Steam Controller - Are you interested?

[Harrison]

The New Steam Controller is due for launch on the 4th May (Star Wars day!)

Are you interested? Will you be buying one?

https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamcontroller

Priced at 85 pounds I don't think that bad at all considering the higher end Elite controllers from Sony and Xbox both cost 200, and many third party controllers are well over 100.

Key Features:

• Magnetic thumbsticks (TMR)
• Full set of inputs to play your whole Steam library
• 4x haptic motors for high definition rumble
• 8.39 Wh battery; 35+ hours of gameplay on a single charge
• Steam Controller Puck (USB cable included) enables plug-and-play low-latency wireless connection & easy magnetic charging

Plug and play with the Steam Controller Puck
One puck, two jobs: It?s a wireless transmitter that provides a fast, stable connection for your Steam Controller. It's also a charging station, connecting to your Controller magnetically with a satisfying click. Prefer using Bluetooth or USB? Steam Controller supports those too.

Next-generation magnetic thumbsticks
Steam Controller comes with magnetic thumbsticks using TMR technology, designed for improved feel, responsiveness and long-term reliability. They also support capacitive touch to enable motion controls.

High definition rumble
Steam Controller's powerful motors are capable of handling complex waveforms for immersive, accurate haptics.

Grip-enabled gyro
We're calling it Grip Sense, and it's a new input for Steam Controller that enables gyro with capacitive touch. Hold and release to enable and disable gyro aiming. You can also map it like any other button.

Customizable for Steam Input

Steam Controller was designed with all the inputs for all your games. Paired with Steam Input, it?s the ultimate customizable controller. Thanks to its input parity with Steam Deck, Steam Controller will be pre-populated with community configurations for thousands of games from day one, or you can make and share your own.

[Harrison]

Having owned a Steam Deck since launch I really like it's controls, so the Steam controller using a very similar layout and setup is great and I am definitely going to get one at some point soon.

It also means that all the Steam community Steam Deck control setup layouts that have been created will be fully compatible with the new controller, meaning you just go into the game's configuration screen in Steam and pick one.

One other thing I think Steam should be highlighting more is their direct support for spare parts. Just like the Steam Deck, Valve are happy for you to take apart the controller to customise or repair, and like the Steam Deck will be providing replacement parts.

[Tiago]

No interest here, only because of price.

[Demon Cleaner]

No interest, because of everything.

[Harrison]

Really? I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is going to be far better then using an Xbox controller for PC games. Like the Steam Deck it also has dual thumbpads which make most mouse based control really easy. I've actually found playing FPS games on the Steam Deck really great fun with its control setup, although on a full PC I would most likely still opt for keyboard and mouse. .

I'm also planning to buy a Steam Machine when it come out so owning this controller will be useful.

[Demon Cleaner]

I don't like the Steam Deck. I don't like those 2 pads or what are they called, already not on the Deck, neither on the controller, looks very strange.

I bought 2 ManbaOne V2 controllers some month ago and I'm super happy with them.

And why would you want a Steam machine, it's just a low end PC.

[Harrison]

I want one to put under the TV and use sitting on the sofa. I can't afford to build a new high end gaming PC this year and wouldn't anyway due to the high ram costs at the moment, so this will be a good stopgap too if the price is close to the PS5, which is rumoured.

It will also double as a very good emulation PC.

Plus as a big fan of the Steam Deck it is basically a more powerful version of the same.

[Kin Hell]

<snip> I can't afford to build a new high end gaming PC this year and wouldn't anyway due to the high ram costs at the moment<snip>

I might have a complete high end Gaming Rig for sale with the release of Socket 19xx....

....But I doubt you'd want it being as it's an Intel & nVidia Rig, cos I know you're such an AMD 60fps fan-boi.

Too "Brick-Like" for me in my opinion and having said that.... It looks more like a breeze block to me than any spack-pad out there....

But then I have a natural bias for PSX Pads tbh.... Even the original PS1 pad.

That said, I game on a PeeCee so WASD on a mechanical KB & an Inverted mouse is paramount for me....

The Steam pad looks bloody awful tbh...

[Harrison]

Definitely not the nicest looking controller, I give you that. But when the Steam Deck came out it looked cumbersome and a bit odd. But to use its one of the most comfortable.

But I am with you with Playstation controllers. I've always been a fan. Love the PS5 controller.

[Kin Hell]

Yeah H...

Brick for a brick on Steam but PSX is a proper boner all the time!