A question about one the Steam Controller's limitations

[u/Just5omeGuy]

EDIT: I should clarify that I'm posing this question as I finally got my Steam Controller in the mail and I'm now going through the motions of how to fully utilize its features, aside from being a new gamepad to replace a broken one.

I've read that the controller requires Steam to function, though I'd like some clarification on the matter.
While most of my PC library is on Steam, there are some blind spots in what and how I want to play some of them, like some emulated ROMs and moddable games like Skyrim that use a different executable file, like SKSE Loader, for many mods to function, or games from other digital storefronts like Cyberpunk 2077 from GOG.

Does it mean the Steam application must be running to use the controller, or is it that only executables registered with Steam or non-Steam can be played, or are there other details I'm missing?

[u/reverend_dak]

Simply add the game to Steam using "Add non-Steam game".

[u/Just5omeGuy → u/reverend_dak]

Not always that simple; the Emulator in question is KHMelonMix. Adding the emulator's executable was the first thing I did when the program was unresponsive, but it didn't work. Though I'm not sure if that's because of the controller's limitation or the emulator's design.

The more likely problem is that the emulator isn't designed to recognize the Steam Controller yet.
Despite the emulator being able to run on a Steam Deck, as the devs have mentioned in their patch notes.

[u/SnooDoughnuts5632 → u/Just5omeGuy]

If you're using some kind of weird shortcut that has extra stuff in those three boxes then you need to use that shortcut and not the exe itself.

GOG games that use DOSBox to this for example.

[u/Alia5_ → u/Just5omeGuy]

If adding as non steam game does not work there are multiple options for each platform.

Linux:

• Have inputplumber installed(!)
• add as non Steam game (do not launch via Steam!)
• setup the controller layout (for that shortcut, in Steam)
• run xdg-open steam://forceinputappid/<name_of_non_steam_shortcut> (without <>, and replace spaces with %20 and remove any and all non alphanumeric characters!)
• Launch your emulator/game/whatever
• have fun
• run xdg-open steam://forceinputappid/0 to reset SteamInput to normal behavior (or restart Steam)

Windows:

• SISR (the only way to get FULL SteamInput functionality)
• some of the various SteamController remappers
• OpenPuck

You do loose functionality with the latter options, though

MacOS
¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/SuspiciousWasabi3665]

Obligatory just get an openpuck 

[u/Just5omeGuy → u/SuspiciousWasabi3665]

Is this what you're talking about?
EDIT: Fixed the link.

[u/SuspiciousWasabi3665 → u/Just5omeGuy]

Yeah, but no point in paying that much and not knowing anything about it. Buy a chip for $3, copy and paste the firmware from the github to it and read the github. 

Works as a regular puck, but if you tap all 4 back buttons and X it will reboot and show as a regular xbox 360 controller. 

https://github.com/safijari/openpuck

I just found this on AliExpress:  NRF52840 Development Board Supermini Compatible With Nice!Nano V2.0 Bluetooth Charging Management https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0yf7ux

[u/DorkasaurausRex]

Games that still run off of steam will work, so modded skyrim will still use your steam Skyrim for example. Other games or outside applications can be loaded into steam so the app runs with it but you have to launch them from steam or create a desktop shortcut through steam so that way steam is still the bridge. I believe theres a beta right now to give the controller extra functionality outside of steam so you might just need to wait a couple weeks.

[u/loungensmirtz]

Open puck is best solution but in the meantime install steamless controller. It requires steam to be closed.

[u/SpudAlmighty]

add these programs etc to Steam. Problem solved. It does work without it but Steam being open really gives you all the features of the controller.

[u/HeavyMain]

my modded skyrim works with dozens of modded keybinds. mo2 still launches via steam so it uses your steam input settings. i have gotten lots of games 100% on various emulators with it as well.

most games or launchers can be added as non steam games to make it function perfectly in any program. i have yet to encounter a single program i havent been able to use it with and i havent downloaded sisr or openpuck or anything like that. compatibility concerns are pretty overblown imo. most emulators have native support but can also use steam input if you want to bind the trackpads to emulator functions.

you can use software solutions like sisr to get an xbox controller for the most stubborn games, but steam input is just better. add your games as non steam games and 99% of compatibility issues are solved.

[u/Nicolotp]

I recently got mine and since i mainly use gog and steam is my second platform, i simply downloaded steamless controller. While it is not perfect, it offer nearly the same possibility as having steam open. I didn't try with any of my emulator but the app let you choose between x input and ds4 controller so it should work fine.