Steam Now Officially Supports More Nintendo Controllers

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Steam now works with the Nintendo Switch Pro and GameCube controllers. Previously, Steam primarily supported controllers from Xbox and PlayStation, which meant Nintendo players often needed to buy a separate controller to play PC games on Steam. This update expands controller support, making Steam more accessible to Nintendo gamers.

As a Nintendo fan, I was so excited when Steam added official support for the Switch Pro Controller back in 2018! It was amazing to finally be able to connect it to my PC via USB or Bluetooth without needing any extra software. And the best part? I could choose a setting to switch the button layout to match what I’m used to on Nintendo consoles – swapping the A/B and X/Y buttons. Plus, the gyro and rumble features actually worked, which made gaming even more immersive!

Steam Now Supports Nintendo Switch 2 Pro and GameCube Controllers

A recent Steam update, released on November 25th, now allows gamers to connect both Nintendo Switch 2 Pro and GameCube controllers to their Windows PCs using USB. This even includes support for GameCube adapters used with the Wii U, letting players enjoy rumble features. Steam has supported the original Switch Pro controller since 2018, and in 2022, added official support for Joy-Cons and classic Nintendo Switch Online controllers like those for NES, Super NES, N64, and Sega Genesis. This new update makes it easier for Nintendo fans to use their controllers with Steam games, often without needing any complicated workarounds or extra software.

Okay, so just because Steam supports Nintendo controllers doesn’t mean every game will work perfectly right out of the box. Like with any gamepad, you might need to do a little tweaking to get everything set up just how you like it. Also, don’t be surprised if some games don’t use all the cool features like motion controls or rumble. A lot of games, especially older PC ones, are set up for Xbox controllers by default. Honestly, even when I use a PlayStation controller, I often see Xbox button prompts, and I expect the same thing will happen with my Nintendo controller sometimes – it’s just something you gotta deal with.

The new Switch 2 Pro Controller is now available at most major stores, both in person and online, including directly from Nintendo. You can also find the GameCube-style controller released in May 2025, along with other retro controllers, on Nintendo’s website. To use classic controllers, you’ll need a Switch Online membership, which costs $19.99 a year for the standard plan, or $49.99 a year with the Expansion Pack added.

If you already own a PlayStation or Xbox controller, you can definitely use it with Steam. Steam officially works with Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the latest Xbox controllers, plus the PlayStation DualShock 4. Support for the PlayStation DualSense controller was first available in beta in 2020, and improved features were added in November 2023.

Valve now officially supports Switch 2 Pro and GameCube controllers on PCs, making PC gaming easier for a wider range of players. Previously, PC gamers were often limited to PC-specific or third-party gamepads, but many prefer the familiar feel of controllers designed for Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo consoles. Steam’s ongoing improvements mean you can simply plug in these controllers and play, making PC gaming much simpler and more enjoyable for everyone.

Steam Client Beta – November 25 – Patch Notes

General

  • The Steam client is now 64-bit on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit.
    • Systems running 32-bit versions of Windows will continue receiving updates to the 32-bit Steam client until January 1, 2026.

Game Recording

  • Fixed errors copying to clipboard or exporting H265 videos on systems with a NVIDIA 50xx series gpu.

Steam Input

  • Fixed regression detecting controller hotplug in Unity games
  • Added support for Nintendo Switch 2 controllers connected over USB on Windows
  • Added support for GameCube adapters in Wii-U mode with rumble on Windows
  • Promoted the newer gyro modes from beta to the default gyro modes loaded. Older configuration that are using the older modes will still see the option and you can also enable Steam Input dev mode under Settings->Developer to keep them visible all the time.
  • Fix a case where the desktop version of the configurator could unexpectedly close when trying to preview a configuration for another game on the Search tab

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2025-11-26 22:06