Phoronix article: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Steam-Machines-Frame-2026
Also listed here: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware
Valve has already sent support for the new Steam Controller upstream: https://www.phoronix.com/news/New-Steam-Controller-SDL
I used to think XBox controllers were the best controllers on the market. I still think they're very good. That changed when I held the Steam Deck for the first time. The feel is better overall, and in my opinion the track pads are such an obvious and great improvement on the traditional controller design.
Nowadays when I use other controllers, they just feel "bare bones" and like they're missing something.
Yeah, I feel like the steam controller was a little hard to get used to, the touchpads always felt a little off, but the steamdeck's touchpads (and presumably the steam controller 2's touchpads) are absolutely perfect.
Easiest way to play games made for the PC on a controller. I've been playing a lot of early 2000's RPG's and they've been perfect on the steamdeck: Baldur's gate 2, Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind, Age of Empires, etc
Indeed. I very much liked the original steam controller in concept, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Like not using the most "plastic" feeling controller I've ever touched...
Yeah I love that I can play old PC games from my couch! I recently played through Fallout 1 (partly) on the Steam Deck. Amazing times.
What do you use the Trackpads for? I never felt the need so far and always wondered why they are there in the first place.
Not who you asked, but I use them for PC games that were built for keyboard and mouse. The track pads on the steamdeck are excellent for emulating a mouse. Baldur's Gate 2, Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights, Morrowind, Age of Empires, etc.
Newer games were built with controllers in mind, so the joysticks probably feel better in those cases.
They were passable at best. Finicky and imprecise more often than not.
Yup. You've made it clear you hate them.
Mouse control that is more precise than a joystick.
IDK what the fuck the left one is really for tho; a stick or even buttons would be just fine for movement. I am of the camp that thinks they're uncomfortable and work less reliably than a joystick. Even a laptop trackpad is used with an index finger not normally a thumb and I never could get used to it. I hate my Steam controller and regret buying it.
It can be one button, or it can be 16 buttons or a radial menu or an axis or… I think it’s great especially for older PC games that weren’t designed with gamepads in mind.
I use laptop trackpads with my thumb all the time
They work really well in third-person games for camera control. I beat Elden Ring on a Steam controller; you have a lot more speed and precision than with a stick.
I use Dualsense for controller which has a trackpad, but I can't imagine using it for anything other than the occasional click or two. Do you find them good enough for games? If so, which ones?
My absolute favourite thing about them is that they allow me to play games designed for mouse and keyboard from my bed! Like any old PC games (fallout, wasteland, baldurs gate, etc).
I don't play enough "first person" games to have any valuable input, but when I've played things like Elder Scrolls I've honestly preferred using the track pads for controlling the camera.
Interesting, thanks for sharing!