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
This should not be a problem on linux. The old controller has a basic linux driver included in the upstream kernel, and there is a userspace driver too called sc-controller which I have used.
It’s supposed to have Linux drivers. Fuck windows. No problem here.
Uh interesting 🤔 I will probably just wait and see if that is actually the case and working. Right now I have an xbox one controller with the wireless dongle for which I need to compile a kernel module to work and I’d like to get rid of that 😅
You should generally always wait and see with basically all tech products. There is never really a reason to buy freshly released products except for FOMO stupidity. Same applies to games.
You should generally always wait and see with basically all tech products. There is never really a reason to buy freshly released products except for FOMO stupidity.
Except that tech products get more expensive over time these days, not cheaper.
Somebody has to compile the driver. Who do you think that should be, and have you asked them to?
Valve could easily release normal Windows drivers to fix this for everyone. There are doubts that they would do so, wanting to keep users firmly planted in their ecosystem.
Raise your hand if “your ecosystem” is built on free and open source software. Yeah. Literally no one else. STFU.
What are you trying to say? Valve gets a free pass because SteamOS is based on Linux? How d’ya figure that one out?
Since the Linux drivers are open source wouldn’t it be possible for anyone to write a driver for another OS based on those?
As far as I understand, the original Steam Controller presented as an un-useful pair of HID devices by default, and someone wrote a 3rd-party open source driver for it. So, a similar poorly-supported situation to other hardware that the F/OSS community consistently and rightfully criticises.
Yeah, that’s true.
They got better with the Steam Deck. Without Steam running its controller acts like the desktop profile. By default you get keyboard and mouse controls and can switch to a generic gamepad mode by holding down the start button.
I expect/hope that it will be the same with the new controller. Maybe it’ll just use the Steam Deck’s driver. It has been upstreamed for quite a while now.
I’m saying there’s no “free pass” required because they’ll work on Linux.
Will they work properly on Linux? Will they work on a GOG game without installing Steam? Will they work on an alternative console or handheld?
If not then that sucks, and that is what they’re being criticised for. Why should anyone STFU about that? It seems like a serious flaw.
Raise your hand if “your ecosystem” is built on free and open source software. Yeah. Literally no one else. STFU.
Funny how almost everyone else here didn’t even care to read the article where it clearly states that the source of the complaint is “Game Pass games installed through the Xbox app are locked down on Windows 11.” So typical Microsoft behaviour.
And yet, you’re being the one voted down.
It is kinda the same as with the steam deck where I noticed that the inputs just don’t work until steam is launched.
That’s just the moment when Steam is launching and in the process of taking over the controls. You can try it by shutting down Steam. The controller will continue working like the default desktop profile.
By default it presents mouse and keyboard functionality. And when you hold down the start button it switches to the pure gamepad mode. I play plenty of none-Steam-games that way. All with the native Linux FOSS driver. Without Steam or any other additional userspace software.
Oh interesting 🤔 So yeah maybe this isn’t actually a problem for me (using Fedora and the deck)
A long time ago I thought I had boot issues or a corrupted bios. Nope, the controller was plugged in and the system ignkred the actual keyboard until the steam controller got disconnected.
KEYBOARD ERROR - PRESS F1 TO PROCEED
It should really come with an XInput mode. That’s pretty much a basic feature for any PC controller.
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.
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.
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’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.
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.
Just pretend that that installing Steam is installing the driver software and you’re fine.
What’s that? Hmm? Oh, you say you don’t need an 3rd party account to install driver software?
Have you touched a windows PC in the last 5 years?
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”
This is a dealbreaker for me. I was tempted by it despite the price, but fuck this. I refuse to run everything through steam
I wonder what’s stopping them from releasing dedicated win drivers if the native ones are inadequate.
You can add non steam games to steam, not sure if this works with the controller or not but possibly something to look into. No idea how that kind of thing works on windows though as I haven’t used steam on windows
Yeah you can work around it, but it is still intentionally restricting you from just using it with non-steam games. I don’t want to have to play every game through steam, even though I intentionally bought it from GOG for example
It’s not a “work around” though, it’s how it’s supposed to be used
I guess it boils down to two options:
- Use the Steam controller and utilise workarounds to play games from other platforms. Is the controller that much nicer to justify the workarounds and the cost?
- Use a different controller that is compatible with everything. No janky solutions required, which is nice, but is the controller so much worse than the Steam controller that you feel like you’re missing out?
You don’t have to play every game through Steam, switch to the controller action set in desktop mode and and it’ll work as a basic controller for any game.
I wouldn’t call it an intentional restriction. Not trying to be a Steam apologist, but it would require extra work to make the controller use something other than Steam Input. Or to make a stand-alone Steam Input app. Not doing extra work is not what I would call a restriction. That’s like an Xbox controller not working on PlayStation because Microsoft didn’t put the extra work in to make it compatible. It’s not an intentional restriction. It’s just… extra work.
Ironically, both a PlayStation controller and Xbox controller work in Windows natively. But they don’t have all the fanciness of Steam Input. Steam Input is genuinely insane! I have a Steam Deck and the ways you can customize input are so finely detailed and powerful. They would have to make a standalone app to support all these features, or just give up and make a generic Xinput mode, which I don’t see the point of doing for such a powerful controller. It would be a waste. Just buy an Xbox controller.
I also don’t see it as a big deal to have to install Steam and register non-steam games in order to use the fancy Steam Controller. It’s free software, and you can configure it to start in your Library so you never even see any ads for games on sale. You just start your game, set up your controls perfectly, and you’re good to go. As a company having a near monopoly on PC gaming, Steam is pretty benevolent.
Mostly agree. It’s been a while since I bought a console, but my dualshock 3 controller never had an official windows 10 driver.
not sure if this works with the controller or not
It will, because of SteamInput
Thought it would, its been a while since I have done it but I think I do remember seeing options to configure the controller.
SteamInput basically allows you to map anythning to anything. You can also create all sorts of custom shit like radial menus, button toggles, macros, etc.
It’s really impressive actually.
I’m sure either the workarounds will get to be trivial, or Valve will make it work sans Steam. It just needs time to cook
Yep, same. I had money saved up since the announcement to buy the controller when it launches, but this is seriously making me consider just buying and Xbox controller instead
I dont understand why you want this controller at all if you’re happy with an Xbox controller. It’s a terrible value if you aren’t a Steam Input power user.
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.
Why would you buy a steam controller and not use it with steam?
Why would you drink rum out of a whiskey glass?
The whisky glass brings out more notes in the nose of the rum.
For the same reason I use PS3 and PS4 controllers to play PC games. I don’t even own a PS4. A controller should preferably be usable as a generic gamepad. Not that the PlayStation controllers necessarily are, on windows I always needed shady programs for that, but I’d expect better from Steam
But using it as a generic gamepad misses the entire point of the controller. If you don’t want steam input for the extra buttons and touchpads, why even buy it?
Maybe you received it as a gift or found it for cheap secondhand?
So gifts and second hand items should magically work in a way they weren’t intended to?
You literally just make a shortcut in Steam to where ever it’s from and it works fine. It even had a default desktop profile which you can set how you want. While it’s no ideal, there is no problem.
Just to repeat myself:
Yeah you can work around it, but it is still intentionally restricting you from just using it with non-steam games. I don’t want to have to play every game through steam, even though I intentionally bought it from GOG for example
Also: if you’re playing every game through steam this way they can track whichever game you play and how many games you’re playing that you bought from other platforms
I don’t see it as a workaround as it’s my preferred way of playing non-Steam games anyway.
I’m pretty sure Steam doesn’t need to be connected to the internet to launch non Steam games. So your weird point about sharing game data with them is moot
I don’t know how much info they can get that you don’t choose to share, since you can name the executable and game whatever you want through Steam.
Oh no… They can see what games you play?! Like they can do anyway… And every other launcher can… What a shocking development. Sarcasm
Yeah and if not from the launcher they get that info from infobrokers, unless you go the extra mile, nothing is private these days, esp not data on purchasing habits
There is sadly no workaround for in-home streaming. In my case, I connect controllers to my Android TV, which is easy because they (Xbox, PS, Nintendo) all use basic Bluetooth profiles. Then, I use those controllers to open the Moonlight or Steam Link app, at which point they’re forwarded on.
This wasn’t an issue when the Steam Link was a physical piece of hardware made to work with their controller, but that’s been discontinued.
Steam link works with the original Steam Controller through Bluetooth, I’d be surprised if the new one didn’t.
I don’t understand what problem you are referring to, all that already works on the old steam controller. It has Bluetooth mode
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
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.
Sounds like a Windows problem
Good i only buy my games on Steam.
Oh yeah right open source games are usually not on Steam.I’m still buying it, because this will fix the biggest hurdle for PC couch gaming for me.
I’m hoping the reviews are just poor and fail to test things properly or if a software update can provide basic functionality if this is all true.
Majority of my games are on Steam anyway, but for the occasional emulator that I don’t want to run through Steam…I’m hoping there’ll be some input to be recognized and I can map inputs manually.
Definitely a sucky situation for all of the GOG/third party launcher games people don’t have on Steam.
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.
