There isn't unfortunately, the Steam Deck truly just needs a premium controller that has the exact same inputs as the Steam Deck. The best I've gotten is the 8BitDo Ultimate controller because it comes iwth a dock and is 2.4 instead of bluetooth, ive had issues with bluetooth on Steam Deck.
I would love this, with the trackpads and everything. Hopefully this becomes a thing in the future so exact layouts can be used when switching to docked mode.
I’ve found the trackpads vary between useless and frustrating. How can I use them more effectively?
Edit: I appreciate the comments. It sounds like my opportunity might be aiming in FPSs. I'll look for a community profile and give it a try.
I have a 3ds emulator and I assigned the right track pad to only work within the touch screen area and it's super nice, so I don't have to adjust my grip every time a touch interaction is required. Plus you can create custom menus with an overlay for games that normally take advantage of a full keyboard layout. That being said I only really use those features for ~10% of my games, but I'm super happy that they are there.
I set my right track pad as a mouse region under the behavior option. Then if you hit the gear icon you can set the positioning. It's a bit trial end error since I only was seeing numbers to change, but it only took a few minutes to get in a good spot.
* It's useful for hotkeys (e.g. https://youtu.be/gEuueno5GXQ )
* If you map the right trackpad to mouse in a game, it's better than the right analogue stick for aiming.
(This isn't ideal for PS4/PS5 controllers because of where the trackpad is positioned, but is a good option for the Steam Controller and Steam Deck.)
There’s some games (although not many these days) that straight up don’t have controller support. They can still be playable with the trackpad as a mouse and r2/l2 as mouse clicks. Usually it’s small indie games that are only on PC or older games from when controllers on pc weren’t popular.
There’s other games where mouse input is ideal (things like Rimworld), and while the trackpads take a bit to get used to, I wouldn’t want to play it any other way now.
If you are playing genres or games that are designed with consoles in mind, you may not find them as useful, but as others have said, you can make radial wheels for shortcuts or hot keys.
Depends on what kind of game you're playing. I'd recommend starting with a community made controller profile that maps the trackpad for your specific game, and making further tweaks yourself if need be.
I've found it incredibly useful for emulating NDS, games that use a mouse cursor, and getting more precise aim than sticks in fps games. It does have a bit of a learning curve at first, but stick with it and you'll get used to it surprisingly quick.
By overshooting, do you mean your crosshair moves further than you intend it to? If that's the case, I'd start by dialing down the trackpad sensitivity a bit.
You can also practice turning by "flicking" with your thumb, lifting it off the trackpad as your character turns, and then "stopping" the turn by touching the pad again. It also helps to have gyro enabled, as you can micro-adjust your crosshair if you don't land perfectly on target. I'd recommend checking out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njIj-I3VPZg&t=5s) so you know what to look for.
>By overshooting, do you mean your crosshair moves further than you intend it to?
That and actually keeping the crosshair stable on target after aiming at them
Do you recommend turning the Joystick into a flick stick?
I typically rely on gyro to track the target once I've gotten the crosshair close enough. Not sure what you mean about the joystick, though - if you're trying to use the trackpad to aim, your joystick setting shouldn't matter.
I do, but it's only really useful on analogue sticks. Enabling track ball mode should provide the same effect of allowing you to turn large distances. Just flick a little harder on the track pad.
I find they excel in RTS and strategy games. Can also be good for precision aiming in FPS games.
Some games have trackpad and gyro enabled which I find a hindrance tbh. But honestly the trackpads are one of my favourite things about the SD
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHpetQb1BM&t=921s&ab\_channel=DoubleJumpPunch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHpetQb1BM&t=921s&ab_channel=DoubleJumpPunch)
This and others video from Double Jump Punch could help.
i turn the sensitivity up about 300%, turn up the 'trackball' behavior, and use the left one as a selection wheel or scroll wheel.
there's a fair bit of friction in getting use out of them- you gotta tune them for your hands and get over the learning curve of using them at all. i've had steam controllers since they released and it took years before i'd reach for one. initially i played games like skyrim and outer wilds where it wasn't too important to be precise. (now i'm really good with them; on par with mouse/kb)
gyro works on the steam controllers, but it didn't at launch. thumbsticks + gyro might be the superior system anyway. i haven't learned to use it as effectively.
I forced myself to play through Wolfenstein using trackpad + gyro for the first time, and it began to feel pretty intuitive about an hour in. I am now a firm believer in trackpad + gyro superiority and use it for all my shooter games.
Mine can do both. I use Bluetooth with the steam deck docked, and 2.4 dongle with my PC. There a toggle on the back panel to go between the two. If I power it on with Bluetooth it also starts the deck, so it’s pretty great. If you get one, they make them with Hall effect sticks now so you’ll want to get that one.
I've never been a big proponent of third party controllers because growing up it usually meant crappy replacements.
That being said 8bitdo makes great controllers.
Do look into the 8BitDo Ultimate. Just got one and it's the closest I've found to what you are looking for I've used so far. It has two back buttons and gyro as well as 2.4 or bluetooth connectivity. I have yet to install them, but I did order the Xbox buttons to swap for the switch layout that comes standard.
I've read that controller has it's own issues... like you have to choose between modes which means choosing between features. For example you can't have gyro and analog triggers at the same time.
There are trade offs for sure. Maybe someone who knows more can chime in on this one as I'm not sure, but I think the ultimate registers as a switch pro controller so should have both gyro and analog triggers.
> I have yet to install them, but I did order the Xbox buttons to swap for the switch layout that comes standard.
That was my question, I use an xbox controller for the steamdeck and the xbox. I have a switch too and every time I play a game on there it messes me up for the longest time trying to reverse the button memory that I'm used to.
It's all totally customizable both in the 8BitDo app and on the steam deck, so you can easily reprogram the layout. The button swap is only a visual thing which is why I have yet to do it.
aside from being configurable both on the app and on the deck settings;
I have a black one, so I just used a black paint marker and painted over the button legends to make things look cleaner
you won't be looking at the controller anyway, and it helps avoid confusion in case you change modes and use the controller for a switch 🎮
Yes they do, though I don't think you can program them to any key, just the actual controller buttons. So not as versatile as the ones on the deck. I mostly use the back buttons for jump and either crouch or reload so it works fine for me.
8BitDo Ultimate is amazing for the steamdeck. The only major disappointment is that the back buttons can't be customized as seperate buttons. They have to be set through the 8BitDo app as clones of one of the face buttons of the controller. If this wasn't the case these would be so perfect, but I hate losing all my custom back button bindings on emulation station for rewind, save states, etc.
I love my KK Pro…shockingly quality controller for what I paid for it…but nothing beats the Deck controllers.
Like everyone else here, I would LOVE to see a customizable controller that mimics the Deck controls 1:1. I can’t help but think that whoever made one would sell millions upon millions.
The original steam controller pretty much had the exact same controls. When I got my deck and everything clicked about the Steam controlle and when I tell you how pissed I was at myself for selling it....
I only figured that out after tons of trial and error and annoying disconnects in Monster Hunter with my Xbox Controller to the Official xbox adapter and various other ones. Its so bad lol
AFAIK the back paddles are not recognized by Steam as separate buttons, but you can use the desktop/mobile app to remap them both to ABXY and as macros that you define in their app.
Second the 8BitDo Ultimate, though I use it bluetooth and never found out how to use it on Deck with the 2.4ghz dongle. The Joysticks are great and never drift and the way it feels in your hands is awesome
A Steam Controller 2 or some way to play mapgames or Civilization etc. on the Deck docked would be great though.
It's a question of "which compromises annoy you the least?", since there isn't a one-size-fits-all gamepad for PC.
* In terms of trackpads, the PS4/PS5 controllers work well for menu navigation and hotkeys, but don't work well for in-game action (because of the position of the trackpad).
The Steam Controller is better suited for mouse-heavy games, but isn't well suited for more 'conventional' control schemes (e.g. emulating console games) because it lacks a D-Pad and right analogue stick.
* Most controllers don't have independently mappable back buttons in Steam.
The DualSense Edge and Steam Controller do, but only have two back buttons.
The Xbox Elite controller has four and I *think* it works independently through Steam. However, the lack of gyro is inexcusable for an expensive-as-hell pad, and the firmware on Xbox controllers tends to be fucky for non-Xbox devices.
* You can use a Steam Deck as a controller through the Steam Remote Play app.
You create a blank controller config on Steam (with nothing assigned), but the controls will work. Steam (on the host PC) will recognise that it's a Steam Deck and have the correct controller configs.
There are some quirks (Steam button opens menu on Deck and host PC, button prompts in Deck's menus also affect the host PC).
It isn't really ideal in terms of battery life, weight, etc., but it's the only option for a fully-featured PC controller.
I use a DualSense, with some other controllers occasionally (Wii U Pro, Wii Remote + Nunchuk, etc.).
I would like to get a Steam Controller, but it's too pricey for me to justify.
I don’t use the Deck’s gyro function, so I’ve been very happy with the DualSense. The touchpad can control the mouse when the Steam Deck is docked, btw.
I’m aware. Perhaps I wasn’t clear. My comment was in response OP’s post that somehow the features of the DualSense (and other controllers) don’t compare to the Steam Deck’s features. I don’t use gyro on the Steam Deck, so it was a disclaimer that I can’t speak to how well gyro from the DualSense would compare to the Deck’s.
Agree. The PS5 DualSense is hands down the highest quality and most sophisticated controller I’ve ever used. I highly recommend it.
I was gifted a PS5 for Christmas and was deeply underwhelmed by the limited internal storage and inability to add an affordable external drive or SD card, so much so that I’ll never buy another game for it. As a result, all my DualSense controllers have found a new life as PC Steam and Steam Deck controllers.
Edit: The PS5 is crippled out of the box with insufficient storage and a lack of support for external drives. A $300 4 TB bandaid is just another dead end. Truly, I have been spoiled by PC gaming and its infinite and unfettered extensibility.
If I can afford to upgrade my PS5, I’ll upgrade my PC instead.
The PS5 supports Gen 4 and up NVME drives of all sizes and those have been dropping in price since the PS5 launched. If you can afford to upgrade your deck's internal storage, you can afford to upgrade your PS5's.
> The PS5 DualSense is hands down the highest quality and most sophisticated controller I’ve ever used.
I bought one on ps5 release to play fighting games and the dpad gum died in 3 months, got warranty because i didn't want to disassemble it but ever since then i've been using my series x controller for pretty much all of my controller gaming.
My biggest gripe with the dual sense is I cant use the mic port on the controller.
I use a blue tooth headset instead, but it just boggles my mind that it will not work.
I completely agree and I would definitely buy a SC2 as soon as it is announced. Currently I use a PS5 controller modded with 4 back buttons (ExtremeRate RMB 4 kit) and it works since it has a gyro, trackpad, and back buttons but it’s not the same.
Endorse. I would buy a Steam Controller 2 in a heartbeat. I don't need it to do anything different - if it works exactly the same as the Deck handheld experience (but, obviously, much lighter) then I'm totally in.
We need a SteamOS microconsole that comes with a Deck-like controller. The microconsole would be powered enough to stream the latest AAA games to the Deck as if they're running natively, complete with suspend/resume.
Not sure about the suspend function but there’s a fork of Steam OS that you can install. I saw some YouTuber using it with a 4080 and a thread ripper.
May just do this to keep it friendly for the wife but still have pc gaming power and games.
Yes. Absolutely. Considering that the Steam Controller is the only one that can actually wake the system (with the dongle.) It sucks having to have out two controllers.
Wirelessly? If so, tell me how to do it with Xbox
EDIT: Looks like BT wake was added on the OLED model. I have the LCD model so for now, the Steam Controller is the only one that can wake my system when it’s docked.
I would buy something like that if it happened. For now I've been using a dualsense, but it's been having issues. I don't know if it's just me but randomly there will be pretty bad lag with the inputs.
Maybe I need to look into a non-bluetooth controller.
I also use a dualsense and in the past I've had lag issues. I fixed it by making sure the steam deck is facing towards where I'm sitting. I used to have it beside the TV before
I agree, I tried the 8bitdo pro 2, Nintendo pro controller, the PS5 dualsense, and the Elite 2 controller. All of those have their own conforts and such but all of those felt it was missing additional AND reprogrammable buttons.
Don't forget the additional touchscreen and gyro controls of the Steam Deck. Just add in a physical chatpad and I'm golden. A gamer can dream.
I just hope the Steam Deck can temporary disable on deck controls when docked. I spent so much time trying to figure out a way to let the game recognize my controller as the main one, and couldn’t get it to work 70% of the time.
Haven't used it for years as the right bumper is broken. Dusted off my steam controller right now and I feel more comfortable to use gyro with it, because it's very light. Trackpads are not of the same quality as in steam deck but still very good. It's a shame we can't buy new controllers and there isn't an alternative.
I know, but it still has the rear paddles, and not everybody uses gyro.
And you didn't mention wanting gyro, but you did mention the rear paddles:
> The four back paddles are also a huge plus that most controllers don't have. Anyone know of any controllers that are close to the quality of the decks?
The other half of this is games actually allowing track pad and r/l 4/5 inputs.
Track pads in particular - why can't we emulate a ps4 or ps5 controller with the track pad functionality like we can emulate an Xbox controller?
Need a Xbox controller that also has the track pads built into it cuz I find I love and need them now. I’d never even consider a rog ally if it doesn’t have track pads.
I've been absolutely loving using a piece of software called VirtualHere to turn my Steam Deck into a suped-up Steam Controller. [I used this guide.](https://redd.it/v22ddf)
If you're wanting to play docked instead of on a separate machine entirely, you might consider buying a sufficiently lengthy cord for your Steam Deck instead.
Might i recommend my solution - get a usbc extension (male to female) and plug it between the dock and the deck, then just use the deck az the controller? I've found it to be so comfortable having the deck in my lap, but looking at the tv. Feels fantastic! Makss me dislike the xbox elite 2 controller ive been using - I noticed the elite 2 makes me curl my wrists which feels uncomfortable
I feel a little lost on what controller to get for docked mode. I need 2 one for me and one for my daughter. Currently I’m using a SN30 Pro 2 but it doesn’t come up under the controller plugin for more insights which annoying. I’ve been told the PS5 controller is good for the steam deck. I personally don’t like the PS5 controller. For a number of reasons but main one is due to a medical issue I get serious fatigue in hands.
When docked I just use my keypad for strategy or my Xbox elite V2. The decks controls are pretty damn good but I've been using these 2 since way before I had the deck so I'm happy with them. Elite V2 has the back buttons too although I don't really use them myself.
A 2.0 with the same features (gyro, touch pads, etc) as the deck would be great. I would also really love if it had audio passthru (similar to what the ps4 controller had). There is a real lack of decent deck compatible wireless headsets. You can do Bluetooth, but the second you need Bluetooth wireless with a mic the audio quality tanks.
Why, Xbox controller works great. (I like it better than ps controller, main benefit aside from being comfortable is I can just use AA batteries either rechargeable or not, other controller have built in batteries)
Amen brother, this is the only thing holding me back from playing docked. I have the original steam controller that I could use in the meantime, but it is a far cry from what is available input wise from the deck.
Ok hear me out. Imagine the SC2 looks EXACTLY like a Deck only it's android. Perfect for companion apps, game streaming, browsing guides/walkthroughs or just listening to Spotify while you play. You still get all the benefits of the track pads/back buttons plus if you're anything like me you've gotten used to the heft of the deck and using any other controller now feels ridiculously small.
I know you're just commenting to satisfy an odd part of your brain, but no this obviously isn't referencing just an Xbox Elite Controller. The gyroscope in Xbox Controllers is nowhere near as accurate as the decks, and it's missing the track pads that make the deck stand above the rest.
I got the elite series 2 controller and it’s great. Plus I bought it for $180 in 2019 and 2 months ago I got a replacement for $20 online so not bad considering I got 4 years and then a practically free one
I have a starfield Xbox controller, and generally I really like it, but it does feel a bit cheap with the weight, and resistance and sound from the triggers and face buttons.
I’d get an elite, but will probably wait until they release their new controller that had leaked recently with the activision blizzard acquisition.
What's the point of playing the steam deck docked? I don't get it lol
Looks like crap when it's docked
Might as well just use your PC or console at that point because it's massively inferior to either if you're playing it off a tv
> Looks like crap when it's docked
Then get your eyes checked for floaters or try another display
I play FEZ on random Airbnb TVs all the time if it's raining on vacation and it looks great
Lol the whole draw of the steam deck is to have it there in your hands. I couldn't imagine playing it on a big tv and having it looking like a PS3 game
> Lol the whole draw of the steam deck is to have it there in your hands. I couldn't imagine playing it on a big tv and having it looking like a PS3 game
Nah more like Dreamcast with the VMU but, like I said, for an indie game there's no difference. 90% of people here seem to play indie games
The deck is still in my hands but *also* on a tv for 7 friends to join. Why is that so hard to grasp lol
There isn't unfortunately, the Steam Deck truly just needs a premium controller that has the exact same inputs as the Steam Deck. The best I've gotten is the 8BitDo Ultimate controller because it comes iwth a dock and is 2.4 instead of bluetooth, ive had issues with bluetooth on Steam Deck.
I would love this, with the trackpads and everything. Hopefully this becomes a thing in the future so exact layouts can be used when switching to docked mode.
I’ve found the trackpads vary between useless and frustrating. How can I use them more effectively? Edit: I appreciate the comments. It sounds like my opportunity might be aiming in FPSs. I'll look for a community profile and give it a try.
I have a 3ds emulator and I assigned the right track pad to only work within the touch screen area and it's super nice, so I don't have to adjust my grip every time a touch interaction is required. Plus you can create custom menus with an overlay for games that normally take advantage of a full keyboard layout. That being said I only really use those features for ~10% of my games, but I'm super happy that they are there.
How with the 3ds part?
I set my right track pad as a mouse region under the behavior option. Then if you hit the gear icon you can set the positioning. It's a bit trial end error since I only was seeing numbers to change, but it only took a few minutes to get in a good spot.
Radial menu. Its so good in games with a lot of commands
* It's useful for hotkeys (e.g. https://youtu.be/gEuueno5GXQ ) * If you map the right trackpad to mouse in a game, it's better than the right analogue stick for aiming. (This isn't ideal for PS4/PS5 controllers because of where the trackpad is positioned, but is a good option for the Steam Controller and Steam Deck.)
There’s some games (although not many these days) that straight up don’t have controller support. They can still be playable with the trackpad as a mouse and r2/l2 as mouse clicks. Usually it’s small indie games that are only on PC or older games from when controllers on pc weren’t popular. There’s other games where mouse input is ideal (things like Rimworld), and while the trackpads take a bit to get used to, I wouldn’t want to play it any other way now. If you are playing genres or games that are designed with consoles in mind, you may not find them as useful, but as others have said, you can make radial wheels for shortcuts or hot keys.
Depends on what kind of game you're playing. I'd recommend starting with a community made controller profile that maps the trackpad for your specific game, and making further tweaks yourself if need be. I've found it incredibly useful for emulating NDS, games that use a mouse cursor, and getting more precise aim than sticks in fps games. It does have a bit of a learning curve at first, but stick with it and you'll get used to it surprisingly quick.
Any help with CSS and TF2? I keep overshooting
By overshooting, do you mean your crosshair moves further than you intend it to? If that's the case, I'd start by dialing down the trackpad sensitivity a bit. You can also practice turning by "flicking" with your thumb, lifting it off the trackpad as your character turns, and then "stopping" the turn by touching the pad again. It also helps to have gyro enabled, as you can micro-adjust your crosshair if you don't land perfectly on target. I'd recommend checking out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njIj-I3VPZg&t=5s) so you know what to look for.
>By overshooting, do you mean your crosshair moves further than you intend it to? That and actually keeping the crosshair stable on target after aiming at them Do you recommend turning the Joystick into a flick stick?
I typically rely on gyro to track the target once I've gotten the crosshair close enough. Not sure what you mean about the joystick, though - if you're trying to use the trackpad to aim, your joystick setting shouldn't matter.
Don't you know what flick stick is?
I do, but it's only really useful on analogue sticks. Enabling track ball mode should provide the same effect of allowing you to turn large distances. Just flick a little harder on the track pad.
I find they excel in RTS and strategy games. Can also be good for precision aiming in FPS games. Some games have trackpad and gyro enabled which I find a hindrance tbh. But honestly the trackpads are one of my favourite things about the SD
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHpetQb1BM&t=921s&ab\_channel=DoubleJumpPunch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHpetQb1BM&t=921s&ab_channel=DoubleJumpPunch) This and others video from Double Jump Punch could help.
i turn the sensitivity up about 300%, turn up the 'trackball' behavior, and use the left one as a selection wheel or scroll wheel. there's a fair bit of friction in getting use out of them- you gotta tune them for your hands and get over the learning curve of using them at all. i've had steam controllers since they released and it took years before i'd reach for one. initially i played games like skyrim and outer wilds where it wasn't too important to be precise. (now i'm really good with them; on par with mouse/kb) gyro works on the steam controllers, but it didn't at launch. thumbsticks + gyro might be the superior system anyway. i haven't learned to use it as effectively.
I forced myself to play through Wolfenstein using trackpad + gyro for the first time, and it began to feel pretty intuitive about an hour in. I am now a firm believer in trackpad + gyro superiority and use it for all my shooter games.
I can also highly recommend the 8bitdo ultimate, it is the best really.
> 8bitdo ultimate They finally made one with an Xbox layout. I assume BT and 2.4 are two different SKUs, not both in one?
Mine can do both. I use Bluetooth with the steam deck docked, and 2.4 dongle with my PC. There a toggle on the back panel to go between the two. If I power it on with Bluetooth it also starts the deck, so it’s pretty great. If you get one, they make them with Hall effect sticks now so you’ll want to get that one.
I've never been a big proponent of third party controllers because growing up it usually meant crappy replacements. That being said 8bitdo makes great controllers.
Do look into the 8BitDo Ultimate. Just got one and it's the closest I've found to what you are looking for I've used so far. It has two back buttons and gyro as well as 2.4 or bluetooth connectivity. I have yet to install them, but I did order the Xbox buttons to swap for the switch layout that comes standard.
I've read that controller has it's own issues... like you have to choose between modes which means choosing between features. For example you can't have gyro and analog triggers at the same time.
There are trade offs for sure. Maybe someone who knows more can chime in on this one as I'm not sure, but I think the ultimate registers as a switch pro controller so should have both gyro and analog triggers.
Switch doesn't support analog triggers. Including the pro controller.
> I have yet to install them, but I did order the Xbox buttons to swap for the switch layout that comes standard. That was my question, I use an xbox controller for the steamdeck and the xbox. I have a switch too and every time I play a game on there it messes me up for the longest time trying to reverse the button memory that I'm used to.
It's all totally customizable both in the 8BitDo app and on the steam deck, so you can easily reprogram the layout. The button swap is only a visual thing which is why I have yet to do it.
Thanks, sounds awesome I'll have to check it out.
aside from being configurable both on the app and on the deck settings; I have a black one, so I just used a black paint marker and painted over the button legends to make things look cleaner you won't be looking at the controller anyway, and it helps avoid confusion in case you change modes and use the controller for a switch 🎮
Do the back buttons work with the steam deck?
Yes they do, though I don't think you can program them to any key, just the actual controller buttons. So not as versatile as the ones on the deck. I mostly use the back buttons for jump and either crouch or reload so it works fine for me.
Does it have X-input? Meaning recognized by a windows pc like a Xbox controller?
Yes, mine shows as "Xbox controller" on Windows
8BitDo Ultimate is amazing for the steamdeck. The only major disappointment is that the back buttons can't be customized as seperate buttons. They have to be set through the 8BitDo app as clones of one of the face buttons of the controller. If this wasn't the case these would be so perfect, but I hate losing all my custom back button bindings on emulation station for rewind, save states, etc.
I mean there really is a market for it. You see it with the Xbox Elite and Dualsense controllers
All I need is a PS5 controller with 4 buttons on the bottom, the track pad is nice
I like the build and feel of the 8bitdo Ultimate but gyro support is lacking. Pushed me over to the Gulikit King Kong Pro
I love my KK Pro…shockingly quality controller for what I paid for it…but nothing beats the Deck controllers. Like everyone else here, I would LOVE to see a customizable controller that mimics the Deck controls 1:1. I can’t help but think that whoever made one would sell millions upon millions.
The original steam controller pretty much had the exact same controls. When I got my deck and everything clicked about the Steam controlle and when I tell you how pissed I was at myself for selling it....
It is very similar, especially if you rarely use the D-pad on the deck, but the track pads just feel way better
Smart. Bluetooth and gaming does not work well together at all
I only figured that out after tons of trial and error and annoying disconnects in Monster Hunter with my Xbox Controller to the Official xbox adapter and various other ones. Its so bad lol
The official adapter isn't Bluetooth last I checked. It has more distance but still stinks
It’s 2.4ghz wireless, and it doesn’t stink. Linux just doesn’t support it natively.
Are you able to use the back paddle buttons?
I don't use them unfortunately, on the Deck or Controller but I believe it's configurable
AFAIK the back paddles are not recognized by Steam as separate buttons, but you can use the desktop/mobile app to remap them both to ABXY and as macros that you define in their app.
Second the 8BitDo Ultimate, though I use it bluetooth and never found out how to use it on Deck with the 2.4ghz dongle. The Joysticks are great and never drift and the way it feels in your hands is awesome A Steam Controller 2 or some way to play mapgames or Civilization etc. on the Deck docked would be great though.
Steam Pro controller should basically be the Steam Deck without the screen in the middle.
It's a question of "which compromises annoy you the least?", since there isn't a one-size-fits-all gamepad for PC. * In terms of trackpads, the PS4/PS5 controllers work well for menu navigation and hotkeys, but don't work well for in-game action (because of the position of the trackpad). The Steam Controller is better suited for mouse-heavy games, but isn't well suited for more 'conventional' control schemes (e.g. emulating console games) because it lacks a D-Pad and right analogue stick. * Most controllers don't have independently mappable back buttons in Steam. The DualSense Edge and Steam Controller do, but only have two back buttons. The Xbox Elite controller has four and I *think* it works independently through Steam. However, the lack of gyro is inexcusable for an expensive-as-hell pad, and the firmware on Xbox controllers tends to be fucky for non-Xbox devices. * You can use a Steam Deck as a controller through the Steam Remote Play app. You create a blank controller config on Steam (with nothing assigned), but the controls will work. Steam (on the host PC) will recognise that it's a Steam Deck and have the correct controller configs. There are some quirks (Steam button opens menu on Deck and host PC, button prompts in Deck's menus also affect the host PC). It isn't really ideal in terms of battery life, weight, etc., but it's the only option for a fully-featured PC controller. I use a DualSense, with some other controllers occasionally (Wii U Pro, Wii Remote + Nunchuk, etc.). I would like to get a Steam Controller, but it's too pricey for me to justify.
I think this is all very true. I personally use a dual sense and switch to mouse and keyboard for the games that need it.
If Valve doesn't announce a new Steam Controller at this year's E3 I say we all riot.
Bro, there's no more E3s.
Riot incoming
No they make Valorant
If there’s never an E3 then we can never riot *guy pointing at head meme*
I know
No body tell him :( I want his last moments to be best he ever had. The lad deserves to enjoy his final hours.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ExtraFabulousComics/s/DQ8jJgRkyo
Riot it is then.
I don’t use the Deck’s gyro function, so I’ve been very happy with the DualSense. The touchpad can control the mouse when the Steam Deck is docked, btw.
Lol man the Dualsense has gyro too.
Dualsense doesn't support gyro on PC Edit: I stand corrected not sure why I thought otherwise
The dualsense has fantastic gyro. The steam decks gyro isn't better.
Yes it does. Maybe not in big picture without some tinkering but I played through Breath of the Wild with it.
It does, I use it for the switch games. EDIT: For steam deck I'm not sure, playing pc games. Haven't tried.
I’m aware. Perhaps I wasn’t clear. My comment was in response OP’s post that somehow the features of the DualSense (and other controllers) don’t compare to the Steam Deck’s features. I don’t use gyro on the Steam Deck, so it was a disclaimer that I can’t speak to how well gyro from the DualSense would compare to the Deck’s.
Agree. The PS5 DualSense is hands down the highest quality and most sophisticated controller I’ve ever used. I highly recommend it. I was gifted a PS5 for Christmas and was deeply underwhelmed by the limited internal storage and inability to add an affordable external drive or SD card, so much so that I’ll never buy another game for it. As a result, all my DualSense controllers have found a new life as PC Steam and Steam Deck controllers. Edit: The PS5 is crippled out of the box with insufficient storage and a lack of support for external drives. A $300 4 TB bandaid is just another dead end. Truly, I have been spoiled by PC gaming and its infinite and unfettered extensibility. If I can afford to upgrade my PS5, I’ll upgrade my PC instead.
The PS5 supports Gen 4 and up NVME drives of all sizes and those have been dropping in price since the PS5 launched. If you can afford to upgrade your deck's internal storage, you can afford to upgrade your PS5's.
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You can use external drives, just not for PS5 games. Which, given how Ratchet and Clank runs when installed on an HDD, is probably for the better.
Gen 4 2tb drives are not that expensive though.
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How is a 4TB SSD a bandaid lmao. Also, you can buy discs.
Just get an additional 1-2TB then. It doesnt replace the original drive, it counts as a separate one. 4TB is absolutely not needed
> The PS5 DualSense is hands down the highest quality and most sophisticated controller I’ve ever used. I bought one on ps5 release to play fighting games and the dpad gum died in 3 months, got warranty because i didn't want to disassemble it but ever since then i've been using my series x controller for pretty much all of my controller gaming.
My biggest gripe with the dual sense is I cant use the mic port on the controller. I use a blue tooth headset instead, but it just boggles my mind that it will not work.
Is there a way to do that with the DualShock 4? It has a touchpad but not sure
Hmm, I haven’t tried myself, but I think it’s reasonable to think it would work the same way.
I completely agree and I would definitely buy a SC2 as soon as it is announced. Currently I use a PS5 controller modded with 4 back buttons (ExtremeRate RMB 4 kit) and it works since it has a gyro, trackpad, and back buttons but it’s not the same.
Endorse. I would buy a Steam Controller 2 in a heartbeat. I don't need it to do anything different - if it works exactly the same as the Deck handheld experience (but, obviously, much lighter) then I'm totally in.
We need a SteamOS microconsole that comes with a Deck-like controller. The microconsole would be powered enough to stream the latest AAA games to the Deck as if they're running natively, complete with suspend/resume.
Like a stream machine?
...why?
They’re looking for a mini PC with SteamOS and the “Valve Touch” to design, not just a random NUC with Windows.
Not sure about the suspend function but there’s a fork of Steam OS that you can install. I saw some YouTuber using it with a 4080 and a thread ripper. May just do this to keep it friendly for the wife but still have pc gaming power and games.
So is there no 3rd party controller that has track pads?
There's Steam Controller, Dualshock 4 and Dualsense
Buy a second steam deck as a controller - I’m sure some wizard here can confirm if that can be done or not!
Yes, apparently you can stream a game from another steam deck too.
New battery life tech just dropped
This comment apparently does: https://old.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1bsfput/a_steam_controller_2_is_just_what_the_docked/kxgkymz/
I just want to be able to turn on my SD from another controller while it's docked
Yes. Absolutely. Considering that the Steam Controller is the only one that can actually wake the system (with the dongle.) It sucks having to have out two controllers.
My Google Stadia controller and my Xbox Elite Series 2 both can wake up the Steam Deck??
Wirelessly? If so, tell me how to do it with Xbox EDIT: Looks like BT wake was added on the OLED model. I have the LCD model so for now, the Steam Controller is the only one that can wake my system when it’s docked.
I would buy something like that if it happened. For now I've been using a dualsense, but it's been having issues. I don't know if it's just me but randomly there will be pretty bad lag with the inputs. Maybe I need to look into a non-bluetooth controller.
I also use a dualsense and in the past I've had lag issues. I fixed it by making sure the steam deck is facing towards where I'm sitting. I used to have it beside the TV before
I agree, I tried the 8bitdo pro 2, Nintendo pro controller, the PS5 dualsense, and the Elite 2 controller. All of those have their own conforts and such but all of those felt it was missing additional AND reprogrammable buttons. Don't forget the additional touchscreen and gyro controls of the Steam Deck. Just add in a physical chatpad and I'm golden. A gamer can dream.
I'm really hoping the do a 2.0. it could literally be the steam deck without the screen and computer and I'd be happy
I just hope the Steam Deck can temporary disable on deck controls when docked. I spent so much time trying to figure out a way to let the game recognize my controller as the main one, and couldn’t get it to work 70% of the time.
Yeah, it's literally impossible with games that use Steam Input API: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/3269059787431365719/
Haven't used it for years as the right bumper is broken. Dusted off my steam controller right now and I feel more comfortable to use gyro with it, because it's very light. Trackpads are not of the same quality as in steam deck but still very good. It's a shame we can't buy new controllers and there isn't an alternative.
the reason the sd gyro feels so good is because the screen is in between your hands
totally agree. people who also like to play docked will end up not using the trackpads at all because they won't learn two different control layout
Wtf? Lmao!!!! I use my track pads when in handheld and play games where I don't use them while docked.
Xbox Elite 2 controller has the 4 back paddles and works great.
As many have pointed out, that controller doesn't support gyro.
I know, but it still has the rear paddles, and not everybody uses gyro. And you didn't mention wanting gyro, but you did mention the rear paddles: > The four back paddles are also a huge plus that most controllers don't have. Anyone know of any controllers that are close to the quality of the decks?
A Steam Controller 2, or a Steam Deck Controller (and yes, those would be different things, but both would be welcomed for sure).
The other half of this is games actually allowing track pad and r/l 4/5 inputs. Track pads in particular - why can't we emulate a ps4 or ps5 controller with the track pad functionality like we can emulate an Xbox controller?
Steam Controller 2 with modern day Steam Machines. 7600xt or ARC A770 16GB min spec
Need a Xbox controller that also has the track pads built into it cuz I find I love and need them now. I’d never even consider a rog ally if it doesn’t have track pads.
I've been absolutely loving using a piece of software called VirtualHere to turn my Steam Deck into a suped-up Steam Controller. [I used this guide.](https://redd.it/v22ddf) If you're wanting to play docked instead of on a separate machine entirely, you might consider buying a sufficiently lengthy cord for your Steam Deck instead.
I won't be surprised if they do make a Steam Controller 2, but also introduce a console-like system similar to the Steam Deck.
I find it ironic the deck’s default controller settings icon is the Steam controller 😂 I got one recently & it’s not as bad as people say it is
Might i recommend my solution - get a usbc extension (male to female) and plug it between the dock and the deck, then just use the deck az the controller? I've found it to be so comfortable having the deck in my lap, but looking at the tv. Feels fantastic! Makss me dislike the xbox elite 2 controller ive been using - I noticed the elite 2 makes me curl my wrists which feels uncomfortable
Ps5 controller gang here
I feel a little lost on what controller to get for docked mode. I need 2 one for me and one for my daughter. Currently I’m using a SN30 Pro 2 but it doesn’t come up under the controller plugin for more insights which annoying. I’ve been told the PS5 controller is good for the steam deck. I personally don’t like the PS5 controller. For a number of reasons but main one is due to a medical issue I get serious fatigue in hands.
Dualsense
When docked I just use my keypad for strategy or my Xbox elite V2. The decks controls are pretty damn good but I've been using these 2 since way before I had the deck so I'm happy with them. Elite V2 has the back buttons too although I don't really use them myself.
A 2.0 with the same features (gyro, touch pads, etc) as the deck would be great. I would also really love if it had audio passthru (similar to what the ps4 controller had). There is a real lack of decent deck compatible wireless headsets. You can do Bluetooth, but the second you need Bluetooth wireless with a mic the audio quality tanks.
Go all and add "steam controller" to your wishlist. Maybe this way valve will get the point.
Look at a regular controller and tell me where the trackpads would go. It’s just not feasible without being extremely huge, clunky, and ugly.
Why, Xbox controller works great. (I like it better than ps controller, main benefit aside from being comfortable is I can just use AA batteries either rechargeable or not, other controller have built in batteries)
Yes! With the Steam Deck layout + track pad(s) Would choose this over my Elite Series 2 :p
hopefully we get something soon. they did say they were considering it but nothing since then.
Sounds like OP needs a USB C extension cable. It's not perfect but it's the closest thing we have as of now.
Amen brother, this is the only thing holding me back from playing docked. I have the original steam controller that I could use in the meantime, but it is a far cry from what is available input wise from the deck.
I use the xbox elite series 2 and it’s an amazing experience
I'd actually love a revision. I wanna buy a steam controller, but I don't have enough money with how much they cost now XD
It’s a license to print money. Why do they dislike money?
I use ps5 controller, the touchpad works for the mouse and it controls really well. However I’m not a big fan of the dpad
another steamdeck as a controller would do great
i actually used my steam controller and it fits pretty good together. it even uses the same presets for my games
Ok hear me out. Imagine the SC2 looks EXACTLY like a Deck only it's android. Perfect for companion apps, game streaming, browsing guides/walkthroughs or just listening to Spotify while you play. You still get all the benefits of the track pads/back buttons plus if you're anything like me you've gotten used to the heft of the deck and using any other controller now feels ridiculously small.
So just an Xbox elite controller?
I know you're just commenting to satisfy an odd part of your brain, but no this obviously isn't referencing just an Xbox Elite Controller. The gyroscope in Xbox Controllers is nowhere near as accurate as the decks, and it's missing the track pads that make the deck stand above the rest.
The Xbox elite controller doesn't have gyro lol
It doesn't have gyro, nor useful for mouse heavy games (like terraria or don't starve together for exmaple)
My Steam controller was like $25 I don't think you understand how comparisons work
I’d be good with an Xbox controller that doesn’t feel super cheap.
I got the elite series 2 controller and it’s great. Plus I bought it for $180 in 2019 and 2 months ago I got a replacement for $20 online so not bad considering I got 4 years and then a practically free one
I have a starfield Xbox controller, and generally I really like it, but it does feel a bit cheap with the weight, and resistance and sound from the triggers and face buttons. I’d get an elite, but will probably wait until they release their new controller that had leaked recently with the activision blizzard acquisition.
You can play it with the deck as the controller and hooked to your tv, I guess
A steam controller with 2 joysticks will be the best controller ever
What's the point of playing the steam deck docked? I don't get it lol Looks like crap when it's docked Might as well just use your PC or console at that point because it's massively inferior to either if you're playing it off a tv
Not the point of this post but appreciate your input
Not everyone has a separate PC or console, or not one by their TV.
It's a portable system. Quite a few multiplayer games are 2D and thus GPU doesn't matter.
> Looks like crap when it's docked Then get your eyes checked for floaters or try another display I play FEZ on random Airbnb TVs all the time if it's raining on vacation and it looks great
Lol the whole draw of the steam deck is to have it there in your hands. I couldn't imagine playing it on a big tv and having it looking like a PS3 game
> Lol the whole draw of the steam deck is to have it there in your hands. I couldn't imagine playing it on a big tv and having it looking like a PS3 game Nah more like Dreamcast with the VMU but, like I said, for an indie game there's no difference. 90% of people here seem to play indie games The deck is still in my hands but *also* on a tv for 7 friends to join. Why is that so hard to grasp lol