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
What are you trying to say? Valve gets a free pass because SteamOS is based on Linux? How d’ya figure that one out?
Since the Linux drivers are open source wouldn’t it be possible for anyone to write a driver for another OS based on those?
As far as I understand, the original Steam Controller presented as an un-useful pair of HID devices by default, and someone wrote a 3rd-party open source driver for it. So, a similar poorly-supported situation to other hardware that the F/OSS community consistently and rightfully criticises.
Yeah, that’s true.
They got better with the Steam Deck. Without Steam running its controller acts like the desktop profile. By default you get keyboard and mouse controls and can switch to a generic gamepad mode by holding down the start button.
I expect/hope that it will be the same with the new controller. Maybe it’ll just use the Steam Deck’s driver. It has been upstreamed for quite a while now.
I’m saying there’s no “free pass” required because they’ll work on Linux.
Will they work properly on Linux? Will they work on a GOG game without installing Steam? Will they work on an alternative console or handheld?
If not then that sucks, and that is what they’re being criticised for. Why should anyone STFU about that? It seems like a serious flaw.
Yes.