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this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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Steam Hardware
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A place to discuss and support all Steam Hardware, including Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and SteamOS in general.
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Aside from the brand is it really that much better than the 8bitdo or Xbox alternatives?
I would still be using an old wired Xbox 360 controller if it didn't give up the goat.
It’s an amazing pc controller. The motion contols, touch pads, joysticks, and haptics are all amazing.
The only downside it the steam requirement.
It does not require steam
Requirement? How so? Traditionally you can Mao any old controller for a game manually if you must. It pairs with my desktop on Bluetooth no problem.
Are Gamers Nexus and other lying when they said that the controller acts are mouse without Steam? I don't have one but that's exactly how Steam Deck's controls work.
It definitely does this. But why would that matter. The computer sees joy sticks and buttons. You can map accordingly?
Without Steam, my Steam Deck's inputs are scroll wheels and mouse buttons and the computer sees no sticks and buttons. That's my point.
Yes, you can hit a shortcut on it to switch to controler input mode outside of steam
Cool. Which button combo is it? https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/33E8-5EDF-24E6-4CFB doesn't list it and instead actually says that Steam is required to properly use it.
I think there was software released from one of the Valve developers a week after the controller released, that makes it possible to use the controller outside of the Steam environment.
Neat! I’ll have to look into that. I know that it would work without some of the features but they’re kind of the selling point of the controller.
It requires Steam only for the onscreen keyboard.
i actually end up using it more than i thought i would. if i am just casually browsing the web, i kinda just use the steam controller instead of my mouse now.
I don’t have one but my friend does and he says the touchpads make it the only option he’s willing to put up with for pc gaming any more.
Depends on what you play. IIRC like the original steam controller, it's better at playing non controller games than any other controller is. If you are just using it for games with full controller support anyway then I doubt there is as much of a difference.
I got 2 Xbox series controllers. The joy sticks are way better on the steam controller. And there's more buttons. I think I still prefer the Xbox controls layout but I get why valve did it the way they did because of the touch pads, and its such a minor complaint and I'd rather have the extra control options the steam controller offers.
If you're using it like an Xbox controller, it doesn't matter which one you buy. Steam Controller is about all the inputs that Xbox (or others) don't have, such as trackpads, touch sensitive sticks and gyroscope.
This combination is unique on the market and I wouldn't play most games with a controller without. Especially first person games.