRadar (2 pages) - 5 out of 5 stars
Comparison aside, gamers who are new to Steam have a decision to make before they invest in Steam Link. Do Valve's pre-built Steam Machines sound more up your alley, or are you up for the challenge of building your own computer? If you go with the former, the Steam Link becomes a redundancy, as Steam Machines are built to fit into your living room.
The Steam Link makes near-perfect sense if you envision yourself wanting to make serious upgrades to a custom-built PC. You can rest easy knowing that Valve's streaming box will scale with any improvements you make to your computer or internet service in the future.
PC Gamer (WIP review)
With trial and error or a lot of luck, your Steam In-Home Streaming experience may end up far better than mine, but right now I’d consider the Steam Link a $50 bet. The hardware gets the job done, but the software still badly needs work. Since it’s so clearly unfinished I’m not attaching a score yet, but I wouldn’t recommend buying the Steam Link to anyone as it currently functions.
PC World
But here’s the deal: From the day you buy a full Steam Machine, it starts to degrade, and the internal hardware becomes increasingly outdated. Steam Link? As Valve further optimizes in-home streaming and as you upgrade your primary PC, the Steam Link experience can only get better, year after year after year.
Machines/SteamOS:
Gizmodo
If you love PC gaming, and are specifically a long-time Steam user who loves PC gaming, then you owe it to yourself to give this puppy a go. If you’re a gamer who’s lukewarm on PC gaming—especially if you don’t use Steam—don’t do it.
Especially given the price. With the cheapest version set at $450, that’s a hundred bucks more than a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and a hefty price of admission for a ride you might not enjoy.
PC World
Linus Tech Tips (SteamOS)