[hayleox]

> Can I play non steam games with the Steam Controller? > The controller can work with any game compatible with the Steam Overlay.

Ughhhhhh. Looks like they're doing the same nonsense as the last controller, and it won't work without Steam running. Such a disappointment; have to hope someone makes an open-source driver.

[PrivateButts]

It'll probably work like the steam deck in desktop mode when steam isn't running- a basic default profile takes over. To change anything on that profile or to have any advanced features would require steam input.

[ikkun]

valve upstreamed support for it in SDL3 already which I assume means basic inputs should work, but I imagine it probably still needs an app like sc-controller to use the touchpads for anything more complicated than mouse input.

https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/commit/1998b650452bdf0bee5...

[FrostKiwi]

> and it won't work without Steam running. Such a disappointment

I assume it will be like Steam Controller 1: Given no Steam and no special driver, the Controller is a Mouse + Keyboard, also referred to as "lizard mode".

I am also anti-DRM, but I don't think this can be solved easily. Consider the Dual Shock 2: Either it's explicitly supported or requires a custom diver to emulate into XInput or DirectInput. Even using XInput directly is cross platform a driver nightmare. Valve has done good work I think with their libSDL based Steam Overlay, becoming a kind of universal Input equalizer, going so far as to patch their games with updated tutorial input prompts based on controller like Dual Shock 2 vs XBox Controllers.

A firmware level solution is not really realistic at this point. Controller Manufacturer 8BitDo went this approach, with many device restart firmware modes per target platform. It's just not a good user experience.

[ThatPlayer]

I think the other point is that an open source driver from Valve would be nice. Unlike say the Linux kernel driver for the Steam Controller 1 which were reversed engineered.

8bitdo did contribute open source code for SDL's support of their controllers.

[opan]

If the alternative is pretending to be a 360 controller or Switch controller with limited features in either mode, as most controllers do, then I much prefer this. I'll second that I hope something like sc-controller can support it, though.

[bdavbdav]

Yeah I was really frustrated the other day to find that my steam controller doesn’t work with my LG TV as a standard XInput device, either on BT or receiver. Assumed it would.

[pjmlp]

Yeah, the big FOSS defenders aparently aren't.

[bigyabai]

mob of angry people with pitchforks "Release the networking firmware for the Steam Deck, you cowards!"