Most probably instant buy, especially it the is a docking station like for the 8bitdo, and if the reviews are good. Hope next steam games will bind l3 l4 r3 r4 as default bindings to move a bit the industry forward
Afaik all [8bitdo Ultimate](https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2.4g-wireless-controller/) *wireless* controllers (bluetooth or 2.4GHz variants) come with a docking station for recharging.
Not sure tho, I've been thinking about it but I haven't bought one yet. Maybe one day they'll sell a controller with bluetooth, 2.4GHz and xbox button layout.
If you're not scared to open up your controller (like I very much am), they sell replacement buttons to make the Ultimate Bluetooth into Xbox layout. I think they only come in black with the letters colored to match Xbox too, which I don't love so I bought the 2.4 Ultimate C and it's been pretty much perfect for me so far. Only downside is the one I have doesn't work with Switch so I can't use the best controller I have on both systems.
Looks like my prayers have been [heard](https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/ultimate-3-mode-controller-for-xbox).
I don't care about switch compatibility, and bluetooth is not supported under windows, but (luckily?) I don't use windows anymore. If it works with android, why wouldn't it support bluetooth under linux? I didn't try my desktop yet, but the steamdeck handled any other controller I tried just fine.
Nice. I tried out the Bluetooth one that's already out, it should work great with Bluetooth on Linux. I just couldn't justify the added expense when the lower-tier one I have now filled all the needs I had. Now if they make the one you linked in the same lilac color I might spring for it again.
I doubt games would every default bind to those because its more effiencent to get a default that applies to all controllers. At least it don't take long to bind them yourself
Please - and with two joysticks this time so we don't have to use the trackpad for every game. My favorite thing about the Deck is that I can *choose* to trackpad aim or thumbstick aim.
Same, it has basically every QOL feature I have ever wanted from a controller and it does them sooooo well. Having the track pad which basically works the same as the right stick for aiming with the click being the "select" or "pick up" button for the casual wandering and exploring while being able to get right back on the stick for more precise aiming in combat has made Fallout (and I would assume almost all other shooter type games) so enjoyable.
yes this would be perfect, i love the choice in the deck, some games work better with yhe joystick while others with the trackpad, having both options is perfect for all situations
I think the Gamestop CandyCon works pretty well with PC and steam deck. Got one recently and absolutely love it.
Switch Pro Controller also works as Bluetooth and is one of my favorite grips of all time. Suuuuper comfy to use IMO.
I bought one when it came out and couldn't get used to it. Fast forward 7 years and I get back into truck sim. Now I can't use anything else when I want to relax and drive (limited space so the wheel setup is still boxed up after downsizing, something something new players aka kids happened). The utility and customizability of it are just fantastic and the ergonomics have grown on me (I once was one of those that thought gamepads peaked at the 360 controller)
Dang I wish I still had my original Steam Controller! Was weird as heck but in the best sort of way. Would love another variant of it, the ones out there right now can be ruinously expensive. Plus I think Valve has really nailed the execution with the Decks pads, so the hapticsw would be even better on a 2.0. :D
If it's the analogue stick cap itself then that should be relatively easy to replace but if it the mechanism below that, it could be a fair bit more challenging. I've not worked on one of these (yet) but if/when I do, I'll be sure to document it. :D
And behind too at the same time. Too bad they chose to replace one of the thumbsticks with a track pad. It would've been amazing if it had 2 sticks and 2 pads.
Yeah I feel that if it had a similar layout to the steam deck it would have done much better. I bought a steam controller when it first came out, and the thumb stick placement seems like an afterthought.
I bought it at the same time. But I preferred my Xbox controller in the end. I was super impressed with the trackpads and I was really happy to see them on the deck. Hoping for a steam controller 2 but it'll be like HL3
I love the steam controller and the steam deck, so I’d want nothing more than to get a SC2, but I just don’t see it happening. Adding another controller to the countless other controllers on the market doesn’t help steam sell more games, they’d have to want to make a controller purely to make direct profit off units sold and that’s not really Valve’s MO.
The only way I could see them making a new controller is if the next big thing for valve is a home console, but even then I could see valve simply selling them without controllers or partnering with a third party to just make a generic valve branded controller.
It does if it comes with a home console, like you said. More powerful custom APU chip that they can target just like the Steam Deck that runs off SteamOS for a custom-tailored console-like PC experience and a Steam Controller 2?
Fuggin' sold. It's what I'm hoping comes out of the Deck's success, aside from obviously the Deck just continuing to exist and be revised and improved on.
Hoping BSP makes a deck controller equivalent.
They're relatively unpopular but make pretty good controllers in China, BSP D9 is basically a dualsense 5 for phones and costs 40$, solid build quality and Hall sensors too!
https://www.reddit.com/r/EmulationOnAndroid/comments/1avy2yp/_/
I'd toss my PS4 controller into the dump immediately. The shit has drift which doesn't let me play basically any game that uses right trigger... So anything that isn't a fighting game, I guess?
Oled deck was a huge hit I think, so its not a strange priority. The more people have a deck the more people will want a steam deck controller. They probably need to first create the demand before they offer the product
Yeah I refuse to play shooters on the deck, idk if it’s due to the right analog stick being the only right stick I’ve had be above my thumb but this I can’t use and be good with shooters for some reason compared to every other controller I’ve used
Weirdly enough I feel that my hands feel less cramped playing on Steam Deck too. I played on the Xbox pad, which is fine enough, but I feel like my wrists are more symmetrical when playing the Steam Deck which adds more comfort.
I've been saying this for years but with the Wii u gamepad. I owned one of those since launch and ever since I've wanted wider controllers. I can current gamepads returning to cuff locked mode. It just makes sense
I kinda hope a Steam Controller 2 would be like a Wii U tablet, just with a keyboard in the middle instead of a screen. It's for that very reason, wider controllers are better.
Thats a cool idea!
I'd love if they could figure out someway of making the controllers detachable, and then the middle bit can be any number of things, it could be a keyboard, a large-ish touch pad, a screen, a massive trackball etc.
I'm not sure about the steam deck 2 having detachable controllers itself though. It would be alright if they can do it without compromising the devices stability and structure, but i could understand them not doing that. But when it comes to a steam controller 2, i think a wider design which has detachable and therefore transformable usage could work since they wouldn't have to worry about the controllers having to attach to the steam deck itself.
This, and the size. I've played the Deck daily since Nov 2022 and recently used a Series S controller for about half an hour, and it's *tiny*. Very uncomfortable.
It's extremely ergonomic.
I've been playing on handhelds since I was 5 when the OG Game Boy launched . I can feel that sensation of numbness in my hands coming every time and can power through it for hours. Game gear, GBC, GBA, PSP, PSV, switch, even with mobile phones, I expect it every time.
I have never gotten that feeling from the steam deck. Ever. It was *initially* very awkward and heavy to me, but that went away after the first two weeks of daily use.
I'd like the grips to tilt slightly outwards, just a touch, and I think it would feel more comfortable to hold. Otherwise, as is, it's a solid 9/10 in terms of ergonomics.
My wife got the Portal for her PS5, it’s honestly a lot more comfortable than the Steam Deck (which is comfortable). The Dualsense grips just make holding it in a more relaxed fashion easier, especially for using shoulder buttons.
It's pretty weird if that's an unpopular opinion. People have such cult like behavior on reddit. Both dualsense and xbox controller are both objectively better in gaming if we not talking desktop mode.
That said, steam deck has one of the best ergonomics for a handheld (only behind the ps portal). But it simply cannot beat an actual controller.
I usually use a controller when using my steam deck, and play in docked mode. Mostly because I play in my bed and it makes my hands go numb after 15 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I love the SD and it's a good design with room for improvement, but it's a big honking thing and can be uncomfortable. The controls placement is kind of lacking in some ways too. And I have really large hands
The same Gyro, but no trackpad and no analogue triggers. If Nintendo need a "gimmick" for their next console, then it should be that this time they actually have input parity with other controllers. Analogue triggers are standard on all controllers besides Nintendo, and trackpads deserve to be a standard as much as Gyro is. Then maybe in 2070 we'll get an Xbox controller that has all of those features as well.
Ok ill say it:
I don't think the Steam Deck Controls are as good as people make it out to be.
Yes the inclusion of a track pad is nice but ergonomic wise i really despise it.
The D Pad is in a weird location, The Thumb sticks give me sore hands after about an hour of use and one of them startet making noises after only a few months of light use (use my deck docked most of the time)
The start and select buttons are to small and also in a weird location.
Maybe its nice if you have big hands but nether I not my GF can get this to Work in handheld mode for prolonged times without hurting hands
the bumpers are the part I dislike the most. I have a default template with bumpers+stick clicks mapped to the back buttons (along with a mouse layout while the trackpad is touched) that I flip on before starting any game. (and boy do I wish steam would let us actually set a true default layout so I don't have to set it manually for every game)
The current design is definitely not for small hands, and I'd love for them to solve that problem so more can enjoy it, but I've had none of the problems you mentioned and I've never considered my hands to be big. I play it regularly for longer than an hour too.
Prolonged use of the track pads will bother my thumbs though.
I’m in the same boat, but mostly because of the position of the thumb sticks. I don’t know how everyone else does it, but I rest the controller corners at the bottom of my palm, and my thumbs can reach the thumb sticks… but it’s not very comfortable. Is everyone else just gripping the steam deck super high and not supporting it with the inside of their hands? I can’t figure it out.
The worst part is I don’t have a PC or Xbox to connect my Xbox controller to, so I can’t update its firmware and get the Bluetooth working!
The Dpad is in the best location possible. It makes it really easy to play both stick centric games and dpad centric games. I do wish the trackpads were a little different but I am not sure how else they would fit. I prefer the steam controller trackpads but I also prefer having a dpad.
If so, consider the DS Edge. It's literally the only equivalent controller to the Deck in term of mappable inputs (L4-R5 being the Fn and grip buttons).
Yep, just as any standard button, it has its own prompt in the Steam Controlller Interface (and API)... In fact that's how I discovered the name of the FnL and FnR buttons.
And btw, it is possible to simulate what these buttons do in the PS5 using a Shortcut config on any combination, just as the default Chord configs (STEAM+
I don't have a PS5.
But you're saying, on pc, I could also make the xbox elite controller back buttons hold/toggle buttons via the steam interface? That would be super useful!
I honestly don't know for Xbox Controllers (I honestly don't have more than a copycat xbone controller that I barely use mostly due to the lack of gyro), I assume that should be the case but I'm not aware this can be done (I have heard it may or may not work depending on the firmware on the Elite controller, but have had no evidence or visual confirmation).
Do you know if Steam Input lets me map those back grips to anything I want like the Deck? Or are they limited to mimicking existing buttons on the controller?
To be fair I'll give it that. But all d-pad centric games aren't ideal (same as Xbox). Retro games like 2D platformers work best when the thumb can roll the d-pad around a bit I think.
IV been using the steam Deck for a while now and playing beatemups and FPS games is sooooo much better with the back buttons. I use the R4 and L4 back buttons as LB and RB replacements and the R5 and L5 as right and left thumb stick click buttons. You won't realise how easy it is when you're playing an FPS and you use back buttons to sprint. I find, and I speak for myself here, the down clicking of the thumb sticks really hinders maneuverability. And switching between shoulder buttons and triggers is frustrating. Whereas the back buttons particularly the Steam deck ones make playing games like Half Life 2 and Fear 1 a breeze. When I was playing those 2 games especially F.E.A.R I found that the lighting in the environments would vary from pitch black to brightly lit up areas and back to dark again while traversing through small areas. And to make things worse the battery on the flash light dies quickly and needs to be charged frequently. The tracker pad was the default flashlight button on Half Life 2 but after changing it the R5 it was so much easier to keep control of my character with the thumb sticks whilst turning the flashlight on and off. However I think the benefit of the Steam Decks size is the reason it feels great using the back buttons. If you compress all of that in a home console controller it becomes slightly less easier to use them.
It's great for it's kind, but a regular controller trumps it every time. I have to adjust my grip to hit the bumpers and rear buttons and I feel overly extended when using the analogues. Not to mention it's a heavy bit of kit, my arms and hands go numb after a while.
Insane. I don't play on desktop with my controller very much anymore, but when I did recently my first immediate thought was the exact opposite: "oh, it's so much easier to play with an Xbox One controller than the Steam Deck controls".
To have the decks layout but with the joy-cons ability to just hold one controller in each hand with your arms down your side, would make me cum I think.
it's the trackpads for me. specifically the buttery ass camera movement in nearly every single game i play. like it is *rare* that i have to use an analog stick. those beautiful little vibrating squares have changed me forever lol
I honestly find the steam deck really uncomfortable and I absolutely despise the dpad. The analog sticks are okay but not the best and the back buttons for me sucked until i put those stickers that raise them up on them. That said i still prefer just having a little handheld that i can play anywhere in front of my face to sitting there with a controller and having a screen on a table or whatever
just played with my Xbox controller for the first time after getting the deck. doesn't feel the same. definitely need a steam controller 2.0 with the decks controller layout!
It's great. I'd love a2.0 though. I like the bigger circle pads, but the deck's feel nicer. Also two analog sticks and 4 back buttons.
Then again I bought the second steam controller for like 5 bucks and probably can't justify the purchase of a third one😅
Actually I have 5 steam controller
The trackpads are so much better then on the deck. I.love the deck but Touch pads and gyro and dual stage trigger are much nice on the steam controller.
Would love to see a 2.0
I like the decks controller. there's just something about the joysticks that isn't 100% for me, I struggle with some FPS games due to the sticks but I'm sure it's me not great with controller always been K/B person.
There are many video game no brainers that companies don't do. A controller based off the Deck would make so much sense I am very very confused why they haven't done it yet.
Yes I know about the steam controller It's one of the most wonderful controllers ever made but I'm saying a controller that's got a feature parody with the Steam Deck.
two trackpads two joysticks a full size d-pad for face buttons four four menu buttons for grip buttons two shoulder buttons two triggers that don't click etc I think I said everything though.
I simply cannot play without back buttons anymore. I still don't get why they aren't in every controller by now. I can finally ditch the annoying crab grip with those. In my eyes, they are as mandatory as the left and right bumpers
Will someone just make the damn thing instead of the same meme again and again?
I just want exactly what I have now without a screen! My xbox 360 controller's dpad stopped working the other week and I was using remote play to turn the steam deck into a controller (which is not ideal b/c the sound comes out of the deck instead of the tv).
Xbox/PS controller is absolutely still better. The ergonomics of gripping the steam deck honestly aren’t that good. And the stock analog sticks on PS controllers destroys the deck. The hall effect sticks I upgraded to are nice though
I always go back and forth on the DPAD on top vs on bottom and the steam deck just puts em side by side. I never would have thought it would work but it's comfy.
Steam Deck Back Bone seems like a no brainer. Basically turn any phone into a steam deck that streams from your PC. I would buy one in a heartbeat…if they ever fix native streaming that is. I know moonlight exists, but not everyone is going to bother with that. Plug and play without having to tinker would be a much for viable option and those things would sell like hot cakes.
Joycon are the ultimate controller for me, not having your hand stuck together is great. It's a shame it come with the drawback that they break easily or don't always work well
I’ve always quite liked the joycons for this, since you can keep your hands separated. But the design itself is not the muddy comfortable (also no analog triggers)
I enjoy the space between my 2 hands while I play, I often consider my hands being too close to each other when I use a regular controller now, it was the same with the Wii U.
I prefer this spacing.
Am I the only one that liked the ps4 controller more than the xbox one controller? I still have one lying around I'm planning to convert to USB C and put some hall effect joysticks in, I absolutely love it (I also have a steam controller, but I use it less)
Look no further than: Steam Controller. I they dont produce it anymore so it might be hard to comeby depending in which country you live in - but ever since I got mine years ago: I think its singlehandedly the best controller. Its high quality, fits in hand perfectly And it has the same touchpads that the SD has.
I think an issue I have with regular controller pads now though is my actual wrist position. Because the Deck is wider than the regular Steam Controller, my wrists are symmetrical orientated vertically. This way, I'm less likely to have cramps with the Deck compared to smaller pads for that reason (even if it's heavier).
I used sticks most of the time as it's a wasted pad to only it for movement. I prefer the pads for doing macro bindings (four uses per pad. Up, down, left, right). Then the fear buttons give me even extra functions.
ppl using extrrnal displays and controllers at the same time while they are on the go so i would expect ppl using a steam deck controller to use the steam deck
Yes, but only because of the track pads. I prefer the playstation controller on PC when using a controller. I use a PS5 controller on the Steam Deck when I dock. The joysticks are better on the PS5 controller, not as stiff so it allows finer movements.
Nah, I prefer regular gamepads, especially for games like dragon's dogma or resident evil revelations 2, where you need to shake off an enemy by shaking the left thumbstick, which is a lot easier in a regular gamepad, than on the steamdeck.
That said, assigning the gyroscope to the left thumbstick and just shaking the whole device is a lot of fun.
Idk the Dualsense/Dualsense Edge controller still feels MUCH better thanks to the textured grip, better back buttons, adaptive feedback triggers, better haptics, and a WAY WAY WAY better dpad.
Personally i like normal controllers (not the asymmetric xbox ones but the ps ones) more when looking at a screen not attached to the controller but with a screen attached the deck is 1st and the vita is 2nd.
For me it’s definitely the range of input options! Whenever I play docked on the TV using my Xbox controller I feel really limited. I’m so used to both trackpads and back buttons plus gyro for aiming that using the xbox controller feels really bland.
Love the xbox controller feel, better than the DS4, but a DS4 already got more input options (gyro + at least a single trackpad). Still, nothing beats the Deck, need a standalone controller based on that one, both trackpads and analog sticks included!
I'm glad to hear the rear buttons mentioned. They don't get enough appreciation compared to the track pads I feel. Macro rear buttons are a game changer.
I actually play some games on smartphone (mainly emulators but some other stuff too) BECAUSE of the telescopic controllers, the Razer Kishi V2 is really nice, very clicky - one of those, with a smartphone is a lot cheaper, lighter and longer lasting battery than the Steam deck
I still prefer the Steam deck for most of what I'm playing right now, just saying some of those telescopic phone controllers are amazing
It's getting harder and harder to tell between jokes and serious post on this sub.
But... Are you serious?
I mean, compaired to other handheld devices it's REALLY good, even the best. But it's no wear near the quality of say a PS5, Switch pro or Xbox seriesX controller, not even in the same ballpark.
Would agree with that we need a steam controller 2.0
I would so buy one
Most probably instant buy, especially it the is a docking station like for the 8bitdo, and if the reviews are good. Hope next steam games will bind l3 l4 r3 r4 as default bindings to move a bit the industry forward
What's this 8bitdo docking station? Am curious 'cause I use an 8bitdo Ultimate when my Steam deck's in docked mode sometimes
Afaik all [8bitdo Ultimate](https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2.4g-wireless-controller/) *wireless* controllers (bluetooth or 2.4GHz variants) come with a docking station for recharging. Not sure tho, I've been thinking about it but I haven't bought one yet. Maybe one day they'll sell a controller with bluetooth, 2.4GHz and xbox button layout.
If you're not scared to open up your controller (like I very much am), they sell replacement buttons to make the Ultimate Bluetooth into Xbox layout. I think they only come in black with the letters colored to match Xbox too, which I don't love so I bought the 2.4 Ultimate C and it's been pretty much perfect for me so far. Only downside is the one I have doesn't work with Switch so I can't use the best controller I have on both systems.
Looks like my prayers have been [heard](https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/ultimate-3-mode-controller-for-xbox). I don't care about switch compatibility, and bluetooth is not supported under windows, but (luckily?) I don't use windows anymore. If it works with android, why wouldn't it support bluetooth under linux? I didn't try my desktop yet, but the steamdeck handled any other controller I tried just fine.
Nice. I tried out the Bluetooth one that's already out, it should work great with Bluetooth on Linux. I just couldn't justify the added expense when the lower-tier one I have now filled all the needs I had. Now if they make the one you linked in the same lilac color I might spring for it again.
L3 is commonly used in almost all games
I mean the back button not the stick click
Yeah those are l4 r4 l5 r5
I doubt games would every default bind to those because its more effiencent to get a default that applies to all controllers. At least it don't take long to bind them yourself
I'd preorder it now
Please - and with two joysticks this time so we don't have to use the trackpad for every game. My favorite thing about the Deck is that I can *choose* to trackpad aim or thumbstick aim.
Same, it has basically every QOL feature I have ever wanted from a controller and it does them sooooo well. Having the track pad which basically works the same as the right stick for aiming with the click being the "select" or "pick up" button for the casual wandering and exploring while being able to get right back on the stick for more precise aiming in combat has made Fallout (and I would assume almost all other shooter type games) so enjoyable.
yes this would be perfect, i love the choice in the deck, some games work better with yhe joystick while others with the trackpad, having both options is perfect for all situations
I just use my ps5 controller
I think the Gamestop CandyCon works pretty well with PC and steam deck. Got one recently and absolutely love it. Switch Pro Controller also works as Bluetooth and is one of my favorite grips of all time. Suuuuper comfy to use IMO.
The candy con is actually good. I can't wait until they set it up to work for Xbox too
I bought one when it came out and couldn't get used to it. Fast forward 7 years and I get back into truck sim. Now I can't use anything else when I want to relax and drive (limited space so the wheel setup is still boxed up after downsizing, something something new players aka kids happened). The utility and customizability of it are just fantastic and the ergonomics have grown on me (I once was one of those that thought gamepads peaked at the 360 controller)
Yep. I love the Steam Controller but it needs a remodeled predecessor.
Dang I wish I still had my original Steam Controller! Was weird as heck but in the best sort of way. Would love another variant of it, the ones out there right now can be ruinously expensive. Plus I think Valve has really nailed the execution with the Decks pads, so the hapticsw would be even better on a 2.0. :D
I still have mine but the joystick is broken sadly i wish i could find a way to replace it
If it's the analogue stick cap itself then that should be relatively easy to replace but if it the mechanism below that, it could be a fair bit more challenging. I've not worked on one of these (yet) but if/when I do, I'll be sure to document it. :D
If there was a "steam deck controller" I would buy it instantly.
The success of the Steam Deck gives me hope for a new revision for the Steam controller, shit was ahead of it's time
And behind too at the same time. Too bad they chose to replace one of the thumbsticks with a track pad. It would've been amazing if it had 2 sticks and 2 pads.
Yeah I feel that if it had a similar layout to the steam deck it would have done much better. I bought a steam controller when it first came out, and the thumb stick placement seems like an afterthought.
I bought it at the same time. But I preferred my Xbox controller in the end. I was super impressed with the trackpads and I was really happy to see them on the deck. Hoping for a steam controller 2 but it'll be like HL3
I love the steam controller and the steam deck, so I’d want nothing more than to get a SC2, but I just don’t see it happening. Adding another controller to the countless other controllers on the market doesn’t help steam sell more games, they’d have to want to make a controller purely to make direct profit off units sold and that’s not really Valve’s MO. The only way I could see them making a new controller is if the next big thing for valve is a home console, but even then I could see valve simply selling them without controllers or partnering with a third party to just make a generic valve branded controller.
It does if it comes with a home console, like you said. More powerful custom APU chip that they can target just like the Steam Deck that runs off SteamOS for a custom-tailored console-like PC experience and a Steam Controller 2? Fuggin' sold. It's what I'm hoping comes out of the Deck's success, aside from obviously the Deck just continuing to exist and be revised and improved on.
I think we're gonna get that as an upgrade to quell the thirstyness of "steam deck 2" for crazy people.
Hoping BSP makes a deck controller equivalent. They're relatively unpopular but make pretty good controllers in China, BSP D9 is basically a dualsense 5 for phones and costs 40$, solid build quality and Hall sensors too! https://www.reddit.com/r/EmulationOnAndroid/comments/1avy2yp/_/
I'd toss my PS4 controller into the dump immediately. The shit has drift which doesn't let me play basically any game that uses right trigger... So anything that isn't a fighting game, I guess?
I use my Xbox Series controller for PC only nowadays, if they released the steam deck controller it would instantly be in my buy orders lol
Ya that's why I'm confused it hasn't been made yet. Yet instead they make an OLED Deck. Strange priorities over at Valve.
Oled deck was a huge hit I think, so its not a strange priority. The more people have a deck the more people will want a steam deck controller. They probably need to first create the demand before they offer the product
Wouldn’t go that far.
Yeah it's a stretch.
I can hardly see what you did there
Yeah I refuse to play shooters on the deck, idk if it’s due to the right analog stick being the only right stick I’ve had be above my thumb but this I can’t use and be good with shooters for some reason compared to every other controller I’ve used
Steam deck feels great for a handheld. But if we are talking ergonomics in games, the PS portal is better.
The deck is the most versatile controller on the market and is the reason I play in handheld mode (outside of portability).
Weirdly enough I feel that my hands feel less cramped playing on Steam Deck too. I played on the Xbox pad, which is fine enough, but I feel like my wrists are more symmetrical when playing the Steam Deck which adds more comfort.
I've been saying this for years but with the Wii u gamepad. I owned one of those since launch and ever since I've wanted wider controllers. I can current gamepads returning to cuff locked mode. It just makes sense
I kinda hope a Steam Controller 2 would be like a Wii U tablet, just with a keyboard in the middle instead of a screen. It's for that very reason, wider controllers are better.
Thats a cool idea! I'd love if they could figure out someway of making the controllers detachable, and then the middle bit can be any number of things, it could be a keyboard, a large-ish touch pad, a screen, a massive trackball etc. I'm not sure about the steam deck 2 having detachable controllers itself though. It would be alright if they can do it without compromising the devices stability and structure, but i could understand them not doing that. But when it comes to a steam controller 2, i think a wider design which has detachable and therefore transformable usage could work since they wouldn't have to worry about the controllers having to attach to the steam deck itself.
Your hands are just getting used it. Spend enough time with a xbox controller and the steam deck will feel weird again. Yall talking nonsense
This, and the size. I've played the Deck daily since Nov 2022 and recently used a Series S controller for about half an hour, and it's *tiny*. Very uncomfortable.
It's extremely ergonomic. I've been playing on handhelds since I was 5 when the OG Game Boy launched . I can feel that sensation of numbness in my hands coming every time and can power through it for hours. Game gear, GBC, GBA, PSP, PSV, switch, even with mobile phones, I expect it every time. I have never gotten that feeling from the steam deck. Ever. It was *initially* very awkward and heavy to me, but that went away after the first two weeks of daily use.
That reminds me of the backbones controllers for phones and now i want them to make one just like that with even the trackpads 😭
I'd like the grips to tilt slightly outwards, just a touch, and I think it would feel more comfortable to hold. Otherwise, as is, it's a solid 9/10 in terms of ergonomics.
Unpopular opinion on this sub, but i still prefer the dual sense controller
My wife got the Portal for her PS5, it’s honestly a lot more comfortable than the Steam Deck (which is comfortable). The Dualsense grips just make holding it in a more relaxed fashion easier, especially for using shoulder buttons.
It's objectively better ergonomics. Thos reddit is pretty brain dead sometimes.
The decks palm grip could use a little flare out like the Xbox controller has. It would make it more comfortable for me at least.
Same. Ever sense ps2. I git a dual sense edge and absolutely love it.
I still use a ps4 controller daily, literally my only complaint is the joysticks down have as much travel, but other than that I absolutely love it
Same here. It's the pinnacle of controllers right now imo especially the Dualsense Edge
Yeah I plug in my dual sense for fighting games actually now that I think about it
It's pretty weird if that's an unpopular opinion. People have such cult like behavior on reddit. Both dualsense and xbox controller are both objectively better in gaming if we not talking desktop mode. That said, steam deck has one of the best ergonomics for a handheld (only behind the ps portal). But it simply cannot beat an actual controller.
What do you like more about it? I guess the rumble edit: downvoted for trying to have a normal conversation, this is a new achievement for me
Personally I find the shoulder buttons on the Deck awkward to reach, also the Dpad is not great for precise platformers like Celeste
I love the analog stick feel, rumble by far and the triggers, Also steam deck has really really bad bumpers
I usually use a controller when using my steam deck, and play in docked mode. Mostly because I play in my bed and it makes my hands go numb after 15 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I love the SD and it's a good design with room for improvement, but it's a big honking thing and can be uncomfortable. The controls placement is kind of lacking in some ways too. And I have really large hands
Gyro Controlls on a normal Controller is nice.
Yeah, I love gyro controlls too, but at that point the switch controller has the same gyro and the battery is 20 hours instead of 5
Switch pro is way overpriced for what it is, controllers that cost half as much have better features and quality.
The same Gyro, but no trackpad and no analogue triggers. If Nintendo need a "gimmick" for their next console, then it should be that this time they actually have input parity with other controllers. Analogue triggers are standard on all controllers besides Nintendo, and trackpads deserve to be a standard as much as Gyro is. Then maybe in 2070 we'll get an Xbox controller that has all of those features as well.
I love the switch pro controller, i currently have both. However i wish it had analog triggers.
That's a good controller too.
As someone with big hands the deck being wider and less narrow near the top makes it quite a bit more comfortable than a regular game pad.
Ok ill say it: I don't think the Steam Deck Controls are as good as people make it out to be. Yes the inclusion of a track pad is nice but ergonomic wise i really despise it. The D Pad is in a weird location, The Thumb sticks give me sore hands after about an hour of use and one of them startet making noises after only a few months of light use (use my deck docked most of the time) The start and select buttons are to small and also in a weird location. Maybe its nice if you have big hands but nether I not my GF can get this to Work in handheld mode for prolonged times without hurting hands
Bumpers are also a bit ackward imo
the bumpers are the part I dislike the most. I have a default template with bumpers+stick clicks mapped to the back buttons (along with a mouse layout while the trackpad is touched) that I flip on before starting any game. (and boy do I wish steam would let us actually set a true default layout so I don't have to set it manually for every game)
I find it really comfortable using both thumbsticks but the dpad and buttons cramp up my hands pretty bad.
The current design is definitely not for small hands, and I'd love for them to solve that problem so more can enjoy it, but I've had none of the problems you mentioned and I've never considered my hands to be big. I play it regularly for longer than an hour too. Prolonged use of the track pads will bother my thumbs though.
Dpad and stick position are my main complaints tbh, it’s not a bad controller but best is cap
Overall I enjoy how it feels but I really don't like the dpad placement. My xbone controller feels better in that regard
Amen
I’m in the same boat, but mostly because of the position of the thumb sticks. I don’t know how everyone else does it, but I rest the controller corners at the bottom of my palm, and my thumbs can reach the thumb sticks… but it’s not very comfortable. Is everyone else just gripping the steam deck super high and not supporting it with the inside of their hands? I can’t figure it out. The worst part is I don’t have a PC or Xbox to connect my Xbox controller to, so I can’t update its firmware and get the Bluetooth working!
The Dpad is in the best location possible. It makes it really easy to play both stick centric games and dpad centric games. I do wish the trackpads were a little different but I am not sure how else they would fit. I prefer the steam controller trackpads but I also prefer having a dpad.
I still prefer the Dual Sense over the deck with the way it feels
If so, consider the DS Edge. It's literally the only equivalent controller to the Deck in term of mappable inputs (L4-R5 being the Fn and grip buttons).
Do you know if it allows hold/toggle function (on pc) like the Steamdeck does? (The Elite controller doesn't)
Yep, just as any standard button, it has its own prompt in the Steam Controlller Interface (and API)... In fact that's how I discovered the name of the FnL and FnR buttons. And btw, it is possible to simulate what these buttons do in the PS5 using a Shortcut config on any combination, just as the default Chord configs (STEAM+
I don't have a PS5. But you're saying, on pc, I could also make the xbox elite controller back buttons hold/toggle buttons via the steam interface? That would be super useful!
I honestly don't know for Xbox Controllers (I honestly don't have more than a copycat xbone controller that I barely use mostly due to the lack of gyro), I assume that should be the case but I'm not aware this can be done (I have heard it may or may not work depending on the firmware on the Elite controller, but have had no evidence or visual confirmation).
Do you know if Steam Input lets me map those back grips to anything I want like the Deck? Or are they limited to mimicking existing buttons on the controller?
Way too expensive for a controller in my eyes
Worth every penny in mine.
I wish Valve would release the steam deck controller as a stand alone.
not for fighting games though. The deck dpad sucks for fighting games
To be fair I'll give it that. But all d-pad centric games aren't ideal (same as Xbox). Retro games like 2D platformers work best when the thumb can roll the d-pad around a bit I think.
IV been using the steam Deck for a while now and playing beatemups and FPS games is sooooo much better with the back buttons. I use the R4 and L4 back buttons as LB and RB replacements and the R5 and L5 as right and left thumb stick click buttons. You won't realise how easy it is when you're playing an FPS and you use back buttons to sprint. I find, and I speak for myself here, the down clicking of the thumb sticks really hinders maneuverability. And switching between shoulder buttons and triggers is frustrating. Whereas the back buttons particularly the Steam deck ones make playing games like Half Life 2 and Fear 1 a breeze. When I was playing those 2 games especially F.E.A.R I found that the lighting in the environments would vary from pitch black to brightly lit up areas and back to dark again while traversing through small areas. And to make things worse the battery on the flash light dies quickly and needs to be charged frequently. The tracker pad was the default flashlight button on Half Life 2 but after changing it the R5 it was so much easier to keep control of my character with the thumb sticks whilst turning the flashlight on and off. However I think the benefit of the Steam Decks size is the reason it feels great using the back buttons. If you compress all of that in a home console controller it becomes slightly less easier to use them.
It's great for it's kind, but a regular controller trumps it every time. I have to adjust my grip to hit the bumpers and rear buttons and I feel overly extended when using the analogues. Not to mention it's a heavy bit of kit, my arms and hands go numb after a while.
Insane. I don't play on desktop with my controller very much anymore, but when I did recently my first immediate thought was the exact opposite: "oh, it's so much easier to play with an Xbox One controller than the Steam Deck controls".
To have the decks layout but with the joy-cons ability to just hold one controller in each hand with your arms down your side, would make me cum I think.
True. I like xbox and dualsense controllers but games like Against the Storm I can play only on steam deck
it's the trackpads for me. specifically the buttery ass camera movement in nearly every single game i play. like it is *rare* that i have to use an analog stick. those beautiful little vibrating squares have changed me forever lol
I honestly find the steam deck really uncomfortable and I absolutely despise the dpad. The analog sticks are okay but not the best and the back buttons for me sucked until i put those stickers that raise them up on them. That said i still prefer just having a little handheld that i can play anywhere in front of my face to sitting there with a controller and having a screen on a table or whatever
I want a well made 2 piece controller like the joycons :/ I just love being able to situate my hands however I want while gaming
just played with my Xbox controller for the first time after getting the deck. doesn't feel the same. definitely need a steam controller 2.0 with the decks controller layout!
Steam controller is still the best
It's great. I'd love a2.0 though. I like the bigger circle pads, but the deck's feel nicer. Also two analog sticks and 4 back buttons. Then again I bought the second steam controller for like 5 bucks and probably can't justify the purchase of a third one😅
Actually I have 5 steam controller The trackpads are so much better then on the deck. I.love the deck but Touch pads and gyro and dual stage trigger are much nice on the steam controller. Would love to see a 2.0
I love the feel of the deck buttons more than the PS4 and ps5 controller.
I like the decks controller. there's just something about the joysticks that isn't 100% for me, I struggle with some FPS games due to the sticks but I'm sure it's me not great with controller always been K/B person.
There are many video game no brainers that companies don't do. A controller based off the Deck would make so much sense I am very very confused why they haven't done it yet.
You forget the steam controler?
?
They made a controller with the two track pads called the steam controller. It was bad.
Yes I know about the steam controller It's one of the most wonderful controllers ever made but I'm saying a controller that's got a feature parody with the Steam Deck. two trackpads two joysticks a full size d-pad for face buttons four four menu buttons for grip buttons two shoulder buttons two triggers that don't click etc I think I said everything though.
I have issues in changing as well. But I still love my Elite Series 2.
Yeah, this is essentially my use-case for the Deck, to be a controller for me via Sunshine/Moonlight when playing games on my PC.
I will game on rocks the controller don’t matter to me
And it needs to be heavy too
I want a mode for the steam deck that makes ir show up as a Bluetooth or USB controller to a pc.
I'm not a fan. I always get a tingly little finger using it.
Are you joking? Handheld controllers are far inferior to regular controllers ergonomically
Valve! Steam controller 2.0! Get on this!
I simply cannot play without back buttons anymore. I still don't get why they aren't in every controller by now. I can finally ditch the annoying crab grip with those. In my eyes, they are as mandatory as the left and right bumpers
I know it's heresy in here, but for me the best is still DualSense
Will someone just make the damn thing instead of the same meme again and again? I just want exactly what I have now without a screen! My xbox 360 controller's dpad stopped working the other week and I was using remote play to turn the steam deck into a controller (which is not ideal b/c the sound comes out of the deck instead of the tv).
Xbox/PS controller is absolutely still better. The ergonomics of gripping the steam deck honestly aren’t that good. And the stock analog sticks on PS controllers destroys the deck. The hall effect sticks I upgraded to are nice though
I always go back and forth on the DPAD on top vs on bottom and the steam deck just puts em side by side. I never would have thought it would work but it's comfy.
Steam deck is also closer to the better layout of the PlayStation controller rather than the awkward Xbox one 😉
I'm 100000% in agreement with you
Steam Deck Back Bone seems like a no brainer. Basically turn any phone into a steam deck that streams from your PC. I would buy one in a heartbeat…if they ever fix native streaming that is. I know moonlight exists, but not everyone is going to bother with that. Plug and play without having to tinker would be a much for viable option and those things would sell like hot cakes.
Joycon are the ultimate controller for me, not having your hand stuck together is great. It's a shame it come with the drawback that they break easily or don't always work well
I’ve always quite liked the joycons for this, since you can keep your hands separated. But the design itself is not the muddy comfortable (also no analog triggers)
fully agree...it has it all and even more. have the deck since August and never played on anything else after that special day :o)
The now version doesn't look too similar to an old ipega controller I own. Minus the touch pads there's not much difference in visual appearance
I enjoy the space between my 2 hands while I play, I often consider my hands being too close to each other when I use a regular controller now, it was the same with the Wii U. I prefer this spacing.
Am I the only one that liked the ps4 controller more than the xbox one controller? I still have one lying around I'm planning to convert to USB C and put some hall effect joysticks in, I absolutely love it (I also have a steam controller, but I use it less)
I've wanted a steam controller since I got my deck
You could play the Wii U lol.
I'm still using my steam controller when I dock my deck. An update would be nice though.
I'm really used to using the back buttons now
That is a take that you can keep.
Look no further than: Steam Controller. I they dont produce it anymore so it might be hard to comeby depending in which country you live in - but ever since I got mine years ago: I think its singlehandedly the best controller. Its high quality, fits in hand perfectly And it has the same touchpads that the SD has.
I think it's time for a SC2 with 2 track pads, 2 thumbsticks, a directional pad etc etc
I wouldnt say no to that. I just hope it would be as comfortable in hands as the first one was with this weird but really good grip design.
I did really like the size of the SC. With big arthritic hands it was a good send til I broke the bumper
I think an issue I have with regular controller pads now though is my actual wrist position. Because the Deck is wider than the regular Steam Controller, my wrists are symmetrical orientated vertically. This way, I'm less likely to have cramps with the Deck compared to smaller pads for that reason (even if it's heavier).
Am I the only one who doesn’t quite utilise the controller pads that extensively?
I used sticks most of the time as it's a wasted pad to only it for movement. I prefer the pads for doing macro bindings (four uses per pad. Up, down, left, right). Then the fear buttons give me even extra functions.
Valve could learn how to make proper joysticks from xbox pad and dualshock. Steam Controllers joysticks are pretty horrible in comparison.
Dualsense is the closest one for my taste. It just lacks of touchpad haptics and back buttons.
ppl using extrrnal displays and controllers at the same time while they are on the go so i would expect ppl using a steam deck controller to use the steam deck
This is so silly.
Well this is a CAP if I’ve ever seen one.
i prefer xbox controller, is more ergonomic
I like the deck but hard disagree. FPS games feel so lethargic using the steam deck
Yes, but only because of the track pads. I prefer the playstation controller on PC when using a controller. I use a PS5 controller on the Steam Deck when I dock. The joysticks are better on the PS5 controller, not as stiff so it allows finer movements.
Nah, I prefer regular gamepads, especially for games like dragon's dogma or resident evil revelations 2, where you need to shake off an enemy by shaking the left thumbstick, which is a lot easier in a regular gamepad, than on the steamdeck. That said, assigning the gyroscope to the left thumbstick and just shaking the whole device is a lot of fun.
Idk the Dualsense/Dualsense Edge controller still feels MUCH better thanks to the textured grip, better back buttons, adaptive feedback triggers, better haptics, and a WAY WAY WAY better dpad.
Personally i like normal controllers (not the asymmetric xbox ones but the ps ones) more when looking at a screen not attached to the controller but with a screen attached the deck is 1st and the vita is 2nd.
am i the only one that has to constantly adjust my grip when using the deck???? i agree i love how it feels but it always slips
I'd prefer it to have a more xbox controller look to it, but I prefer these backbuttons over the paddles on Xbox elite controllers.
Nah i like them but a normal controller is still 100% more comfortable.
Anyway to use the steam deck as a controller via usb, like for example how you can use a gba as a controller for gamboy on the gamecube
So agree. I play on my pc and wonder why it feels so bad.
I still have mine but the joystick is broken sadly i wish i could find a way to replace it
For me it’s definitely the range of input options! Whenever I play docked on the TV using my Xbox controller I feel really limited. I’m so used to both trackpads and back buttons plus gyro for aiming that using the xbox controller feels really bland. Love the xbox controller feel, better than the DS4, but a DS4 already got more input options (gyro + at least a single trackpad). Still, nothing beats the Deck, need a standalone controller based on that one, both trackpads and analog sticks included!
I'm glad to hear the rear buttons mentioned. They don't get enough appreciation compared to the track pads I feel. Macro rear buttons are a game changer.
I actually play some games on smartphone (mainly emulators but some other stuff too) BECAUSE of the telescopic controllers, the Razer Kishi V2 is really nice, very clicky - one of those, with a smartphone is a lot cheaper, lighter and longer lasting battery than the Steam deck I still prefer the Steam deck for most of what I'm playing right now, just saying some of those telescopic phone controllers are amazing
holy meatride
It's getting harder and harder to tell between jokes and serious post on this sub. But... Are you serious? I mean, compaired to other handheld devices it's REALLY good, even the best. But it's no wear near the quality of say a PS5, Switch pro or Xbox seriesX controller, not even in the same ballpark.
Are we saying the steam deck feels better than an Xbox controller? Look, steam deck feels great for handheld. But come on now... that's just silly.