Digital gaming distributor Steam is expanding into physical hardware. The company reckons they know gamers—one estimate has it that 75% of games downloaded for the PC are through Steam—and will have a steady stream of customers for a gaming controller of superior design.

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Thus the Steam Controller aims to combine the precision of a mouse, familiar to those who play games on PCs, with the tactility of a game controller, familiar to those who prefer console games. The dual trackpads can emulate a trackball, mouse or scroll wheel with precision, while actuators provide the tactility:

Here's how it's meant to function during gaming:

HD Haptics
Haptic force actuators on both sides of the controller deliver precise, high fidelity vibrations measured in microseconds. Feel the spin of a virtual trackball, the click of a scroll wheel, or the shot of a rifle. Every input, from the triggers to the trackpads, can offer haptic feedback to your fingertips, delivering vital, high-bandwidth, tactile feedback about speed, boundaries, thresholds, textures, or actions.

Dual-stage Triggers
With a satisfying digital click at the end of the trigger pull, dual-stage triggers can be used as analog, digital, or both types of input at the same time. Put your iron-sights on the sweep-in, and then fire with the reliable feel of a tactile switch, all on the same trigger.

The $50 devices are up for pre-sale now, with a limited number expected to begin shipping in mid-October, prior to the official launch in November of this year.