A place to discuss and support all things Steam Deck.
Replacement for r/steamdeck_linux.
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These controllers were all working on SteamOS before as far as I know, so I'm interested to see what this changes. My understanding is that previously their controllers just show up as generic xbox controllers, and now they will be properly recognized. We'll see if this has any other benefits like custom bindings for back buttons and things like that.
Ive been waiting for this. Which one is the best one to get for both my Steam Deck and desktop?
Ultimate 2. It’s got a gyroscope and back paddles.
I love the trigger locks for Switch 2 use as well. It’s nice to have a controller I can go between both systems with.
Is there a symmetrical version, like a PS controller, or just the Xbox-like layout?
Do y'all use a controller in heldheld mode or only docked? I'm curious what the use case is here.
I only use controllers when docked personally
Nice, thanks. How has your docked experience been? I've only been able to get it working well with low-power games like Monster Train. Any 3d game seems to run horribly, even older titles.
Recent updates have caused some crashes actually when docking to my TV, but I'm on beta OS updates and have a lot of deck plugins, so it might not be affecting other people.
Other than that docked play is pretty good in my experience. There's a major performance hit if you have upscaling set to use fsr though, especially on 4k monitors.
Interesting, I'll have to play around with it. I've been docking it to my 4k TV so maybe I need to force a lower res.
No wonder performance has been bad! The Deck is not meant to be a 4k system.
Ultimate 2 wireless I use with 2.4Ghz through the docking station. It works well but it was annoying that the back paddles and L4/R4 buttons (secondary bumpers) could only be mapped as another button, instead of being their own function. It will be nice to have the extra buttons if that is what’s working now. I had the beta firmware on them but steam still did not recognize them yet (but the beta firmware did allow Switch 2 to recognize them!)
I'm still holding out on the next generation of steam controller for playing games on my deck while docked. Until then, my 8bitdo pro 1 has been wonderful.
I've been using DS3 controllers for over a decade, but they are starting to wear. The drift isn't bad at all, but it's there, although I suspect it's mostly a few rubbers that'd need replacing, I have heard great things about 8BitDo, especially their Hall Effect controllers. Very reasonably priced as well.
So this announcement is just the kick in the butt I needed to get a Pro 2 Hall Effect one.
Anybody else find a use for the back buttons? I like the idea of them but I haven't really found a great use yet.
On the deck I use them all the time. For FPS games I frequently bind them to be ABXY, lets you jump/reload/etc without having to take your thumb off of the joystick. Absolutely mandatory for games like Doom Eternal and Deep Rock in my opinion.
In games with heavy dpad use for cycling abilities/items (like Elden Ring) I usually use them for that. Being able to cycle spells or potions while running is very necessary sometimes. You can also use them in combination with mode shift settings, things like while I hold R4 down it will temporarily turn my ABXY into a second DPAD.
You can use them for steamOS features, stuff like opening keyboard or toggling zoom for games with small text.
A lot of people dislike clicking thumbsticks, so it's common for people to use them for that. L4 to toggle sprint instead of L3 is very popular for example. Also nice for when L3/R3 do something you don't want to trigger accidentally during combat (Ys 8 and 9 toggle a minimap overlay with L3, which is very distracting during combat. So I've disabled L3 on the thumbstick and instead have L4 open the minimap overlay).
In any PC game with more inputs it can be great for common button presses that didn't make the cut onto the standard controller. Things like map/journal shortcuts, quick save, etc. Setting left trackpad to a touch menu is also great for this.
Overall they're pretty great, I don't use them in every game, but there are a lot of games I refuse to play on a standard controller without them.
I just map it to the abxy that steam suggests. Works great when I wanna keep using the trackpad or joystick at all times.
I play a lot of beamng drive an having them for extra binds is nice, like the horn and changing gears
I mostly use them for mode shifts. For instance, shifting to emulated mouse when holding R4, so I can use desktop stuff easier.
On my steam controller when the shoulders crapped out, I bound the back paddles as shoulder buttons.
I immediately changed them to L3 and R3, and never looked back.
If you don't use them to relax your grip in specific types of games (delegating common functions to them and away from thumbs) you might like to use them for DVR capability like instant replay?
If your controller has a gyroscope, you may use them to toggle engagement? Gyro aim can be surprisingly effective once you're accustomed to it.
I like that idea about gyro aim engagement. I think the only place I'd use that is BotW, but I'd like to go back to that game someday.
Ah, I'm not sure how well that'd work via yuzu and ryujinx forks. Perhaps if the executable is added through the steam client so you could delegate the functionality via steam input? Sounds messy as heck though.
Life finds a way. Believe I played botw just this way on Linux, even launching another app to enable gyro controls to translate into the steam inputs. Different controller, think with yuzu launched through steam.
Back buttons are essential in any competitive action game.
I don't do competitive stuff other than couch multi, but it sounds intense.
I don't know of any that controller would be better than keyboard and mouse though, so if you're that engaged with comp, shouldn't you just sit at your computer?
Than you are like most mouse and keyboard players where you confidently assume mouse and keyboard is the best control method end of story. You don't know what you are talking about and neither do any reply guys who will try to obliterate this point with a salvo of "um actually" killer rhetorical points.
https://steamdeckhq.com/news/steam-deck-shown-being-used-in-ukraines-war/
That is a Ukrainian soldier using a steam deck to control actual weapon systems real humans (likely mouse and keyboard players who have no ability to use a gamepad) are counting on to survive an actual war.
Honestly if I sound snarky it is because I have grown to love how unshakably mouse and keyboard players believe they are using the only method to play competitively. Especially in a battlefield type FPS game with aircraft, mouse and keyboard players will hilariously refuse to fly with anything other than mouse and keyboard or a crazy complex flight simulator setup with a flight joystick they talk about but will never get.
Meanwhile there is an xbox one controller sitting in the other room that in 5 minutes they could learn to pull off flight maneuvers smoothly and confidently with that are next to impossible to do with mouse and keyboard...
I point this out to mouse and keyboard players directly and they don't listen even why I fly literal circles around them. They respond with some form of "mouse and keyboard works badly enough for me". Computer people are truly so much smarter than the rest of us!
me flying circles around people
https://lostpod.space/w/id9wMqsEmHSD9xQCTchQ9r
https://lostpod.space/w/fYo9DBAxwWSace7X7X486t
https://lostpod.space/w/qUyc9YLX69RK4xokm98qCW
Recording of me playing the best arena shooter, Xonotic, with joysticks and gyro. Sure there are plenty of quake players that could annihilate me, such is life, but I am able to play fluidly and competitively enough that the issue is my skill at the game and to a lesser extent the limited framerate and field of view of the Steam Deck screen not a fundamental limitation of joysticks and gyro. Note that Xonotic is one of the fastest competitive games period, which means slower competitive games are comparatively in terms of dynamic aim and movement skill FAR easier to master the mechanics of than Xonotic, so Xonotic is the perfect proving ground to prove this.
Than you are like most mouse and keyboard players where you confidently assume mouse and keyboard is the best control method end of story.
No, it's great for driving and flying. It's also the best option for most souls-likes and third person melee games.
That is a Ukrainian soldier using a steam deck to control actual weapon systems real humans...
OK, this is a stupid point. This is a much different scenario than someone sitting at home. The Deck is portable, light, and has control and display built in. It's perfect for this, where a desktop wouldn't really work. Even if the control scheme isn't ideal (which it's great for controlling a drone, but that's beside the point), setting up a keyboard and mouse with a monitor and power would be horrible for them.
Honestly if I sound snarky it is because I have grown to love how unshakably mouse and keyboard players believe they are using the only method to play competitively.
For aiming, it's almost always better. Controller is better for movement usually. Controller inputs are between 0 and 1. Mouse is unrestrained, so it's more precise and faster at the same time.
Especially in a battlefield type FPS game with aircraft, mouse and keyboard players will hilariously refuse to fly with anything other than mouse and keyboard...
Again, controller is great for driving and flying. You can swap inputs freely though. Use both if you want. Driving and flying on KB&M is not that bad though, and aiming with a controller is significantly worse, so if you're choosing one KB&M is the right choice.
me flying circles around people
*Recording of me playing the best arena shooter, Xonotic, with joysticks and gyro. Sure there are plenty of quake players that could annihilate me...
I like that these follow each other. Of course you can get clips that look good, and also you know there are clips where you look bad. What does that prove?
Note that Xonotic is one of the fastest competitive games period, which means slower competitive games are comparatively in terms of dynamic aim and movement skill FAR easier to master the mechanics of than Xonotic, so Xonotic is the perfect proving ground to prove this.*
This is irrelevant to the conversation, but there are different types of mechanical skill. The skill you use in Quake is not the same as the skill you use in Counter Strike, for example. Both of them require incredible skill at high level play. Largely it's down to accuracy VS precision. Quake style you need to be more accurate (shoot in the right area) but less precise. CS you'll be aiming in the right spot already, so you need less precision and more accuracy. You've got a fraction of a second to get a headshot, and you have to hit it. Gyro aim is likely only going to make that harder.
There's a reason top level players of all competitive shooters (and gaming in general usually) on PC use KB&M even though controllers are usable on PC. If there was an argument here you'd see at least a few using controllers.
Has anyone gotten this to work? I have both the SN30 Pro and the Pro 2, both display the latest firmware update as 2.06 which just lists Switch 2 compatibility. Steam doesnt seem to recognize the back buttons on the Pro 2 either.
Instead of pressing the L+R buttons press the button with the 8bitdo logo while in the change grip/order menu.
That's cool to see but I've gone through about 3 8bitdo controllers (gave the last one to my partner). I like them but I wish there triggers were not the rubber magnetic pads. I'm a bit heavy handed when using the triggers and it eventually crushes the pads to not work. Other than that great controller.