Some functionality that keeps me using the Steam Controller has been touchpads for movement, quick gadget swapping with touchpads, quick 180s/gyro activation with touchpads.
I use it to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.
Sadly I don’t find myself doing the same on the Steam Deck opting for the joysticks instead, since I don’t find the placement, smaller size, square versus circle, and flat surface versus concave offering the type of consistency that I use the touchpads for on the Steam Controller. It feels more a touchpad appropriate for slow paced games or just desktop navigation than optimal for the way I use the touchpads on the Steam Controller. And I don’t see Valve delivering on the touchpad end that I would like with the next Steam Controller with all the inputs it would be fitting in.
Fingers crossed for Joystick #2
Still using my Steam Controller every day, with two in reserve. By far my favorite gaming controller, simply because of those touchpads. I play a lot of turn-based strategy and doing it from the couch is sublime.
If Steam Controller 2 has touchpads and does something better than SC1, I’m probably in (dependent on pricing).
moar touchpads!!!
Give me the Steam Deck layout sans screen and I’ll buy several.
So fucking fed up being charged out the ass for a few extra buttons and/or shitty build quality.
I went through RMAing SIX god damn Xbox elite 2 controllers before just giving up and getting my CC agency involved to get my money back.
I just want a controller with back pedals and touchpads for mouse emulation. Is that so hard?
This 100%. Personally I’m happy with the build quality on my Elite 2, but I hate that it requires Windows 10+ to update the firmware. And it really needs a trackpad.
I’d be surprised if they weren’t making exactly that. It’d also give devs an easier way to test controlling with a deck without having to buy one
if it ends up being like the steam deck layout, they’ll probably just fuse the touch screens into one larger one in the center of the controller, towards the bottom. At that point, it would probably just be pretty similar to the playstation controller, but with slightly more questionable ergonomics, or maybe a more usable touchscreen.
It’s wild to me that somehow the elite controllers are worst than their cheaper brothers. I’ve owned both series. Both sucked hard.
Not to defend Microsoft, but I haven’t had any issues with my Elite 2 controller, and I’ve had it for a couple of years at least.
I hope they improve on the following
- The touchpads and paddle “clicks” are way too noisy
- An actual D-pad
- ABXY buttons less mushier
- USB-C port for charging
- Similar to Steam Deck layout
- A place to store the USB dongle inside the controller when not in use
- Better rumble
I switched to an 8bitdo controller with hall effect joysticks since, but I do miss the touchpad’s precision for FPS.
Yes to all this. I picked up my original Steam Controller the other day and forgot just how crazy loud that thing is.
I’d base all expectations on Steam Deck not Controller v1. You can already see the lessons learned in the deck.
The only reason I stopped using mine was because the membrane that makes the ABXY feel mushy eventually went and I couldn’t find a suitable replacement.
If they put in some sort of mechanical switches there so that this couldn’t happen, I would probably never use anything else.
The clicky-ness of the touchpad, paddles, shoulder buttons etc. is one of the things if absolutely love about the OG Steam Controller
Their clickyness in themselves is good and responsive, it’s just that it’s too noisy to my taste.
Why were you using haptic vibrations on touchpads? I switched them off the moment I discovered I can, they are really annoying
It feels like it’s missing something without rumble…
- Native support for games - have it use the Xbox or PlayStation profile
- Don’t require that abysmal Big Picture mode for remapping, custom layouts, etc.
Onboard remapping profiles would be nice, I use them on my 8bitdo controller and I can toggle them on-the-fly.
I personally remap the paddles mostly, but still.
Hope for Hall Effect joystick
My day 1 ordered Steam Controller is still going strong but I’ve been constantly worrying about the day it dies. Can’t wait, if this rumour proves to be true.
On mine (ca. 2016) all the rubber has degraded to a slimy goo.
I really liked it but it doesn’t work as a controller on Android devices so it went for long periods of no use.
My Xbox Series X|S controllers however all have stick drift even though they’re much newer
Same here. I’m more worried about losing the USB Dongle.
Me too! I literally keep it permanently in a portable usb hub so it’s harder to lose.
Mine had slid off the footrest I had stupidly placed it on overnight and I didn’t notice that so I sat down and jerked my computer chair forward, one wheel right into the controller. It’s crazy how much it broke, one side cracked, including the PCB and both the bumber and trigger on that side got badly deformed.
RIP friend, you were the best.
F
(mapped to X thanks to Steam Input)
I have mine still, dongle too, but it started constantly dropping the connection to the Steam Deck and I can’t figure out why.
Maybe this is how it dies, not with a bang but with a whimper.
Firmware up to date? I have no issues with mine although the range on the dongle is pretty weak which did cause it to drop connection but it went away completely after running a USB extension cable from my Deck’s dock so the dongle is closer to me when I’m sat on the sofa.
Next up please make a Steam Box. I just want a PS5/XSX equivalent with SteamOS.
And because I know people will say build a PC: No, I want a pre build smallish box with kinda certified hardware so I don’t have to worry about compatibility, cooling, drivers and all that stuff.
That’s a Steam Machine. The idea didn’t take off because it’s just a pre-built PC (and because they trusted other companies to do it for them). It’s a highly competitive market with very low margins.
When they announced the Deck they did recommend one particular small box as a development machine as it matched the Deck’s performance very closely. You might try looking for that. Although by now there are probably more powerful ones available for the same price.
Or release a SteamOS image so I can install it on my gaming rig.
Until then Bazzite seems to be what you’re looking for. Although any other Linux Distribution should work as well. I put OpenSUSE Tumbleweed on my Deck to have more customisation options.
You can just use any Linux distro and start steam in big screen mode, I think steamOs is available but a bit too customized for the deck
You have it - it’s the Steam Deck.
Fair enough. You can just dock it to a tv, like switch.
But a console like box without the constraints the Deck has (thermals, power usage, size, weight, needing a screen) would still be a valid product offering.
I personally don’t like mobile gaming, but I do like a console experience.
I agree. It would also be nice to use as a pc ala the mac mini.
I run steam deck with a dock but it’s closer to a switch than ps5 I guess. For what I play on a 1080 tv, with Elden ring being my heaviest title, it works perfectly.
I can see how a steam box that would deliver 4k on high end games would be awesome as well.
ILL TAKE YOUR ENTIRE FUCKING STOCK
Mine two steam controllers are still used almost daily, but they are showing there age in wear and tear.
So please be as great as version 1. I need two new ones
Fuck yeah I don’t care how bad it is I’ll take six
Sweeeet
Duuuude
Ive been waiting for the next version of their vr. if it works with glasses almost a guarantee buy for me.
I didn’t realize my Rift S was too close to my lenses for a while 🙃 so now I use my previous scratched glasses so my scratched lenses don’t mess up my regular glasses. Would definitely appreciate a headset that works with glasses!
yeah its like its great if it takes lenses but I would like something I could use right away with little rigamorole.
BigScreen makes a vr headset that is Index compatible, about 150 grams, higher resolution, custom removable/swappable face cushion, and custom removable prescription inserts. Costs about $1000 USD for only the headset. It also doesn’t have AR passthrough. If it cost a little more and had AR passthrough, I would be saving up for it now.
Yaaaaas! I’ll take 2!
