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Sometimes good concepts aren’t totally fashioned after they’re put into apply the primary time round. The unique Steam Controller that got here out again in 2015 was a uniquely designed gamepad for PC gaming, nevertheless it was too awkward to be a mainstay. Still, it had options – particularly its haptic touchpads that permit for mouse-like management – that paved the way in which for a way the Steam Deck handles. In flip, the Steam Deck has now knowledgeable this new iteration of the Steam Controller. And it looks like that good concept is now reaching its full potential, as a result of after getting my arms on it once I visited Valve final month, I have never been this excited a couple of controller in a very long time.
Let’s run by way of among the primary specs of the brand new Steam Controller: It makes use of TMR magnetic sticks to stave off stick drift and maintain energy consumption low. There are two trackpads on the decrease a part of the gamepad, which might be personalized by way of Steam Input. You get 4 programmable again buttons on the handles, gyroscopic movement controls, HD haptics, and capacitive contact sensors on every deal with to detect whether or not or not you are gripping the controller. And it makes use of a 2.4GHz connection protocol by way of its charging pod for low-latency enter (and people new Steam Machines have that connectivity inbuilt). Despite all of those subtle applied sciences packed into the controller, Valve is claiming round 35 hours of battery life from a full cost as nicely.
It’s spectacular on paper, if not for the truth that we have by no means seen a controller do all of this stuff on the similar time. But as somebody who’s reviewed a number of high-end controllers at this level, fancy options do not imply a lot if it is not snug to make use of – within the brief time I obtained to make use of the brand new Steam Controller, I can say that it has nailed the ergonomics. It felt pure to carry, with contours and substantial grip the place you anticipate them, and it stays pretty mild so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re holding onto a hulking gamepad. However, extra long-term utilization sooner or later will actually take a look at my preliminary impressions. Now, you are most likely considering the identical factor I did when Valve first confirmed it to me – this factor is not precisely fairly. But for what it might lack in aesthetics, it greater than makes up for in performance, and that is what’s essential for a controller in any case.
I performed about half-hour of Cyberpunk 2077, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and Silent Hill f on the brand new Steam Machine with the Steam Controller, and analog stick efficiency was pretty much as good as any main gamepad because the TMR sticks had a easy and constant resistance alongside the total vary of movement. Folks who’ve been utilizing an Xbox controller on PC or any gamepad with offset stick placement is perhaps postpone by the PlayStation-esque symmetrical-style sticks, nevertheless it simply takes some getting used to. If something, I just like the stick placement higher than the Steam Deck, which I really feel are a bit too excessive up on the system – the Steam Controller is ready to carry them down in a extra snug place whereas nonetheless having the trackpads in a great spot.
The shoulder bumpers are clicky, the analog triggers are easy on the pull, and I’m a giant fan of the again button design as they’re positioned in a pure place to hit with my center and ring fingers – they’re additionally simpler to actuate than the again paddles on the Steam Deck. Mapping d-pad and face button actions to them in a sport like Cyberpunk allows you to maintain your thumbs on the sticks with out lacking a beat. This is the form of expertise you need to anticipate from a premium controller, and it appears Valve is getting it proper.
Strangely, the extra spectacular demo I had was with Balatro, the poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder. This is as a result of it is a particular use-case for the assorted management types enabled by the trackpad and gyroscopic movement, and the flexibleness afforded by the Steam Controller being constructed particularly for PC. While the default controller mapping is ok, typically it is simpler to navigate the interface utilizing the trackpad with my thumb to pick out playing cards as if I’ve a mouse available (should you’ve performed on Steam Deck, this sort of performance can be acquainted to you). You can allow the gyroscopic movement controls to behave as your mouse cursor and have it solely activate when the capacitive contact sensors on the handles acknowledge you’ve got totally gripped the controller itself. You can swap between these management types and tweak them SteamOS-side by hitting the Steam button on the controller and going by way of the menus.
On the observe of the trackpads, they will also be configured in Steam Input fairly simply and every pad has the power to behave as two separate buttons, like splitting left- and right-clicks. Their strain sensitivity and haptic suggestions might be tweaked as nicely. And the capacitive contact of the grips will also be assigned for various sorts of actions, though I did not have the chance to check this particular function to a larger extent. However, it is little issues like this that make the Steam Controller stand out and offer you extra choices for a way you play video games than the rest out now.
That took years of iteration beginning with the primary Steam controller, then adapting the perfect elements of the Steam Deck controls, and even integrating options distinctive to the Valve Index, like gestures and gyros, in a method that make sense for a PC gamepad. And now the software program is there as nicely with SteamOS being a fuller ecosystem that may make compatibility and customization comparatively easy.
While it is a controller that was designed in tandem with the Steam Machine to work seamlessly collectively, all its options work on any PC, after all. The tiny charging puck that simply latches onto the controller magnetically additionally acts because the wi-fi receiver for quick enter rated at 8ms. It also can deal with as much as 4 Steam controllers linked to it on the similar time. And it really works as an iOS/Android cellular controller by way of Bluetooth. With the Steam Deck working SteamOS, it may very well be a smart resolution for individuals who steadily dock their handheld.
There is not any value set but, however it is a premium product that can most likely demand a premium value, and we can’t know till we get nearer to its launch. I would love extra time with it to actually put it by way of its paces, however given the flexibility of its options and execution of the fundamentals, the brand new Steam Controller may very well be my go-to PC controller when it launches someday in early 2026 alongside the remainder of Valve’s new {hardware}.
For extra protection of Valve’s new {hardware}, try our hands-on previews of the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR Headset, in addition to our interview with Valve concerning the Steam Machine.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
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