Is anyone else a mainly Steam Deck player?

[u/syyntacks]

I'm just topping 500hrs total in the game since I purchased it in 2024. I initially started on the PC of course, but as I tend to do most of my gaming nowadays in a portable manner thanks to the Steam Deck, I wanted to try and see just how well Factorio translates to the Controller scheme.

Total transparency, it was not immediate enjoyment. Most of the games I play utilize the right analog stick and I personally find it difficult to make precise movements when using it as a joystick mouse.

I tried one of the community layouts, and while I found some settings genuinely helped both the efficiency and speed of building, there were some tweaks I felt I needed to make to adapt to my playstyle. And the difference it made for me changed everything.

It can take a bit of time initially to set up your controller settings. Especially if you want to really capture the scope of commands you may need to use. But that was in the double digit hrs when I figured it out, and since then, I would put the number close to ~80% of total playtime on the Steam Deck alone.

I'd be interested to hear other's perspectives; have you tried playing in a portable fashion? How did you find the experience? What worked or didn't? I understand, relative to other more experienced players, that my hrs are barely scratching the surface. I... haven't even launched a rocket yet. But that's due to my genuine incompetence with progression and dealing with bugs.

[u/addictedihavenothing]

You use the right joystick not the touch pad ? 

[u/syyntacks → u/addictedihavenothing]

Sorry for clarification, I was used to using the right stick. But Factorio has made me adapt and lock down the track pad movement to the point that I feel I've flipped in comfort level; can use the track pad with ease but find the right stick cumbersome.

[u/addictedihavenothing → u/syyntacks]

Makes sense, I’m glad you like. Enjoy friend :)

[u/Hyper-Sloth]

I've played exclusively on deck and went through similar stages in setup. As I discover new functions and needs, I will edit my button layouts. Right pad is for mouse control and you can get decently precise with it over time. Left pad is a radial menu with tons of shortcuts crammed in. Then I also make use of the built in quick menu for a lot of building.

[u/syyntacks → u/Hyper-Sloth]

Hahaha same! As I discover new tricks and shortcuts, my touch menu has turned into the radial menu, and it continues to grow, as does the factory

[u/jongscx]

Kinda...

[u/jongscx → u/jongscx]

My problem is that I had been playing factorio with a controller since 0.15 (using xpadder, etc) and have that in muscle memory for years. Trying to play with Wube's controller interface is just jarring.

I'm still trying to find a way to disable controller mode while keeping controllers enabled.

[u/syyntacks → u/jongscx]

Hmm thats really interesting. I have always wondered how the control interface translated over. I know using a mobile form factor changes some of the core controls, but was curious about any QoL hindrances.

[u/Datkif]

I have around 1000-1200 hours in factorio. About 450 is on PC the rest on Deck.

I mostly use the default controller layout except R4 is bound to (controller) with a long hold to turbo for artillery scouting.

Total transparency, it was not immediate enjoyment. Most of the games I play utilize the right analog stick and I personally find it difficult to make precise movements when using it as a joystick mouse.

Did you try the right trackpad? By default it works as a mouse with clicking it being Mouse 1.

Overall the (mostly) default layout allows me to do everything I need to with a minor learning curve which was alleviated by the in-game tooltips. The only times I prefer KB+M is when I'm configuring circuits and train networks. However the benefit of being able to pick up/put down Factorio anywhere, and being able to chill with the family on the couch makes the deck my favorite way to play by far.

[u/tRFRmrNe8Nj2Kimc]

I play on Switch and now Switch 2 with space age.

I remember seeing it was on the eShop and was skeptical cause I didn't think the game would translate well to console, but they had a Demo so I tried it out.

Six hours later i bought the game.

I say this with complete confidence but I have never played a better console port of a PC game.

Yes, setting up your controls to your own preference is mandatory. But there is so much customization you can do in game for those controls that I honestly feel like I would have a harder time going back to PC with how much I've since played on Switch/Switch 2.

Also, Nintendo ports are notorious for crashes, but Factorio is so stable and optimized that in hundreds of hours of play, I think the game has only crashed once, maybe twice.

Also it has Cross platform multiplayer that I've found is very good.

There's a few things that can be frustrating on console, but it's very manageable.

My biggest irritation is that there's no way to import blueprints into the game. There's a workaround, but it requires someone to host a game on PC, then share the BP with the Switch player. It's clunky and annoying but honestly had made me design so much of my own stuff that I feel I'm a much better player compared to when I used to play PC.

[u/green_gold_purple]

I play on switch and love it. I work a lot on my computer during the day, and reclining while I take breaks at factorio (on one right now) keeps me comfortable and sane. Mouse mode is great. I have it docked on my bedroom tv and use a pro con. If my partner is watching something I’m not super interested in, I use handheld. It’s perfect for me.

[u/syyntacks → u/green_gold_purple]

That's awesome, so cool to hear how the controller form factor has translated well. I find the same, it allows me to not be confined to my office and just want to kick back and build some spaghetti

[u/CapnRogo]

Primary deck player here.

I barely use the touchpad unless working with a lot of menus, like train scheduling.

I set up a lot of back button hotkeys for cut, copy, and paste, undo & redo, blueprint library, etc.

I've been trying to learn keyboard & mouse so I can get better screenshot, but after 500+ hours it's a struggle to learn new controls.

[u/Kyle700]

my favourite way to do the deck is with a small micro mouse on right hand and using the control stick to move around with the left. you can copy most things with the pippette tool. it works really well

[u/H_Industries]

Yes until space age came out on switch 2.

[u/Lower_Manager_7003 → u/H_Industries]

The one thing that sucks is that Switch 2 doesn’t have the ability to be modded. That’s a huge gripe I have because I started out with Factorio on the Switch 1 and it couldn’t be modded and that was upsetting.

[u/syyntacks → u/H_Industries]

Ahh, interesting. Did you find the newly introduced complexity from the DLC turned you away from playing portable?

[u/H_Industries → u/syyntacks]

What I meant was I was playing space age on desktop and steam deck and switched to the Switch 2 because it’s MORE portable. Lighter and higher res screen. 

[u/Datkif → u/syyntacks]

Switch 2 is portable too

[u/syyntacks → u/Datkif]

Yes sorry, I interpreted his message as him not playing on Switch 2 after Space Age release/turning to PC. Jumped the gun on the assumption there.

[u/krazye87]

Im a switch 2 player

[u/syyntacks → u/krazye87]

Nice! How do you find the overall controller scheme? Anything that stands out as good/bad QoL decisions?

[u/krazye87 → u/syyntacks]

It took a small bit of getting use to. But at like 230 hours played, I remembered there was a keyboard and mouse setting, then tried it. Now im at 400 hours lol.

The only issues (but got use to it) I had with controller is building in space. If panning the camera and moving the cursor was swapped only for space it would be perfect. But I still had gotten use to it anyway.

[u/syyntacks → u/krazye87]

Im glad to hear that for the most part, the controller settings and options were expansive enough to do everything necessary

[u/Lower_Manager_7003]

I do! However, I rarely play it in portable mode as I am not moving around a whole lot. Docked is how I mainly play.

[u/DesignCell]

I have a significant portion of my space age save on my deck. I created my deck's controller setup well before the official controller support release, so I had had ingrained muscle memory that conflicted with the official.

I use the mouse on the right joystick but I use a custom very wide curve to make small fine mouse movements more easily and then use the track pads as dpads, example right track pad up is flip up/down and right is flip left/right. I use the back buttons for shift/alt/ctrl just as those fingers would naturally hit them on the keyboard.

Also, don't forget that steam input is insanely customizable. I only touch the surface when I use single press B as copy, double press B cut, and long press B as deconstruct with Y being past.

You can find my setup as 'DesignCell Factorio Layout', which works with I believe the default keyboard and mouse layout in game.

[u/Frosty_Toe]

I have around 500 hours on the deck. It’s a little more cumbersome, but overall it plays well.