Taking control
While the Steam Machine will be able to connect to standard USB and Bluetooth controllers and PC peripherals, it has been designed with the all-new Steam Controller in mind. And while both pieces of hardware will be sold separately, they will also be available as a bundle for gamers who want an all-in-one gaming solution for their living room.
If it weren't for the touchpads, this gamepad would be hard to distinguish from many other modern controllers.
Valve
If it weren't for the touchpads, this gamepad would be hard to distinguish from many other modern controllers.
Valve
Seriously, from this point of view it is very difficult to distinguish it from many other console controllers.
Valve
Seriously, from this point of view it is very difficult to distinguish it from many other console controllers.
Valve
Four programmable buttons on the back.
Valve
Four programmable buttons on the back.
Valve
Seriously, from this point of view it is very difficult to distinguish it from many other console controllers.
Valve
Four programmable buttons on the back.
Valve
New Steam controller (not to be confused with old Steam Controller with the same name) will use a proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless connection that provides an end-to-end latency of approximately 8 ms between the button press and the resulting signal received by the system. The radio for this connection will be built into the Steam Machine, but will also be accessible through the included Steam Puck controller, which supports up to four wireless controller connections.
Without the puck, the new Steam controller can still connect to PCs (including portable gaming PCs) and smartphones via Bluetooth or a wired USB connection. And while console connectivity is technically possible, Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffet and designer Lawrence Young told Ars via email that “cooperation with the vendor will be required” and the company would be “happy to discuss… if it becomes available.”
The most striking feature of the Steam Controller is the dual touchpads below the joysticks, echoing the similar, somewhat underutilized control options on the Steam Deck. Each touchpad will have its own haptic motor for “HD haptic feedback,” which should feel like rolling a clicky trackball under your thumb (two more haptic motors in the grips control the force feedback output from the games themselves).
Additionally, the Steam Controller looks much more standardized than Valve's latest attempt at a controller. It features joysticks, a D-pad, face and shoulder buttons pretty much where you'd expect them, as well as four programmable “grab buttons” on the back of the controller. The familiar Steam, View, Menu and QAM buttons (also known as the “three dots”) have also been carried over from the Steam Deck for quick access to useful SteamOS features.
