Linus Tech Tips's Valve Steam Controller Review

The controller's plastic body feels somewhat cheap, and its handle angle and thumbstick placement can be a bit of a reach or lead to accidental presses for some users, particularly those with smaller hands. Screw holes on the bottom may also affect comfort.

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The thumbsticks provide a good tactile feel, comparable to an Xbox controller, featuring raised textured edges and a flat smooth middle. They also include capacitive sensors for activating six-axis motion controls.

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The triggers offer adequate resistance but do not include haptic rumble (like Xbox), adaptive resistance (like DualSense), short/long travel toggles, or the two-stage activation found in the original Steam Controller, making them 'uninspired'.

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The four paddle buttons on the back are praised for their 'great' tactility, optimal placement for easy access, and sufficient stiffness to prevent accidental presses, pushing a desirable feature for mainstream controllers.

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The Steam Controller, combined with Steam Input, allows for extensive customization of control schemes, including the use of community configurations and flexible gyro aiming activation, even in games without native remapping support.

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A major highlight is the included wireless 2.4 GHz puck which acts as both a dongle and a charging dock, eliminating the need for constant cable plugging and reducing port wear. It can also pair up to four controllers.

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The new Steam Controller features Valve's best haptic trackpads yet, with an enlarged, flatter design from the Steam Deck. They are a 'lifesaver' for navigating non-controller-optimized PC experiences and even playing games that don't natively support controllers, such as RTS titles.

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The ABXY face buttons are described as soft and quiet due to a rubber membrane, which some users might find less responsive or clicky compared to other controllers, but are generally deemed 'fine' in performance.

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The Steam Controller 2 demonstrates excellent input latency, performing 'really, really well' in lab tests. The reviewer states that 'no one's going to be bothered by the latency,' indicating a highly responsive gaming experience.

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The controller features Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, which combine the advantages of both Hall effect and potentiometer joysticks, offering outstanding precision, great reliability (eliminating drift), and low power consumption.

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Ergonomics and Build Quality Concerns

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The reviewer found the plastic of the controller's body to feel 'a little cheap' compared to other first-party offerings. He also noted that fingers might land on screw holes, and the handle angle didn't feel ergonomic enough, making it feel like an 'eight-bit dough controller' compared to an Xbox controller.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Thumbstick Feel and Capacitive Sensors

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The thumbstick feel is described as 'good and well-featured,' similar to an Xbox controller with raised textured edges and a flat smooth middle for grip. Additionally, the thumbsticks have capacitive sensors that can activate or deactivate six-axis motion controls.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Face Button Tactility and Sound

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The face buttons are similar to an Xbox controller with a soft and quiet rubber membrane, which some late-night gamers might appreciate. However, the less clicky bumper might appeal more to PlayStation gamers, and the reviewer personally isn't a fan of the softness.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Trigger Design Limitations

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The triggers have adequate resistance but lack advanced features found in competitors, such as rumble from Xbox controllers or adaptive resistance from DualSense. They also don't have short/long travel toggles or the two-stage activation of the original Steam Controller.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Excellent Paddle Button Tactility and Placement

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The four paddle buttons on the back are praised for their 'great' tactility and optimal placement for easy access. They are stiff enough to prevent accidental presses with practice, making them a welcome feature for mainstream controllers.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Grip Sensors for Gyro Activation

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The grip of the controller contains sensors that provide another method to activate the six-axis gyroscope inside, offering flexible control options.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Extensive Control Scheme Customization with Steam Input

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The Steam Controller, combined with Steam Input, allows users to configure almost any control scheme, even for games that don't natively support remapping. It also supports community configurations and flexible gyro aiming, which is described as a 'game-changer'.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Innovative Wireless Charging Puck

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The wireless 2.4 GHz puck doubles as a charging dock, which is highlighted as a 'major highlight' and a 'thoughtfulness that I love to see from Valve.' This design eliminates the need for constant Type-C cable plugging, reducing wear on the port. Up to four controllers can be paired to a single puck.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Improved Haptic Trackpads

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The controller features Valve's 'best haptic trackpads yet,' with an enlarged, flatter, squarer design from the Steam Deck, improving upon the original Steam Controller's concave design. These trackpads are a 'lifesaver' for navigating non-controller-optimized experiences.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Playing RTS Games with Trackpads

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The reviewer successfully plays Anno, a traditionally non-controller-friendly RTS game, using the trackpads. He finds the WASD and camera controls 'very intuitive,' allowing him to zoom in and out, and expresses enjoyment playing an RTS on the couch.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

ABXY Button Responsiveness for Platformers

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While playing a platformer, the reviewer notes that some people might like the ABXY buttons, while others might not. He describes them as soft and 'not quite as responsive' as clickier buttons he has come to prefer, though ultimately calls them 'fine'.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Excellent Input Latency Performance

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The reviewer states that 'no one's going to be bothered by the latency' and that the Steam Controller 2 'did really, really well in our labs testing for input latency,' performing better than most, except for competitive-geared controllers.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

D-Pad Feel is Suboptimal

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The reviewer finds the D-pad 'doesn't feel good to me,' preferring the Steam Deck D-pad, despite Valve's efforts to improve diagonals. He broadly states that 'all modern D-pads are my enemy.'

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Haptics are Strong, but Triggers Uninspired

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The haptic feel of the controller itself is a 'really strong point,' being better than the Steam Deck and 'miles ahead' of the original. However, the triggers are 'uninspired' and lack features like rumble or haptic feedback found in other controllers, representing a 'missed opportunity.'

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

TMR Joysticks for Precision, Reliability, and Low Power

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The controller uses Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, which combine the benefits of Hall effect and potentiometer joysticks. They offer 'outstanding precision,' 'great reliability' (preventing drift), and 'low power draw.'

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJB7LTs5_s

Is the Steam Controller comfortable to hold?

The reviewer found the plastic body to feel somewhat cheap compared to other premium controllers, and noted that screw holes on the bottom might interfere with comfort. The handle angle, while improved from the Steam Deck, was not sufficient for his preference, making it feel more like an 'eight-bit dough controller.' Additionally, the thumbsticks were a bit of a far reach for those with smaller hands.

How good are the Steam Controller's trackpads and can they be used for desktop games?

The controller features Valve's 'best haptic trackpads yet,' with an enlarged, flatter design that surpasses the original. They are described as a 'lifesaver' for navigating non-controller-optimized PC interfaces and enabling gameplay in titles that traditionally don't support controllers. The reviewer successfully played Anno (an RTS game) on the couch, finding the trackpads intuitive for WASD, camera controls, and zooming.

What are the unique charging and connectivity features of the Steam Controller?

A major highlight of the Steam Controller is its included wireless 2.4 GHz puck, which cleverly combines the functions of a wireless dongle and a charging dock. This design eliminates the need for constant plugging and unplugging of a Type-C cable, thereby preserving the controller's port. Additionally, a single puck can pair up to four Steam controllers, offering flexibility for multi-controller setups or charging in multiple locations.

Are the joysticks durable and precise, and do they suffer from drift?

The controller is equipped with Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, which provide the advantages of both Hall effect and potentiometer designs. This technology ensures outstanding precision, excellent reliability by preventing the wear-out that causes drift, and efficient low power consumption, making them a durable and accurate input solution.

How customizable are the Steam Controller's input options and control schemes?

Valve's traditional open approach to hardware is evident with the Steam Controller and Steam Input, allowing users to configure virtually any control scheme, even for games without native remapping support. This includes utilizing community configurations and flexibly activating gyro aiming, which the reviewer calls a 'game-changer' for mouse and keyboard users transitioning to a controller.

What is the input latency like on the new Steam Controller?

The reviewer confidently states that 'no one's going to be bothered by the latency,' as the Steam Controller 2 performed 'really, really well' in their lab testing for input latency. It ranked among the best controllers, surpassed only by some competitively geared options, indicating a highly responsive and fluid gaming experience.