At this point, the controller is the most exciting thing for me.
Steam machine is cool, but with how good handheld PCs already are, I'd be ok spending a bit more and just using those instead and docking it for TV gaming.
Steam Controller was significantly better than Xbox controllers for some kinds of games, but it was much clunkier for others. Steam Deck's controller is an improvement over either of them, and this new Steam Controller appears to be pretty much Deck's controller without the Deck, with some tiny extras added.
I have six of the previous generation controller and I love them, only minor annoyance is pairing them occasionally. I don't really use the haptics part all that much though
idk about that - integrated buttons, battery, screen, size constraints and the R&D work that goes into all of that is probably significant compared to 'box with hardware and usb ports' (oversimplifying to make a point here though - of course lots of design work went into this as well).
As someone who bought the original Steam Controller, I'm very excited it's finally getting a successor, especially since it supports Bluetooth. It is always annoying having to move my USB dongle between my desktop and my Steam Link whenever I want to change where I am playing from.
I have to say, I am nearly as hyped about this controller as I am about the frame. I can hook up my gaming PC to my living room TV to play on the couch and a decent controller is all I was missing. I always thought a steamdeck just as a controller would be great, especially the touch pads. I hope the latency feels great over wireless, but I don't mind the USB-C connection if needed.
Valve really did great here with providing all three connection options (BT, dedicated wireless, USB-C).
Yepp, saw that number and I am very hopeful about it. But numbers are not everything and can be gamed (heh), the "feel" during gameplay is most important. I hope to try it out "early 2026" :).
I get very annoyed by the atrocious audio delay of Bluetooth, so I'll keep my long USB cable ready.
P.S. I am aware of USB also not being zero latency, but it is the lower bound, the dongle is USB as well.
Nice to see a symmetric controller for PC. As someone whose hands are mirror opposites of each other (they put my second left hand on backwards) I really appreciate such controllers.
The one thing I wish it has is 3.5mm audio jack. Both Xbox and SONY's dualsense controller have this. But SONY don't support audio via Bluetooth. The Xbox one need a USB adapter but its build is not as good as SONY's. SONY don't have a USB adapter. Given Steam controller is already using an USB puck, it should be able to support it.
The old one used Bluetooth if you upgraded it during the transition period or you have a Windows box.
I had to borrow a friend's computer to get mine to run in BT mode because I gave up using the Steam Link fairly early and didn't use the controller again until I bought a Deck, by which point the grace period where a system update fixed it had long since expired.
My usecase for the steam controler was limited (robots); I've always used the dongle, and never needed/desired to explore direct bluetooth as an alternative.
It's a regression from the original in all the same ways that the Deck is, and it has less to offer over and above what conventional controllers like the DualSense do.
I'm willing to give it a try, but the smaller and less central trackpads compromise the only use cases that make it distinctive as a controller. (Same for the lack of dual-stage triggers.)
If I want to use analog sticks, I already have a ton of controllers with two analog sticks, some of which are generally excellent and have various advantages over the new Steam Controller.
There are some things that only a Steam Controller has ever made possible (e.g., dual trackpad movement), and others that only a Steam Controller has ever done as well (e.g., programmable dual-stage analog triggers, back paddles you can hit from basically anywhere). In the new design, each of them is either removed altogether or compromised and largely reduced to an ancillary role.
According to LTT the VR controllers have two stage triggers. Is the controller confirmed to not have them? Would be odd. PS5's triggers are the most advanced though, would be cool to have those. I'll reserve judgement on the new trackpad location until I try it. Though personally I was never a fan of the trackpads on the original or indeed any controller with trackpads.
Agreed. What this rebirth really needed was magnetic swappable input modules. We have IPD adjustments in our headsets, why not fine tuned button positions. Or trackpads. Or trackballs, whatever folks wanna build. An input hacker paradise platform.
Or a system of rails like the Switch. Or even, tbh, just more than one controller design. An option that forgoes analog sticks altogether and is designed that way from the start could also place buttons differently, have a different grip design, etc., in ways that could be nice.
At this point, the controller is the most exciting thing for me.
Steam machine is cool, but with how good handheld PCs already are, I'd be ok spending a bit more and just using those instead and docking it for TV gaming.
Their previous generation controller wasn't great (I have one). I got it on sale and the haptive stuff didn't work to well IMO.
I have a 8bitdo controller and they are really good. They work perfectly with Debian 13 and probably pretty much every other distro.
https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-3-mode-controller-xbox/
Steam Controller was significantly better than Xbox controllers for some kinds of games, but it was much clunkier for others. Steam Deck's controller is an improvement over either of them, and this new Steam Controller appears to be pretty much Deck's controller without the Deck, with some tiny extras added.
I have six of the previous generation controller and I love them, only minor annoyance is pairing them occasionally. I don't really use the haptics part all that much though
The non-handheld will likely be pricier than the handheld, due to the beefier specs. You may as well just buy one now.
idk about that - integrated buttons, battery, screen, size constraints and the R&D work that goes into all of that is probably significant compared to 'box with hardware and usb ports' (oversimplifying to make a point here though - of course lots of design work went into this as well).
As someone who bought the original Steam Controller, I'm very excited it's finally getting a successor, especially since it supports Bluetooth. It is always annoying having to move my USB dongle between my desktop and my Steam Link whenever I want to change where I am playing from.
Wait... didn't the original Steam Controller already feature Bluetooth?
You're right, it does. I completely forgot about that; the Bluetooth broke on mine years ago. (Sadly it's too late to edit my comment.)
I have to say, I am nearly as hyped about this controller as I am about the frame. I can hook up my gaming PC to my living room TV to play on the couch and a decent controller is all I was missing. I always thought a steamdeck just as a controller would be great, especially the touch pads. I hope the latency feels great over wireless, but I don't mind the USB-C connection if needed.
Valve really did great here with providing all three connection options (BT, dedicated wireless, USB-C).
They're saying 8ms real-world latency on the proprietary 2.4GHz protocol with up to 4 devices per hub. Worse when using Bluetooth compatibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNI0rNJVt8&t=1m13s
Yepp, saw that number and I am very hopeful about it. But numbers are not everything and can be gamed (heh), the "feel" during gameplay is most important. I hope to try it out "early 2026" :).
I get very annoyed by the atrocious audio delay of Bluetooth, so I'll keep my long USB cable ready.
P.S. I am aware of USB also not being zero latency, but it is the lower bound, the dongle is USB as well.
Nice to see a symmetric controller for PC. As someone whose hands are mirror opposites of each other (they put my second left hand on backwards) I really appreciate such controllers.
The one thing I wish it has is 3.5mm audio jack. Both Xbox and SONY's dualsense controller have this. But SONY don't support audio via Bluetooth. The Xbox one need a USB adapter but its build is not as good as SONY's. SONY don't have a USB adapter. Given Steam controller is already using an USB puck, it should be able to support it.
It's a shame patent trolling killed the OG Steam Controller. But this one's got trackpads and seems like a decent substitute.
Indeed a massive shame. The case was ultimately thrown out but by then Valve had stopped production. I still boycott Corsair today over this.
When was it thrown out? It seems the ruling against Valve was upheld
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/court-upholds-jurys-decision-i...
I have the OG steam controller. I didn't realize it had turned into a collector's item.
Discussions:
Steam Frame https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903325
Steam Machine https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903404
RIP Steam Controller. This headless Steam Deck is no substitute. The only halfway decent FPS controller has no substitute.
You're in luck! New one coming out.
https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamcontroller
think that comment was saying that they don't like the new steam controller
Seems strictly better than the old one, what's not to like?
A niche usecase: it switches to a bluetooth connection instead of a usb dongle.
It has a USB wireless dongle that doubles as a charging dock with magnets and pogo pins
Indeed it does, I now see. Interesting!
The old one also used Bluetooth.
The old one used Bluetooth if you upgraded it during the transition period or you have a Windows box.
I had to borrow a friend's computer to get mine to run in BT mode because I gave up using the Steam Link fairly early and didn't use the controller again until I bought a Deck, by which point the grace period where a system update fixed it had long since expired.
My usecase for the steam controler was limited (robots); I've always used the dongle, and never needed/desired to explore direct bluetooth as an alternative.
It's a regression from the original in all the same ways that the Deck is, and it has less to offer over and above what conventional controllers like the DualSense do.
I'm willing to give it a try, but the smaller and less central trackpads compromise the only use cases that make it distinctive as a controller. (Same for the lack of dual-stage triggers.)
If I want to use analog sticks, I already have a ton of controllers with two analog sticks, some of which are generally excellent and have various advantages over the new Steam Controller.
There are some things that only a Steam Controller has ever made possible (e.g., dual trackpad movement), and others that only a Steam Controller has ever done as well (e.g., programmable dual-stage analog triggers, back paddles you can hit from basically anywhere). In the new design, each of them is either removed altogether or compromised and largely reduced to an ancillary role.
According to LTT the VR controllers have two stage triggers. Is the controller confirmed to not have them? Would be odd. PS5's triggers are the most advanced though, would be cool to have those. I'll reserve judgement on the new trackpad location until I try it. Though personally I was never a fan of the trackpads on the original or indeed any controller with trackpads.
Agreed. What this rebirth really needed was magnetic swappable input modules. We have IPD adjustments in our headsets, why not fine tuned button positions. Or trackpads. Or trackballs, whatever folks wanna build. An input hacker paradise platform.
Or a system of rails like the Switch. Or even, tbh, just more than one controller design. An option that forgoes analog sticks altogether and is designed that way from the start could also place buttons differently, have a different grip design, etc., in ways that could be nice.
Seems like that's already in the market with the Xbox Adaptive Controller
They mean on a handheld controller. The Astro C40 has something like this, for example.
I forgot about this system. Anyone mess around with it? Does it work on Linux?
With HID Remapper it should.