The Steam Controller’s “drop-in” charger almost started a fire for this owner

A Reddit user reported that their metallic smartwatch strap accidentally touched the Steam Controller's magnetic charging puck's exposed contacts, creating a short circuit that caused the device to sizzle . Valve's official safety manual warns about this hazard, and no recall has been announced , though others attempting to reproduce the issue have been unable to do so with simple metal contact . Users are advised to keep metallic objects including watches, rings, and coins away from the puck .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-22