atomicpoetThe Steam controller was ahead of its time
wirelesswireThe Steam controller was definitely interesting. I bought two, one shortly after they released, and another when they were clearing them out. I never could get the hang of using the trackpad in place of an analog stick, though, and eventually bought an Xbox controller to game with on the pc. I still use one of them with my Steam Link when I stream tv shows from my pc to the tv.
I have one that I got second-hand at some point, and used it for a while. I dusted it off a few months ago, but I find that the trackpads on the Steam Deck are so much better that it now feels like a sub-par experience. I just end up using an Xbox controller instead (I agree with the annoying lack of a second trackpad, and I also find the face buttons a little too out of the way).
I disagree with the AA batteries being a negative though. If you use rechargeable batteries and make sure to have spares, you can just swap them and charge without interrupting your session. It also becomes one less point of failure for the controller.
I disagree with the AA batteries being a negative though. If you use rechargeable batteries and make sure to have spares,
yep, fully agree. I don’t particularly care for the move to rechargeable internal batteries for literally every device. I can just cycle through a pack of rechargeable AAAs every year or so and be fine.
I really don't understand this fixation on internal batteries from users. It's almost guaranteed to be the first thing to fail on your device, and turn it into e-waste.
I remember a Wirecutter review on beard trimmers, where they outright dismissed any product that didn't have an integrated battery that lasted more than an hour. I trim my beard about once a week and it takes me less than 5 minutes. (Sorry for the unrelated rant here, needed to get it off my system)
I know my family is so used to thinking of batteries as ultra cheap and disposable that there was a lot of resistance to using rechargeables purely because of the increased cost.
my favorite are when it uses rechargable AAs, but can recharge them itself.
cheers_queersThis should be the default.
mintiefreshI think the Steam controller is great and still use it from time to time. Having track pads on the go is really handy.
KairuByteI was an early adopter as well… I hated it. I don’t know why but I never got used to it and it has collected dust at the bottom of a box for almost a decade now. Which is sad, because I really wanted to like it.
MudManI hate this thing with a passion.
Some of it is a me thing. The trackpads hurt me physically. I'm talking immediate pain. Even when it came out a decade ago and my writsts were less busted than they are now they hurt.
Some of it is most definitely not a me thing. It was plasticky, flimsy, prototypey and trying to make a thing happen that was not going to happen.
I don't blame people for swearing by it as contrarians. Hey, I am fond of controllers people don't like (the joycon are the best controller this generation and people like the wrong Saturn controller, and I'll fight you on both of those). But still, I feel when this comes up it doesn't get enough pushback mostly because not enough people actually tried it. I own one, I tried it and it was not good.
I don't regret having one, though. Bit of a collector's piece. I should go dig it up and make sure none of the plastic has rotted away.
I came from a background of using joystick controllers then picked up a Steam Controller and loved it since. And I still use it along side regular controllers, so probably bit more experience on both than other people.
Build quality isn’t premium, but I prefer it for most of my games over my switch, xbox, 8bitdo, and sony controllers. Love it for games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, and The Finals.
Just haven’t found a controller that provides me with the functionality the Steam Controller offers despite finding alternatives to xbox controllers with first the playstation with it having gyro the xbox doesn’t, and then 8bitdo with additional buttons and TMR sticks the playstation doesn’t. But, still no Steam Controller alternative, so I’m still using it.
Doom Eternal Ancient Gods Part 2 Nightmare (Steam Controller using gyro)
I would argue that the reason you haven't found a controller with the same functionality as the Steam controller is most people don't like using overengineered trackpads to try to replicate sticks and d-pads that are much better at the job they're designed to do. Only Steam keeps messing with this concept and... it really doesn't work.
The Steam controller was an attempt to bridge the gap of consolizing PC games back when people still thought of PC games as primarily keyboard and mouse. It's... not a great way to play mouse and keyboard games on a TV and it's mostly a step backwards from a normal controller for games with controller support. Which is the vast majority of PC games now anyway.
And yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say. You do play mouse and keyboard games on it and love it, and you think it beats sticks because you can spend hours on Steam making overly complicated setups that allow you to macro all sorts of nonses into the trackpads and paddles and whatnot.
That's cool, if that's what you want to do. Go nuts, have fun. But there's a reason it isn't a particularly mainstream way to engage with PC games.
Gyro, though, is actually useful for first person shooters. It's nowhere near a Steam-driven thing or a Steam controller-specific thing, but I do wish Microsoft would start building it into controllers so we could have it on Xinput as a standard and have an easier time using it at the Windows level instead of having to depend on Steam as a translation layer, particularly for non-Steam games.
That’s cool, if that’s what you want to do. Go nuts, have fun. But there’s a reason it isn’t a particularly mainstream way to engage with PC games.
My argument was never for how it is mainstream, but that I find it more useful than regular controllers which I used before and use now. I’ve found “upgrades” to the xbox, playstation, nintendo controllers with the 8bitdo Ultimate 2. But have yet to find upgrades to the Steam Controller.
You do play mouse and keyboard games on it and love it, and you think it beats sticks because you can spend hours on Steam making overly complicated setups that allow you to macro all sorts of nonses into the trackpads and paddles and whatnot.
And what is mouse and keyboard games these days? Death Stranding, Saints Row, GTA, Dishonored, Uncharted? Doesn’t take me hours to set up either. It might takes for you to set up, but for me it’s been as simple as using a pre saved template for mixed input and adjusting the gyro and remapping some buttons.
Same thing I end up doing on a regular controller like the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 where I map buttons of the grip and extra bumper from game to game when I opt for it over the Steam Controller. And same process for adjusting the gyro.
So my point is yes for you the controller may be useless, but it is your experience and that there are others who have gotten a lot out of it.
I mean, for all the quotes you missed the one that explicitly does "all you ask".
I know that's not universal, and some people with similar accessiblity problems have the opposite experience. I don't question that.
The thing with talking to each other on the Internet while disagreeing (respectfully) is that we end up having to parse which of the parts we disagree in to even have an argument about. I don't mind people liking the Steam controller, but I'm also not shy at calling out the ways in which its rough edges are not a me thing.
I think it's undeniable that it's pretty plasticky. I think I can make a pretty solid argument about its setup and usability being overengineered while not getting to the ostensible goal (mouse and keyboard on a controller format, presumably). And for what it's worth, I think the fact that it's a pretty niche thing goes to show this is the consensus reaction to it.
All of that can be said without taking anything away from the people that like it, I think. But... you know, that doesn't mean I don't think they're wrong about it or that those are all entirely subjective observations about it.
I'll say that my "hate it with a passion" stance is less about the Steam Controller itself and more about how it keeps sneaking into all of Valve's hardware. I've said this before: I don't know who's still stuck on making touchpads happen, but it made my time with the HTC Vive much harder than it had to be and the Steam Deck didn't need to have Dumbo ears, so I do think there's a value to reminding people (and Valve specifically) that this isn't going to happen and everybody else is not jumping into their touchpad fetish for a reason.
I think it’s undeniable that it’s pretty plasticky.
I don’t disagree one that part. In fact, you’d find most Steam Controller fans biggest wish is for a more premium update. That’s been a big wish for a long time with mine being a Steam Controller with better bumpers, gyro with higher polling for high refresh rate gaming, 2 more back buttons, extra bumper buttons like the 8bitdo has, dpad replacing the left joystick, pressure sensitive touchpad, and a much nicer material for the shell.
But, because despite the less than premium build quality enthusiasts find the actual functions useful they use it in spite of it. Much like the Alpakka controller that doesn’t even have a right joystick or touchpad, but gyro enthusiasts use it because it has the best gyro available right now for controllers.
So basically the stances about build quality and it not being a mainstream device is not something most Steam Controller users disagree with. That’s not really been the point of contention. There’s been agreement on that.
I have tiny trump hands, so ergonomically not the best controller for me
But i still love my steam controller.
marighostI kinda wish I had bought one when they were clearing them out, even if I would've hated it. I hope Valve releases another version at some point. I have to imagine they will, given the success of the Deck.
LukeI bought one years ago and it sat unused in a drawer for like a decade or whatever until I got a Steamdeck. Now I use the Steam controller every day, and it’s by far the greatest controller I’ve ever used. It’s the only controller ever that I’ve enjoyed more than mouse and keyboard, and I’m a PC gamer so that’s saying something.
I like it even more than the Steamdeck controls themselves, because I like to have that docked to my large TV, and the hand feel is better for me with the smaller controller.
I’m just hoping someone makes another controller like it before this one breaks, because the Xbox controller is not even on the same level. Nothing compares to the Steam controller.
They should’ve paid an intern to create button layouts for popular games. Way too annoying to program every single button when I can plug in a random console controller and have it all work.
They have default configurations available for many popular games. The problem is, there’s over 100,000 PC games out there. Which is why it’s generally a good idea to look for community-built configurations before making your own.
I’m still hoping for a new steam controller with inspiration from the steam deck. I loved the original controller and used it on the rare occasion that I needed controller input or for couch gaming. a newer version with all the upgraded components, hall effect joysticks, better trackpads, extra paddles, would be an instant buy for me.
Its really frustrating they haven’t released the steam controller 2 modeled after the steamdeck, because it makes the steamdeck not as useful for docking situations. You get used to the 4 back paddle buttons and then dock it and try and use the steam controller and it’s missing the extra 2 back buttons, and other analog stick, so your muscle impulses are thrown off when playing your favorite games.
I’d recommend the 8bitdo ultimate 2 wireless. Has two back paddles, but also has two additional bumper buttons so is actually 4 buttons in total. The back paddles of the controller is also much easier to press in than the Deck and extra bumpers easy to access, so even though the locations wouldn’t be 1 to 1 the use I find easier.
Just have to update the firmware of the controller and dongle and then start the controller in dinput mode to be able to bind the extra buttons through Steam Input.
Noxycan they be unique buttons though? I thought they had to be copies of existing buttons, or macros or something.
Yes they can be set up like any other button through Steam Input. I’ve tested it myself on the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless, and analog triggers and gyro also works. The only other controller that offered that functionality was playstation before the firmware update with other third party controllers having to enter switch mode, which has digital triggers.
There is one thing that needs to be worked out with vibration, since if it is on it can cause the controller to stop working in game while using Steam Input. Have to leave it off for now. But, it’s been getting worked on.
So over bluetooth or (i assume) 2.4ghz it supports more buttons than playstation/xbox, works with analog triggers, AND supports gyro?
That’s a feature set I’ve been really desperate for! And I really liked my 8bitdo Ultimate (1) Bluetooth until my puppy chewed it up. I might need this new one!
I haven’t tried over bluetooth but it does work over the 2.4 ghz dongle. I stick with the dongle over bluetooth, since polling is supposed to be 1000 hz.
In case you are curious how the extra buttons look in Steam Input for the 8bitdo ultimate 2 wireless I included a pic.
That just looks like you must bind the new back buttons as duplicates of other regular buttons tho, what if I want a back button to be presented to a game as a brand new, unique button
No you don’t have to. It’s separate buttons. Just happened to do that for that game.
Here’s one with keyboard keys.
NICE. I may have to go order one of these right now.
Here’s another pic with the entire controller layout shown so you can see that the L4 and PL buttons are unique from all the other buttons.
Thank you so much for these! Exactly what I had been curious about <3
AlmaccaIt’s a cool controller, but I find the position of the analogue stick and face buttons are in an awkward position even for my large hands, and the buttons a bit small. I prefer an Xbox controller for controller games, and I struggle to use the trackpads for mouse and keyboard games, so I barely use it.
I found it too big and clumsy, but I’m glad others liked it!
Maximum gaming
I still have mine. Bought it when it was new but never got used to it. I do like the idea of the touchpads though. Be nice to see a new iteration on it
FreeBooteR69I still have 2 and use them daily. Definitely want a controller based on Steam Deck layout.
Is there any controller like it? I wish I could buy a steam controller, but they discontinued it.
otterTruth 🤌🏼
I miss mine. 😭
But then—here comes the Steam Controller. Suddenly, I was able to reprogram all the inputs. I could take basic keys, like the spacebar, and map them to a button on the controller—like the A button. And once you did that, you could share your controller configuration with the Steam community, or reuse a config someone else already made. It was pretty awesome.
Reprogramming inputs is how I use my ps4 controller to play RuneScape