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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[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (6 children)

I'm actually baffled who buys all of these controllers? If you're windows user you have a plethora of options in all price brackets. I wanted to buy steam controller because of Linux compatibility (Reverse engineered Xbox controller driver likes to shit itself from time to time)

Why everyone else just suddenly needs This new controller is just beyond me

[–] eneff@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 1 week ago

The old steam controller was loved by many and has always been praised by its very enthusiastic user base. With Valve proving their worth as a hardware vendor to the masses via the steam deck, I'm not surprised the controller is as popular as it is. I hope you manage to get one!

[–] seang96@spgrn.com 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I want something that works instead of PS5 Bluetooth that cuts off when I put it under my desk. It's a first class controller designed for pc that just works. It also has other cool things like never dying.

[–] Dettweiler42@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I found that disabling my motherboard's Bluetooth and using a dongle improved that situation dramatically. I suspect all the EMI plus a steel desktop case was a big contributor.

[–] seang96@spgrn.com 2 points 1 week ago

Oh also the ps5 controller speaker set as default was a horrendous and annoying experience lol

[–] seang96@spgrn.com 1 points 1 week ago

I did that and still wasnt great, but it was better at least.

[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've experimented with Xbox controller on Bluetooth, and it wasn't a good experience. I did some research and it looks like it's because Microslop decided to ignore the bloetooh specs - controller doesn't signal required bandwidth, so BT driver defaults to the lowest one. If you force driver to faster transmission rate, it will work better, but all other devices that support lowest speed only won't work

[–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

Mine heats to crazy temps and I had to glue a copper radiator on to the microslop bluetooth thingy

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It got two track pad, i can't find the recommended one on this price range with two track pad.

Edit: i can't buy it even if i wanted to.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you’re windows user you have a plethora of options in all price brackets. I wanted to buy steam controller because of Linux compatibility (Reverse engineered Xbox controller driver likes to shit itself from time to time)

8bitdo and similar controllers work absolutely fine under Linux. No idea where your Linux compatibility thing comes from.

[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

8bitdo

First time I hear about this company. I have no idea if they're trust worth, and If they make a solid product that won't break two months after warranty expires.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

What? They're probably the biggest 3rd party game controller vendor. They moved to hall effect before even the 1st party companies had those in their elite controllers.

Also, regular Xbox also work fine under Linux. The only thing that needs the reverse engineered community driver is that wireless dongle because it can pair multiple controllers. USB and Bluetooth are absolutely fine for pretty much every controller under Linux. The dongle 8bitdo uses is for a single controller, so it acts like a regular controller that was connected with a USB cable.

[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe they're known in US, but I never seen them in EU.

USB and Bluetooth are absolutely fine for pretty much every controller under Linux.

USB yes, Bluetooth no - BT has by design considerable input lag, and in case Xbox controller it was even worse.

Reverse engineered xone driver for dongle fails every few kernel updates. I know, I used it for like two years. After few months of not using the game pad you find that it doesn't work, you need to install new version of the driver IF it's available, if not you have to downgrade kernel. Fuck this experience. I want things to work out of the box.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Maybe they’re known in US, but I never seen them in EU.

Then you didn't look properly: https://geizhals.de/8bitdo-ultimate-2c-wireless-controller-pc-android-v177372.html Gulikit is another very famous 3rd party controller brand. I think both source their sensors from the same manufacturer. They often have quite similar controllers.

Reverse engineered xone driver for dongle fails every few kernel updates.

So the dongle is the problem, not the controller. Use a USB cable for best latency. Works fine. Literally every other controller doesn't have this problem, so specifically needing a Steam Controller because of Linux compatibility is nonsensical.

So if you want one with a dongle that works absolutely fine under Linux and costs only 29 Euro:

[–] FryHyde@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's a hyped-up piece of videogame hardware. I'm gonna guess half the sales were to scalpers planning to immediately resell at twice the price.

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's hyped because of the touchpads. And hall effect sticks

That's why I got it. Sold the dual shock, and Hoping to sell my Xbox controller too

[–] FryHyde@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah it does seem nice, and I didn't say it's OVERhyped. Just saying scalpers are always a big part of stuff like this.

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Yeah. They probably are a factor too

I'm lucky that my brother managed to get a steam controller, but realised he didn't really need it, so instead of waiting until 2027, I got one of the first batches

There's gonna be a lot of people selling their Xbox and other controllers though soon

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev -2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Almost every third party controller these days uses Hall effect or TMR.

It's hyped because it's sTeAm and scalpers.

I sweat they do this limited inventory on purpose for the news coverage

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

There's no other controllers with touchpad other than dualsense I could find. And dual sense didn't work for me very well on steam

That's why people want it. I looked extensibly.... I'm used to gaming on keyboard or mouse so I figured I'm better on touchpad than sticks

And why would they need the press coverage into 2027? Id expect they'd prefer sales, where the money could be used for marketing.They already have products like steam frame which will generate media attention later this year

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Welcome to my world, just substitute 99% of modern tech and that's me!