The issue comes down to how the device interacts with your computer. Just like the original version, the new Steam Controller has no native Windows drivers. This means the hardware relies entirely on the Steam app to function properly. If you do not have the game running via Valve’s storefront app, your shiny new gamepad turns into a useless piece of plastic.
Gamers Nexus also reported this and there are a lot of other news outlets also covering this. It is kinda the same as with the steam deck where I noticed that the inputs just don’t work until steam is launched. I really don’t like that I have to have Steam running for this controller to work. I don’t know if it is a dealbreaker for me, yet, but it really put a damper on my enthusiasm about it
And we are able to freely criticize them about it. If any other company did the same people would be irate.
But these lemmings on the internet don’t like it if you criticise Lord Gaben.
I definitely believe theres some bias and rose tinted glasses going on here. I love Valve currently but people shouldn’t reward bad/sketchy behavior regardless of who it is.
I would really like to see Valve release some basic open standalone drivers to keep in the spirit of their other recent hardware.
Other companies do the exact same though, Nintendo controllers don’t support non-Nintendo devices (although they’ve been reverse-engineered for Steam and Linux).
… but the Steam Controller works with any hardware that can run Steam.
… which is… any PC, thats less than roughly 15-20 years old.
So this is absolutely not the exact same thing as what Nintendo does.
Steam is hardware agnostic. Nintendo is not.
You could run a Steam Controller on a Nintendo Switch, provided you got rid of Nintendo’s operating system, like so:
https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/steam-shown-running-on-nintendo-switch-thanks-to-latest-proton-beta-fex-2604-translates-x86-to-arm-friendly-instructions-on-linux
I did forget about Nintendo but to be fair, people hate the shit out of Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony controllers have been pretty plug and play for me though.
Other companies do do this… and people are fine with it,. Get a grip.
Sony and Xbox controllers are plug and play on almost any computer I’ve used and even some phones. What do you mean?
My dualshock 3 controller never got an official plug and play driver on windows 10.
Doesn’t it default to Xinput? Ill admit im less familiar with the PlayStation controllers but I know my roommate has a few of the newer ones and just pops those into whatever system he was using pretty seamlessly (Win 10, and Mint IIRC)
Nintendo, and it’s new to recent console generations that those controllers have crossplay because they found it more profitable to let PC players buy them.
You know this though…
And people rightfully criticize Nintendo. They criticize Nintendo for their other wrongdoings more because the controller thing is really just a drop in the hat.
Are you good? I dont think im being aggressive here but you’re coming off as really toxic.
I’m a bit frustrated today. Thanks for asking.
Not everyone criticizes Nintendo for that because some people think it’s good that they protect their brand and their player experience to a degree. I prefer Nintendo doing things with intention beyond what’s immediately profitable. I respect the long game when it’s to maintain a standard of quality.
That said, I really don’t care that much, I just think it’s our individual responsibility to know what we’re buying.
Yea Nintendo for me is really on my shitlist for how they’ve treated their players and their policies but they certainly make a good product and people are going to take that into consideration too.
I also agree, people should definitely know what they are buying and I think Valve has done their due diligence on providing that information. However, I think Valve making a peripheral that only works when logged into Steam and nowhere else is not a good thing and should be looked at critically. Other mainstream peripherals are much more plug and play to PC outside of their own ecosystem (Xbox, PlayStation) for a lower price. I do not see why the controller doesent support xinput or whatnot or at least why the driver cannot be a separate download and entity from Steam. It wouldn’t even be remotely controversial (Heh) that this is a device that could go the route of something like the Spotify Car Thing.
I hope you find some peace today. Im really sorry if my comments inflammed your frustration at all.
You did nothing wrong at all. Thank you for your kindness.