Valve’s new Steam Controller has a major problem for PC games not on Steam
tech.sportskeeda.com
If you have been eagerly waiting to get your hands on the new Steam Controller, you might want to pause and check your game library first.

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

  • Björn@swg-empire.de
    68·
    13 hours ago

    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.

    • kopasz7@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      7 hours ago

      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.