Is the New Steam Controller Just One Big Compromise?

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As a big Steam fan, I was really excited to see the new Steam Controller announced along with the Steam Machine! It’s Valve’s latest try at building their own gaming hardware. They actually tried this before back in 2015 with the original Steam Machine, but it didn’t really take off. It seemed like a bunch of things worked against it – the market wasn’t quite ready, people weren’t sure what to expect, and the way they priced it was just too complicated. Hopefully, this time around will be different!

Valve has found success with its hardware, particularly the Steam Deck handheld. Its high-quality construction, comfortable design, and powerful performance—which surpasses the Nintendo Switch—have made it a leader in handheld PCs. Valve seems to be applying the same careful approach to design, price, and technology with the upcoming Steam Machine, and especially with the Steam Controller, which shares many similarities with their current devices.

Will Valve’s New Steam Controller Be Phenomenal or a Flop?

A Rundown of the Steam Controller’s Core Features and Design

I’ve been hearing a lot about the Steam Controller, and honestly, from what early testers are saying, it feels a lot like playing a Steam Deck, but without the screen! It’s super similar to the controls you get built right into the Deck. But it’s not just a copy – there are a few things the Controller does that the Deck doesn’t, and I’m excited to see what those are!

  • Tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks
  • Grip-enabled gyro controls
  • Four haptic motors for improved rumble

TMR thumbsticks are a new advancement based on Hall effect technology. Hall effect thumbsticks were already a big upgrade over traditional thumbsticks found in most game controllers – they’re more responsive, use less power, and last much longer, effectively solving problems like stick drift. TMR thumbsticks take those benefits even further, offering all the advantages of Hall effect sticks, but with increased performance.

Valve

Valve has introduced a smart new feature called Grip Sense that lets you turn gyro controls on and off simply by how tightly you hold the controller. This builds on the Steam Deck’s existing system where gyro controls only work when your hands are physically touching the thumbsticks. The new Steam Controller will also include these touch-sensitive thumbsticks.

As a Steam Controller fan, I really love that the grip buttons aren’t just tied to motion control. You can actually customize what they do – map them to any button or action you want, it’s not limited to just gyro stuff. It’s super versatile!

One of the biggest upgrades is the improved vibration. While the Steam Deck already has good vibration, it uses only two motors. The new controller doubles that to four, which should create more powerful and detailed vibrations – similar to what you feel with a PlayStation DualSense controller.

The Steam Controller Has Feature Parity with The Steam Deck

The Steam Controller and Steam Deck share a very similar control scheme. Think of the Steam Controller as the Steam Deck’s controls without the screen. It has the same overall shape, comfortable grip, and includes familiar features like dual trackpads, grip buttons, and motion sensing – making it feel like a close relative to the Deck.

Some people, particularly those who follow gaming controllers, might notice the new Steam Controller doesn’t feel very groundbreaking. It’s quite similar to the Steam Deck, essentially the same device without a screen. This raises questions about whether it offers enough value and how well it will compete with other controllers on the market.

The Steam Controller is a “Compromise,” but That’s Not a Bad Thing

Valve

The Steam Controller is essentially a Steam Deck without a screen, and it has a few additional features. However, that’s not a bad thing! The controller actually uses many of the same design ideas as the Deck, which is likely to be a benefit.

The Steam Deck is much more comfortable to hold than the Nintendo Switch, thanks to its well-designed shape. It has rounded grips and large buttons that feel like a traditional gamepad. This design clearly influenced the creation of the Steam Controller, which was built with similar comfort in mind.

While Xbox controllers are the most straightforward to use with PCs – connecting instantly with Windows – the Steam Controller offers several benefits over PlayStation’s DualSense and older DualShock controllers. PlayStation controllers often need extra software to work correctly, including fixing button layouts. Plus, updates can sometimes cause issues with PlayStation controllers on PCs. The Steam Controller avoids these common problems.

Because the Steam Controller was designed specifically for SteamOS, you’d expect it to connect easily, much like an Xbox controller. It should be even simpler to use with a Steam Machine, which includes a special antenna just for the controller. The Steam Controller Puck, which also charges the controller, should help keep connections stable and reduce delays.

I’m really excited about the Steam Controller, but honestly, we’ll only know how good it really is after a lot of people have used it for a long time. The first looks are promising – everyone seems to love how it feels and the cool things it can do. But it needs to hold up to lots of gaming and be comfortable for hours on end if it’s going to compete with the big names out there. If it does, I think it could be a huge win for Valve and a fantastic addition to both Steam Machines and regular PCs.

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2025-11-29 21:05