this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
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Linux Gaming
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Actually yeah I did check out the Steam controller too. It only works with non-steam games if I add those to Steam and I don't need trackpads tbf. But thanks for the suggestions, since their repairibility seems pretty top-notch.
That's not true. If you don't use Steam Input, you only lose the Steam-specific inputs, like the touchpads, gyro, grip sense, and back buttons. Otherwise it is pretty much equivalent to a modern Xbox controller:
I've played a lot of Project Wingman with it, and the TMR inputs are actually a massive improvement.
I believe in you, then do you actually see your Steam Controller being recognized as an actual controller in non-steam games?
I've heard the argument that it is recognized as a KBM if you're not on Steam.
Yes, it's recognised as a controller both in non-Steam games and in other applications like KDE Settings. It works just like any other controller with the usual, quasi-standard inputs (analog sticks, face buttons, etc). Steam support regarding non-Steam games:
If Steam isn't running and there are no other games that capture the controller input, the SC enters "lizard mode" where it emulates mouse and certain keyboard inputs. The right touchpad becomes a mouse, the left touchpad becomes a scroll wheel, R2 is left click, L2 is right click, A is Enter, B is Escape;
wevdisplays the correct input events. Lizard mode is disabled when you launch a game.(edit) It sounds like this only works in Linux. Windows needs a separate utility to use the SC with non-Steam games.
(edit 2) This is what KDE reports:
It can detect the back buttons (Paddle 1-4) and the quick access menu (Miscellaneous).
hid-recorderalso shows that all other inputs are also available through the/dev/hidraw*device. I wouldn't be surprised at all if someone released a standalone Steam Input emulator app within a few weeks.