Valve's new Steam Controller arrives with long-lasting battery and premium design

Initial review of Valve's new Steam Controller: premium ergonomics, battery life of 35+ hours, and full integration with Steam Input on Linux and Steam Deck.

Battery, charging, and Puck

The Puck is magnetic and facilitates wireless charging, keeping the keyboard/controller stable while charging. In real-world usage tests, the controller reached approximately 19 hours and 1 minute before hitting half-charge, even with days where it was left off to discharge. Factory specifications point to 35 hours or more, which you are likely to confirm in practice with moderate use.

The battery level is shown by a small indicator and does not display a direct percentage on all screens. In some modes, it is possible to view the charge through the standard Steam Overlay, but on desktops, direct reading may be missing. Even so, the general assessment of battery life offers a good idea of endurance for long sessions.

Comfort, design, and use

The trackpads highlight the chunky look, but the ergonomics are excellent. The grip is smooth, with no uncomfortable edges, and the shell has no finishing flaws. Compared to the first Steam Controller, the pleasure of holding and using it is considerably higher, with back buttons that are easy to reach and provide pleasant feedback. Furthermore, playing RTS games with trackpads is viable and comfortable, with simple scrolling and friction adjustments on each trackpad to adapt to the player's style.

With Steam Input, you can customize virtually every button, stick, and trackpad, which makes the experience extremely flexible even for games with limited support. On Linux, this customization shines even more, as many pad options often lack this level of configuration.

Gyro and mouse interaction

The gyro is a positive surprise: for the first time, I saw the feature work in a truly useful way, especially in combination with the traditional controller. It is possible to use it as a bridge between a mouse and a joystick, adjusting it for on-demand activation or as a continuous mode, depending on the game. In FPS titles, this combination offers more natural aiming, provided the Steam Input settings are well-adjusted.

There are still situations where using the Gyro for mouse/LMB can cause conflicts with games that mix keyboard/mouse and controller input. In Overwatch, for example, using the gyro with joystick movement can cause FPS drops, but turning the controller into keyboard/mouse mode via Steam Input usually solves the problem in practice.

Usage outside of Steam and compatibility

Tested on Linux, the controller works as a basic gamepad outside of Steam when using Proton, GE-Proton, or Wine. Native games may require SDL adjustments or driver updates to properly detect the device, but it is possible to use it without Steam for many titles. In some cases, trackpads and back grips do not work outside of Steam, with the game recognizing the device only as a simple gamepad.

• LIMBO (via GOG with GE-Proton): vibration worked well.
• DOOM and DOOM 2 (Nightdive, GE-Proton): vibration working.
• Absolute Drift (GOG, GE-Proton): detected as keyboard/mouse by default; with Proton, it works as a gamepad.
• Hollow Knight Silksong (GOG, GE-Proton): detected as mouse/keyboard in the native build; with Proton, recognized as a gamepad.
• Rocket League: working via Heroic Games Launcher as a gamepad.

It is important to note that, outside of Steam, trackpads and back grips may not work in all situations with Proton/Wine; the typical operation is as a basic gamepad. The community may offer similar drivers in the future to improve detection in native titles.

Connectivity with Steam Deck and Desktop Mode

It is possible to wake up a Steam Deck connected via the Puck without Bluetooth, which facilitates use when docking the Deck. In Desktop Mode, a small quirk occurs: the initial input appears as lizard mode and only then is Steam Input activated; in different accounts, the account picker may require an additional action to recover input. Pressing the Steam button to enter the Desktop Big Picture allows you to select the account again and return to normal mode.

The controller also integrates with the Steam Deck via Steam Input, keeping settings synchronized via Steam Cloud between devices, such as the Desktop and the Lenovo Legion Go with Bazzite.

Desktop Mode and dedicated configuration

Desktop Mode brings its own layout that can be configured from scratch, facilitating use on desktops or in the SteamOS Desktop mode. Although it requires time to memorize the shortcuts, the layout options help make the mouse/trackpad more natural for navigation and games that require precise movements.

Verdict and price

It is not the cheapest, but it delivers a robust set of features focused on the PC and the Steam ecosystem. The battery life, comfort, and versatility of the trackpads create an experience that approaches premium options, without the exorbitant price of some elite models. For those already immersed in Steam, it is worth considering getting an extra unit to avoid disputes over the "controller island."

Indicative launch price: US 99, Canada 149 CAD, EU 99 €, UK 85, AU 149 and PLN 419. The device is available via Steam or regional retailers.

If you are curious about what else can be done with the Steam Controller, share in the comments which feature you intend to explore first and in what type of game you intend to use it.

Call to comment: And you, are you already thinking about adopting the Steam Controller? Tell us in the comments which feature caught your attention the most and how you intend to use it in your setup.

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