The issue comes down to how the device interacts with your computer. Just like the original version, the new Steam Controller has no native Windows drivers. This means the hardware relies entirely on the Steam app to function properly. If you do not have the game running via Valve’s storefront app, your shiny new gamepad turns into a useless piece of plastic.
Gamers Nexus also reported this and there are a lot of other news outlets also covering this. It is kinda the same as with the steam deck where I noticed that the inputs just don’t work until steam is launched. I really don’t like that I have to have Steam running for this controller to work. I don’t know if it is a dealbreaker for me, yet, but it really put a damper on my enthusiasm about it
Peak valve hardware.
$100 brick for nerds who want to stick it to the man by giving money to another billionaire.
Can’t wait to see team foss wrap their heads around this one and continue to gobble gaden cock
I mean, so far all their controllers had native official FOSS drivers in the Linux kernel. This one will probably work with the Steam Deck’s driver.
And there are community driven projects to implement all the Steam Input stuff in a FOSS way. I’m not at all worried about the future usability of their hardware.
there were community build userland drivers for the original steam controller i hope for something similar for the new one.
but valve support for such things would be great.
I’m with you on it being a moderate sticking point. What controller(s) are you currently using?
xbox one with the microslop dongle. Works with the xone kernel driver, but that breaks occassionally and also prevents upgrades sometimes (not that actively maintained)
For me, the fact that your thumbs can touch when pressing the sticks to the middle is unfortunately enough for me to pass on this. Plus I hear the ergonomics of it doesn’t feel nice, pulling your elbows in to your body so you can hold it properly.
I was hoping I could also use this thing with my Switch 2 and PS3 (with some input dongles if needed), but I assume that’s out of question now.
I’m still gonna get it, but only once I get a Steam Machine or another gaming PC. By then, this might go on discount too.
Sounds like a Windows problem
This is only off putting if there weren’t 3rd party apps and drivers, which there probably will be. Librepods made airpod premium features work on Android, no reason why it can’t be done here.
OP forgot to quote the actually relevant part which is in an embedded tweet:
Game Pass games installed through the Xbox app are locked down on Windows 11.
The root cause for the problem once again is Microsoft and their locked Xbox / Game Pass eco system.
Valve contributed open source drivers to Linux and SDL months ago.
I said it before and I happily repeat myself again: Just get an 8bitdo controller. The Ultimate2C is affordable and solid (Ultimate 3E for high end users) and I also never encountered a scenario where I would prefer a controller with trackpads over a good wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad and here Framework‘s upcoming one looks the most promising.
a lot of the features of the controller are not supported by X input, I still think they should’ve added an X input switch somewhere somehow, ideally this device gets its own custom driver for windows, since it is fairly unique generic controller drivers just wouldnt provide full fearure set, hopefully valve makes a full open source in trww driver for it on linux which can be used as a basis for other devices like this,
hopefully valve also provides documentation on how provided ingame integration (basically the game turns on its own “steam” input) and a proper sdk, that would allow developrs to integrate natively the controller without needing steam
It should really come with an XInput mode. That’s pretty much a basic feature for any PC controller.
All of the Steam Controller’s actually distinguishing features wouldn’t work with XInput though. If you’re not interested in that stuff you’d save money going for a basic Xbox controller or third party one.
I imagine it’s like the Deck where desktop mode has 2 modes so you can switch to use it for non-Steam games.
It’s at least available with the generic Linux driver. When Steam isn’t running you can switch between mouse/keyboard and gamepad mode by holding down the start button.
Ah, is it? I know that’s the case on Steam Deck, but it doesn’t seem to work on the old Steam Controller (just tried it) and I haven’t seen any confirmation by reviewers that the new controller has this function.
Have there been any linux specific reviews yet? I only saw the one from GN and they are new to linux and are focussing on windows still (main audience, so its understandable)
The ones I’ve read so far have been quite unspecific in regards to the OS they used. So statistically, they probably used Windows.
Of course I don’t know definitely if the new controller will work the same. But if I were Valve I would try to make it compatible with the existing Steam Deck controller driver since they are so similar.
Someone with energy could take a look at Valve’s kernel sources and look for changes in the controller area.
I’m surprised people think this is odd since the original Steam Controller was the same - it’s a Steam Input device, not XInput.
If you consider what it was designed for, it makes sense. This isn’t another generic controller but a controller designed for a Linux/PC-based video games console (Steam Machine).
If you boot into a desktop UI without Steam running, desktop UIs don’t support xinput devices to navigate around them.
The Steam Controller thus defaults to presenting itself as a keyboard and mouse so that the UI can be navigated without Steam running.
If it was xinput, you’d be reaching for a keyboard and mouse to plug in just to click Steam and then immediately no longer need them.
That’s why it’s not an xinput device.
The fact that this isn’t a new thing doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing. Especially since nowadays there are good third-party controllers with remappable buttons that can also switch to a KB/M functionality at the push of a button. Also, I paid 5,50€ for my brand new original Steam Controller, so Valve kinda has to convince me to spend about 18 times that. I don’t know if this is a dealbreaker for me, but I’d definitely consider it “not great”.
You should definitely use those alternatives and they sound superior.
At the end of the day, this is the Steam Machine’s controller and it’s designed for use in the Steam and Linux ecosystem. Its behaviour and lack of generic xinput is intentional.
Well, at the end of the day it still has a bit of a killer feature that other controllers don’t: the touchpads. If I buy it, it’ll be my secondary controller for playing FPS, CRPGs etc on my projector.
And yet DS4 and DS5 work, so that’s not even a good excuse.
It makes sense for Valve trying to create a walled-garden ecosystem of the kind we all rightfully shit on Nintendo for creating. It does not make sense for the consumer.
If it needs to present a KB+M device for OS navigation, it can fucking well do so at the same time as presenting a game controller device and having a way, using its many inputs, to switch between the two. Then it would work on everything that works on Windows and Proton. Then it would work on XBox, and any console that works with standard USB HID devices.
It’ll have that on Linux like last time. You just need to set the uinput driver for the device. They had a generic gamepad one in the kernel for the OG. But not loaded by default as it’ll look like a kb&m out of the box unless you set a user-level driver config for the HIDs.
Valve were very supportive of Linux if people didn’t want to use Steam/Steam Input but other OS didn’t get their efforts beyond the Steam client.
So I may just be dumb, but does this mean it won’t work with emulated games unless steam is open? Or not at all? Is steam itself treated as the “driver”, and then the controller will work for whatever else I’m playing on?
I already launch most controller-based non-Steam games I own through the “add a non-Steam game to Steam” feature because Steam Input is the best game controller driver/manager I’ve used and it’s not remotely close.
I don’t have the impression that supporting xinput/directinput is a time consuming effort. Yeah extra buttons and trackpad wouldn’t work, so what? The community will make something long term for Linux/Windows I have no doubt, but this was an easily avoided L on good will PR.
Personally doesn’t matter much to me, I have 8bitdo controllers already. After owning Steam Deck for years now I really want the trackpads and gyro wherever possible.
I plan on using this specifically with my docked Steam Deck, so I don’t mind. However, it’s a good point to make.
I don’t think it’s a big deal, though. The entire reason to buy this thing is for the integration with Steam Input and all the cool things you can do with the track pads, Grip Sense and everything else. Steam Input absolutely blows away any third-party input app I’ve ever used in the past from Logitech, Corsair, or whoever. I suppose to be fair, they should release a stand-alone Steam Input program.
If Apple did this, and required… I dunno… fuckin’ iTunes to run their Apple controller, I’d mock them and anyone who buys it, but I guess Valve gets a pass because I’m a fanboy.
I own one Epic game (Fenix Rising), and a few Humble games, and maybe a couple GoG, but 99.9% of the time I’m playing a Steam game anyway. I imagine the controller works fine for running a non-steam game that you’ve registered in your Steam Library.
No Windows drivers? So I can’t use the controller with my Windows 10 Steam Deck dual boot?
DOA for me.
It will work on Windows so long as Steam is running.
Oh that’s interesting. Same thing happens with my Deck when I launch W10. Have to wait for Steam to launch before my Deck controls work.
I’ve been so back and first with this controller man. No aux jack, but the USB-C port could be used with a 3.5-to-USB-C converter to get audio while the puck charges the controller on the back. Then this Windows driver thing, but it not really being an issue because it works through Steam.
Slight inconveniences with moderate workarounds. Doesn’t help that it’s $100.
The controller requires some sort of drivers to get out of lizard mode and work as a general controller (with remapping and everything). This has been known as it acts identically to Steam Deck and the OG Steam Controller.
If you want to use the controller without Steam being used (which, it’s worth noting, you can add non-steam games to Steam to use the controller, or adjust the default desktop profile to be a normal controller), then you should be able to use SISR (formerly GloSC and GloSI): https://github.com/Alia5/SISR
Or, on Linux, use sc-controller: https://github.com/C0rn3j/sc-controller
Lizard mode?
The default mouse+keyboard layout the controller starts in before Steam takes over. I think they call it that as a play on the phrase “lizard brain”
