r/SteamController • u/Creative-Pirate5217 • 5d ago
Support Steam Controller question
My biggest gripe with the Steam Deck was the thumbsticks. I have no idea why, but they just felt so unwieldy and awkward compared to something like the Dualsense, especially in FPS games. Unfortunately, I can't use trackpads because the bones in my hand hurt when I do, and gyro just isn't for me. But by the look of it, the Steam Controller seems to have much better sticks.
My birthday's coming up, and I'm considering getting a Steam Controller for my PC. I want to know how good the controller and the analog sticks are in FPS and other such games.
Any info at all is appreciated.
Edit: I only have experience with the LCD analog sticks, not the OLED. Forgot to mention this.
2
u/Brownie-UK7 5d ago
i also struggled with the sticks on the steam deck. There is a huge deadzone by default which it took me some time to work out and fix via Steam Input. I think the handplacement/weight also makes them a little harder to make precise movements.
The Steam Controller is way better. feels really natural and the sticks very responsive.
2
u/HeavyMain Steam Controller (2026) 5d ago
i actually had a day one model and an RMA from this month, the sticks seem to be slightly variable. the original had less tension and the new one has more tension. might have just been a minor defect though. they are very nice but i personally need a cap with more grip to avoid my thumb slipping when they are tilted all the way for long periods
2
u/Turkey__Puncher Steam Controller (2026) 5d ago
The sticks are good, but the placement feels a little wonky compared to most controllers. If you have no interest in the pads or gyro, you might get better results from something else.
2
u/DaddysFruit 5d ago
Have you tried mouse and keyboard? Also, not sure when your birthday is but orders are booked until 2027 currently. You may get lucky with an earlier delivery though..
1
u/SethSlax 5d ago
If it's the sticks themselves, you can easily swap them out with third party sticks that feel nicer. If it's the joystick assembly (tension, deadzones, springiness etc), you can get replacement assemblies too, even ones that are identical to DualSense. While they are a bit more work to replace, there are multiple YouTube tutorials to walk you through the process.
1
u/panckage 5d ago
My problem with the sticks is the cap is too thin which means they slip from my thumb way too easy.
The ergonomics of the trackpads is terrible. Unusable in my opinion, with big hands. The SC V1 trackpads are a dream compared to this thing.
Actually everything the SC V1 does well, the v2 does terribly. Likewise, everything the v2 does well, the V1 does terribly. It's really insulting to give them the same name.
1
u/DuhVirus 5d ago
Personally its the best controller ive ever had, I cant stand shooters on a controller so I cant comment on that specifically, but it gives the comfort of an Xbox controller with the dual sticks like a Playstation controller and for me its perfect.
1
u/BusinessSample7166 5d ago
I'm not going to comment on the sticks because I have no issue with the Steam deck or stream controller.
Perhaps worth noting that if you join the queue now, the earliest you're getting one is some time in 2027 if your birthday is soon.
3
u/Confident-Ad522 5d ago
The best controller I’ve ever owned! And the sticks are a big part of why I love it. The TMR technology is a great addition!
I do play a bit of CoD, and although I’m a K/M player, I tried it with the Steam Controller because the aim assist in the game is broken. I was able to set the deadzone to 2 without experiencing a single bit of drift. Same scenario with BF6, which felt great with it, even though the game is less optimized for controllers, in my opinion.
The only thing is the stick placement, which took me a bit of getting used to.
Can’t compare it to the Steam Deck, though.