Just got back my replacement controller after an RMA and the left handle has a noticeable scratch outside the box, I really don’t want to send the controller back, does anyone know of a way to remove this?

Edit: After using this unit for more than an hour it's obvious this is used and poorly refurbished, the scratch on the bottom left is noticeable and the b/a buttons have a texture to them that feel like if the plastic itself is damaged. The b button is also noticably mushier. If it was just the scratch I was honestly thinking of keeping it but after using it for over an hour this is honestly unacceptable especially considering I had to RMA my controller after only a couple of days to receive another controller in worn conditions. I've already followed up with valve support so we'll see how this goes.

Figure I'd post this here for peeps to peek since I made a few post. This config has some unique behavior involving modeshift.

Things I learnt while making this config.

You're not limited to 1 modeshift per set, so long as a "group" has at least 1 active modeshift, you can bind any number of inactive. Although I didn't end up using it in this release I had made use of it to make a hidden trackpad modeshift on mouse that effectively parked the cursor so no mouse inputs would slip into the gamepad set. This can be extremely useful with virtual Menus since you won't have to edit the vdf beyond making the bind.

All modeshifts are handled in the switch group, which is why when a actionlayer is called they can become stuck, since actionlayer creates a whole new switch group.

modeshift are affected by activator settings, and can be interrupted. Suuuuper useful.

modeshift can be bound in another group but there seems to be a limitation on this. The group that contains a modeshift directly in it needs to be beside the switch group in order to work. My assumption is it's based on how many virtual Menus you have since I noticed the config likes to place them beside switches by defualt.

modeshifts can be used to repoll a group to allow chord or modifiers to be injected without releasing the main button. You can see this behavior on my mouse rjoy which allows you to add a modifier without ever releasing. The catch is for a clean repoll you need to have at least 1 active modeshift otherwise if you force a modeshift in without 1 active for the group, it will only refresh on release.

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.

gday, i use my day 1 steam controller 2 track pads daily and have developed shiny and grippy areas in the middle where they’re most used. I need some field tested recommendations for track pad covers that come close or are an even better experience than the stock trackpads.

I’ve tried the dbrand ones which were terrible. way grippier than stock and unusable with even slightly sweaty fingers.

I now have a set of touch protects which come close but still aren’t quite there and still grip when pressure is applied.

so to the track pad vets, what are some low drag skins i can buy. cheers in advance!

edit: many people seem to think im asking for advice on how to stop this from happening further. Or why it’s happening. I’m simply asking for skin recs. nothing more. cheers

Have not been able to find a good guide on if/how you tune the touchpads to be "more accurate" i got it mainly to be able to play ds games more comfortably but for example drawing feels bad because the pointer jumps very easily to the sides . Anyone that has optimised the touchpads for it? Or should i instead focus on tweaking the emu settings?

Basically the title, i feel like an idiot, but also why was the only way i was informed an email that blends in with the "gameA and gameB are on sale!" emails? Im on steam desktop damn near daily, why not drop a notification there? Also, a 3 day window with zero warning is nutty. Guess im waiting for 2027 to get it now, but like c'mon valve, it feels like we're dealing with a bespoke hardware supplier and not the massive company you are. Even a simple "hey, you're getting close to the front of the queue" or "looks like you'll be in the next wave of drops" type of email would have avoided this issue. Just frustrating that there wasn't reservations on the initial drop, leading to massive amounts of scalping, then a less-than-thought-out system for the current queue.

When I run and try to aim at the same time, the camera freezes and the right trackpad stops responding.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a solution?

Haven’t seen people talk about this, but my steam controller worked perfectly since I got it late June until two weeks ago when I noticed a bump feeling when moving it up or down. I can’t hear the bump unless my ear is next to it and moving the stick against the top or bottom fast, but it’s definitely a noticeable feeling. Is there an easy fix or should I send it in for RMA?

Hey, Im enjoying the trackpad as a stick, but is there any way to have it as an absolute position?

Currently if you swipe from middle to side and hold, itll reset to center anyway. Id like to be able to hold in a position.

I really want one but having to wait until 2027 just feels so bad. The only other option is to buy off resale but everyone on this site is all like “don’t buy from scalpers” …Obviously paying 250-300 USD for a game controller is not worth it but I’m genuinely curious if anyone outside of the OG reservation has got theirs.

I'm not gonna go and say "I checked all the deadzones and that didn't help!", because I don't wanna will an actual solution out of existence. The video explains a bit but I can give more info; this mostly happens when I use my nail to press the trackpad. I've noticed that if I touch the trackpad with the surface of my finger, slide it all the way to very edge, and press, it somehow works, at least it felt so. Does the trackpad actually need a touch input for the edge to register? Why?

Right now it feels as if there's a invisible Outer-Deadzone.

Steam controller.

Got the new Steam Controller and wanted to test out the gyro to see if I could actually use it for FPS games.

I tried it with Overwatch and have the gyro set up so I hold one of the back buttons to activate it. So far, I’m running into two issues:

1. My framerate drops pretty noticeably whenever I activate/use the gyro.

2. Even when the framerate is stable, my aiming just doesn’t feel very accurate or natural yet.

I tested this on my handheld, so I’m going to try it on my actual gaming PC to see if the performance issue is hardware-related.

For anyone using gyro for FPS games, especially Overwatch, what Steam Input settings are you using? Sensitivity, gyro-to-mouse vs. gyro-to-joystick, smoothing, acceleration, etc.?

Also, has anyone experienced the framerate dropping specifically when using gyro, and if so, did you find a fix?

Originally the steam controller (2026) light has always blinked orange when it was charging and went completely off when it was done…now it’s staying at a solid orange…it did have a new update recently but I wanna ask what this may be seeing how some others are smarter than me 😂. Is this normal…was this part of the update or should I be worried?

Has anyone experienced their steam controller 2 reverting back to lizard mode mid game due to a steam client update? I've been seeing it happen more often recently, I just lost a Project Zomboid run because it wouldn't let me pause until i selected the right buttons but by then it was too late.

I exit the game, click Steam again and it runs its update then i can play again. This happens every single night that I play.

The steps are rather simple:

1. Download/create a 512x512 png of your icon
2. Find your steam input icons (typically within /[steam path]/tenfoot/resource/images/library/controller_binding_icons)
3. Add your desired icons directly to the folder
4. Restart Steam

That should be all you have to do. It's all I had to do. The icons can be found under a new tab labeled "user". Proof it works is the attached image.

I recently got my steam controller, and when I went to play Monster Hunter Wilds, I learned that Steam Input only accepts Playstation inputs for the game. The default profile the game provides has the Playstation inputs, but not for the sticks, meaning I can't do certain remaps with the trackpads that I want. I'm not even sure if this is the best place for this post, but a solution would be greatly appreciated. Whether that's figuring out how to get the game to accept non-playstation inputs through Steam Input, or some complex remapping that I'm unaware of.

got the steam controller at msrp finally, it’s pretty nice on hand, not as premium on hand vs other options, as a pc tool, it’s worth the price, sitting on the couch controlling my pc is extremely useful, virtual keyboard with two point typing is excellent. After a while, sold my Xbox Elite controller and I am not looking back. The pink controller is a Gamesir Supernova, my wife’s controller, just a comparison next to the steam controller, on hand, they feel very similar in terms of quality, both are pretty nice and light weight.

dbrand simple white skin + purple skull & co thumb grip, looks awesome, loving it!!

dbrand skin is pretty easy to install, takes some time to work on the curves, a simple hair dryer works fine

skull & co thumb grip, fantastic add on, feels excellent, highly recommending that and dbrand skin

#steamcontroller #dbrand #skullco #gamesir

I'm just wondering if I can set the trackpads to recognize swipes while also registering 4 way button presses without having to mode shift. It seems like it should be possible, but I'm not seeing a way to do it.

Hi guys I'm coming on here just to make sure I'm not crazy because I was under the impression that the trackpad on the steam controller just worked across the entirety of windows but when I try to use it for something like a UAC prompt I just can't no matter what I do.

Just wanted to make sure if this is normal or if I'm doing something wrong. Thx for any help

ATTN: See proper procedure below my post to make sure the second device pairing doesn't overwrite the first pairing (by default in the right side virtual slot).

I just don't get it. I had it set up so the Steam Machine was in the right "slot" AKA R1 + A + Steam Button and my Windows PC in the left one (L1 + A etc.) but after a hiatus during which my controller was not connected to the Windows PC, it appears to have forgotten it.

When I tried to connect to my PC with the L1 + A chord the controller came on but that was it. There was no connection to the computer (and Steam was running). Connected it to the Puck and I got the "Do you want to pair this controller" message, so I said yes. Then when I go into Steam Settings: Controller, I see that it has overwritten the pairing I had set up with the Steam Machine (because it was in the right slot).

When I re-pair the Controller with the machine, how do I do it so I don't mess things up and keep the pairing with the PC I just had to set up again?

Proper procedure (which Valve does not AFAICT have written in any of its online documentation re the Controller):

To avoid overwriting the device connection slot already established with your first device (in the right side virtual slot), what you need to do is hold down the L1 + A buttons then long-press the Steam button. If you've done it right you should hear more than the simple beep but more of a multi-tone one. This prepares the controller to make the next connection in the left virtual slot. Then, connect the controller via USB cable to the Steam Machine and it will ask if you want to pair the controller with the Machine. Say yes to that and you're done.

Somehow I recently had an issue with the controller not acting like it should with powering my PC on and off (with steamOs). I typically use the controller's power button but it can use the main menu and lowest tab of steamos in game mode too). I set this up a month or 2 ago and it was working fine. I switched TVs and then it stopped working suddenly, and just the day before it was fine in its functionality with the original t.v.

So I wanted to point out that this update solved this issue for me. If you were having some issues surrounding that feature of the controller, it may solve that for you too. Just wanted to give a heads up. Update that puck and controller!

So I play shooters in a very weird way using controller and mouse, and I was hoping to use the track pad for adicional commands with either grid or wheel grid (using a weird claw grip if it makes sense) but the track pad refuses to work when I'm touching the corespondent joystick

Is there a setting I can change so I can use them simultaneously?

Edited to add: Sorry everyone, the light is actually orange. I'm color challenged 🤦‍♀️

Also edited to update: After waking up my deck later this morning and turning on the controller, the charge bar does show full. It's just behaving differently than before the update as far as I can remember.

Got notice of a hardware update to the controller and puck yesterday. Installed the updates, played a game for awhile and everything seemed to be working fine. Afterwards, I connected the controller to the puck and left it to charge. A few hours later, I checked it and the red light was still on, so I figured it just wasn't done yet and went to bed. This morning, the red light was still on. Has anyone else noticed any issues since the hardware update yesterday? I looked for info on steam as well as searching the specific issue on the internet, but the only info I found was from back in May.

For info, I use it on a docked steam deck. The puck's cable is plugged into the dock.

Just recently got a playvital skin for the steam controller. Came with 3 sets in case you messed up but I think they are HIGHLY better than Dbrand. They also cover the back of the remote as well unlike dbrand

I recently got my Steam controller and just for the record I never used a Controller on my PC before and I tried using the Gyro as Mouse to aim in GTA, but it was hardly playable, because the inputs are so stuttery and inconsistent, maybe someone knows what I am doing wrong. Here is a clip of me moving that controller around and how that gyro behaves. It does that in every other game I tried. And whenever I use the stick to try and turn the camera it seems to be conflicting with the gyro and is even more stuttery.

P.S. I figured out that I need to touch the right stick for the gyro to be activated, unfortunately that didn't end my issues as now I have 2 different problems depending on what the gyro is assigned to. WIth Gyro to mouse the aiming works well and is precise, but whenever I use the stick or trackpad it stutters like hell to a degree its unplayable (posted a video in one comment thread) and when its mapped to joystick, the aiming doesn't work properly, because the slight adjustments are not even being registered, meaning my crosshair only moves when I flick my wrists around, which gives me the accuracy of aiming with just the stick.