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
What is up with Valve and their obsession with those stupid touchpads? I hated that on the old Steam D-Pad. Hypersensitive seemingly every moment except when you needed it to be.
The XBox and the PS figured out how to make traditional controllers very well. Nintendo loves to get freaky with it and does a better than average job of innovating in the space. But Valve just seems to want to cobble together spare parts into a janky whatever the hell this is. I don’t get it.
Whomever is making these things, you don’t have to keep doing this. Just be normal!
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.
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!
Those pads exist for PC games designed for mouse and keyboard. Sony and MS can get away without them because the games are designed arround for the controllers, while the Steam controller was designed for the games.
In games like point and click adventures, city builders, older 1st person shooters and others made for KB&M, the pads are a god-send when playing on the steam deck or on a TV from the couch.
I love the trackpads thanks.
You’ve obviously never tried them and are just talking out of your ass
I mean he’s being really extreme about it but he’s not exactly wrong. The touchpads on my Deck are more of an annoyance than help because of my smaller hands. I can only remember using it in one game and disabled in others because of how my hands would accidentally brush against them so I would love it if they had a touchpad-less version.
I’d think that you could set them to whatever in Steam Input, if you’re playing a Steam game.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/597397396010388899/
I believe that you can have per-game settings, so just enable them for that one game you want.
You could, like, not buy them, you know?
That is the plan.
I get that the touch pads are meant for mouse emulation. But, it’s a PC! Why wouldn’t I just pair my trackball to it?
For any gaming I’d prefer a mouse for, the gamepad is better. But for some games, the trackball is superior to both. Games like Diablo. I’m not into most of the games that would benefit. Someone named a bunch and yeah, I don’t play those games. But for those games, I have a Logitech trackball I love, the MX570 or whatever. The trackball everyone uses. Not very original, I know, but hey, the thing’s good! It’s why I haven’t bought the Apple Magic Trackpad for my Mac. If I had a mouse, I would have. But the trackball bridges the divide. So yeah, as a trackpad guy (you can’t beat the one on the MacBook) I get it… but not for gaming. Like trying to play Cyberpunk on my MacBook is an exercise in futility. First, there’s no traffic or pedestrians because it’s a base M2 with no GPU (something like a 12th generation Core i5 on the Intel side?) but it runs! At like 720p. But when I look with the trackpad, I randomly shoot because the stupid game doesn’t know how to use a trackpad right. And you shouldn’t use a trackpad for a shooter. But for something that’s 2D or 2.5D or isometric or whatever? Probably the best thing you can use.
I remember hear8ng during the development of the first steam controller, valve have put in a trackball emulator or behavior (whatever it’s called. I’m playing my “English is my second language” card) for the track pads.
I assume they didn’t abandon that and did put it as a configuration for the steam deck, and again still assuming, for the new controller.
If I’m wrong I’m happy to be politely corrected.
Also, hello fellow trackball companion 👋🏾