Steam Controller (opens in new tab)

At this point, the controller is the most exciting thing for me.

Steam machine is cool, but with how good handheld PCs already are, I'd be ok spending a bit more and just using those instead and docking it for TV gaming.

It's a shame patent trolling killed the OG Steam Controller. But this one's got trackpads and seems like a decent substitute.

Nice to see a symmetric controller for PC. As someone whose hands are mirror opposites of each other (they put my second left hand on backwards) I really appreciate such controllers.

I have to say, I am nearly as hyped about this controller as I am about the frame. I can hook up my gaming PC to my living room TV to play on the couch and a decent controller is all I was missing. I always thought a steamdeck just as a controller would be great, especially the touch pads. I hope the latency feels great over wireless, but I don't mind the USB-C connection if needed.

Valve really did great here with providing all three connection options (BT, dedicated wireless, USB-C).

As someone who bought the original Steam Controller, I'm very excited it's finally getting a successor, especially since it supports Bluetooth. It is always annoying having to move my USB dongle between my desktop and my Steam Link whenever I want to change where I am playing from.

My wishlist for the next version:

1. Microphone.

2. Headphone jack. When I'm trying to not wake the kids, this would be nice.

3. Dedicated Volume Buttons.

4. A quick way to make it act like a Roku Remote. This would prevent me from needing yet-another-controller.

5. A beep speaker just for "find my controllers". (Similarly, a dedicated "find my controllers" button on the Steam Machine.)

6. I hope the Indicator LED can turn different colors, to make it easier to figure out which controller matches which player...

7. I'd love an e-ink one-line display on it. By default, when it's not playing, have it show a string I set - "Property of VikingCoder" for instance. When it is ready to play, it could show "Controller 1". In some multi-player games, it could be a cool way to send secret messages to only one player.

8. A tiny front-facing camera for QR code / barcode scanning.

9. Maybe an NFC reader, or RFID reader.

10. The e-ink display could also help me choose which device I want it paired with. Steam Machine. Steam Frame. My phone. The Roku.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing to me is seeing a company as big as Valve try making some hardware (steam machine, controllers, the weird steam box streaming thing), watch them fail spectacularly, and then listen to feedback while they bravely work on a new conception of the hardware.

Valve heard everyone hating on the og controller and seem to have fixed it. Same for the steam machine. I'm less certain about the headset, but if anyone has the hutzpah to make VR happen, my money is on Valve.

Valve added a second joystick to the controller. That's utter insanity in today's market. The expected play is to find a way to force consumers to buy the single stick, and a subscription, somehow. Or gaslight everyone into thinking single stick is somehow better, actually.

It's just crazy to me to see a big company acting with rationality, sense, and forethought

Wrong layout. The Xbox layout is the only correct layout. I’ll die on this hill. :P

RIP Steam Controller. This headless Steam Deck is no substitute. The only halfway decent FPS controller has no substitute.

I still have the og steam controller, three of them in fact. They still work but I lost the dongle and rely on Bluetooth. It was an experience. Definitely won't consider buying a controller from them again. The Xbox controller is perfect. Simple and good enough to use.

Discussions:

Steam Frame https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903325

Steam Machine https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903404

I have the original Steam Controller. It's OK, and a nice alternative even for general usage to move the mouse cursor, etc.

I also have a GameSir Cyclone 2 controller. Works great for Steam, Epic/Heroic, and works well for Switch (though the button layout was "incorrect" but perhaps it can be changed)

Personally, I prefer the Cyclone/X-box style controllers better. Well, Xbox does not own that style but, in my opinion, they helped to perfect it.

(I guess it was Game Cube the started that style officially)

Never liked the Playstation controller where the analog sticks were at the bottom. However, this new Steam one might be OK as the sticks are higher up.

We shall see.

I’m hoping the controller is popular as it will encourage pc indie developers to make console friendly user interfaces and make games work with the deck.

Excited for deck 2.0 in a few years too, maybe 2027/8.

The one thing I wish it has is 3.5mm audio jack. Both Xbox and SONY's dualsense controller have this. But SONY don't support audio via Bluetooth. The Xbox one need a USB adapter but its build is not as good as SONY's. SONY don't have a USB adapter. Given Steam controller is already using an USB puck, it should be able to support it.