Valve’s new Steam Controller has a major problem for PC games not on Steam
tech.sportskeeda.com
If you have been eagerly waiting to get your hands on the new Steam Controller, you might want to pause and check your game library first.

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

  • BentiGorlich@gehirneimer.deOP
    28·
    11 hours ago

    Yeah you can work around it, but it is still intentionally restricting you from just using it with non-steam games. I don’t want to have to play every game through steam, even though I intentionally bought it from GOG for example

    • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz
      7·
      10 hours ago

      I guess it boils down to two options:

      1. Use the Steam controller and utilise workarounds to play games from other platforms. Is it the controller that much nicer to justify the workarounds and the cost?
      2. Use a different controller that is compatible with everything. No janky solutions required, which is nice, but is the controller so much worse than the Steam controller that you feel like you’re missing out?