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
Ok, I didn’t downvote you, but…
Its a Steam Controller.
For Steam.
… If you just made up some expectation, contrary to everything that Valve has said about this thing, and marketed it as…
To a certain extent, that is magical thinking, that is abandoning any concept of checking your hopes or expectations against… reality.
If you… want to run… a game… with this controller…
You install Steam, and the game.
Steam is the drivers, for the controller.
If you own the game in a way that you can’t add it to Steam… sorry about your DRM, I guess?
The Steam Controller has always been described by Valve as an evolution of the Steam Deck tech, both hardwsre and software… it pretty much literally is a Steam Deck, without the screen and PC, in a different shape.
EDIT:
IRT to your edit:
Point 1: Correct. The Steam Controller… works through Steam.
Point 2: … I don’t think the first half of this is correct. I’m not 100% sure, but I think you can do this via Moonlight/Sunshine. I mean… I know you can in general stream Steam games from a PC using Moonlight/Sunshine, I’m not 100% sure this will work with a Steam Controller… but it works on a Steam Deck, so… probably will work.
As to the second half of this… yeah, the Steam Controller probably won’t generally work as a controller for a game on a phone. Though FeX may actually somewhat/eventually aid with getting that to being possible.
Any projects? Make your project support Steam Input. I can’t speak for other engines too well, but Godot has GodotSteam, supports Steam Controllers, the SteamInput system.
As to your internet related concerns: Steam has an offline mode. Unless you are running a game via Steam that has its own/extra DRM that requires a constant internet connection, you’ll be fine.
SteamInput works without internet. If it didnt’t, a SteamDeck’s controls would not work at all without internet access. … It does.
EDIT 2:
Just for super duper clarity here:
Making a Steam account costs nothing.
Maintaining a Steam account costs nothing.
Any … .exe or .sh or whatever… can be added to Steam, to be launched and played via Steam.
The… only kind of situation where this wouldn’t work is essentially via a game that is installed/managed by some other platform that basically encrypts the exe in a way that only that platform can decrypt.
A GOG game, or something from Itch.io, with no DRM?
Plop it in Steam, it’ll work.
Really well written out response, thank you! I havent streamed games from my PC in awhile but IIRC you connect the controller to your phone and it passes the inputs through to your PC as if the phone in the controller. I could be completely wrong on that but if true then Id think it would be quite problematic to get it to work if it required something proprietary, no?
Also for the project thing I was meaning less software and more electronics/robotics. Vavle didnt intend for the steamdeck to be used as a robotics controller but because of the nature/spirit of the Steamdeck people often use them as controllers. I think even Disney uses them to control some of the robots that move around their parks.
The full point is a peripheral you own shouldnt be tied to an account to work and a peripheral that does not provide the same functionality as other peripherals at or below its level should be criticized. Theres no reason for the drivers to not be a standalone download or at least for the basic functionality to work like any other xinput controller. I really like Valve but I think this move is still pretty stupid and ultimately harmful to the consumer. It steps away from the sorta open, not-supported-but-will-not-hinder-creativity theme theyve been doing with their recent hardware.
Remember the Spotify car thing?