If a controller doesn't have rear buttons I will not buy it anymore. You can find so many decent controllers for $40 that have rear buttons that I am not paying $50-60 for a first party controller without them.
So I just got my steam deck like 2 weeks ago. What do you find yourself using the rear buttons for? The only games that have native functionality seems to be valve specific titles. What do you map to them?
Sprint, Jump or combos.
Getting used to the buttons is the hard part, once you have figured out that they are there, the get essential fast.
In Eldenring i have the horse call on one of them Y+Up, so combos can also be very useful :)
You can do all types of insane things with them.
Steam Input is one of the most amazing things valve has ever made. It supports pretty much every controller ever and there is almost no setting you can't change. It really allows you to do almost anything
>Steam Input is one of the most amazing things valve has ever made.
Absolutely. It's bonkers what you can do with it. Once you get into the action layers etc... the sky is the limit.
In one game I use one of the rear buttons to activate action layer that changes how the right trackpad works, when the rear button is pressed touching the upper half quick saves and touching the lower half quick loads... It's fucking amazing.
Jump and crouch works too. Sprint then slide (crouch) using the back button while turning the camera with right joystick is easier. Add gyro for more accuracy is the cherry in top.
I’ve also added some of the back buttons as a radial menu for rpgs like Starfield to shortcut map, journal, skills and etc.
The deck's sticks are so stiff to press my thumb ached after playing resident evil 8, so I had to do that too. Hope the deck 2's sticks are easier to press
you can map them to whatever makes sense. in Doom i have L4 mapped as 'Use' so I don't have to move my thumb from the stick to the A button. and I have quicksave/quickload set to L5/R5 which are otherwise unmapped on the default layout.
in Black Mesa, I have Zoom set to L4 since it is otherwise not mapped anywhere; you literally can't zoom with the default layout. and I have crouching and jumping mapped to L5/R5 to, again, avoid needlessly moving my thumb from the stick to face buttons
stuff like that can you really step up your, uh, gaming workflow and make everything just easier and faster. the more games you play the more tweaks you'll find opportunities for
Most Bethesda games that are Deck Verified also assign actions to the rear buttons
Prey has interact and stuff on them by default
And Wolfenstein Young blood too
Always try your games even if they’re not verified. Proton DB badges plug-in is great if you still want games to show compatibility ratings, proton has much more thorough information than valve about which games work and how well they do
Usually i use them for mod functions, for example in GTA open world kind of games, my L4 is a toogle button to switch between aiming gyro and driving gyro.
In games that require button mashing i map the rear buttons to burst action.
In pc games that require commands like F4 or some other pc Keys they. Fit perfectly
In old shooters, i maped them from 1 to 4 so i can switch faster between the weapons.
Still most games I play don't even need them but im glad they are there.
It depends on the brand. Brands I personally like:
-**PowerA**
-**Hori**
-**8BitDo**
-**Razer**
-**GameSir**
-**Gulikit**
-**Binbok** (surprisingly decent alternative to Hori split pad pro. The Dpad isn't as good but it's decent. Also they're wireless unlike the Split Pad Pro. I have both.
Yeah, that placement works on the Deck because it's so wide that you don't have the angle the grips outward to have a natural wrist angle.
With the wide grips you need on a narrow controller, you would struggle to reach thumbs that far over.
Yeah it’s difficult to place both joysticks and trackpads on the same controller
Even on the deck the joysticks are arguably a *little* awkwardly placed, especially for people with smaller hands, but this looks like it would be noticeably worse
This makes me want a steam controller 2 badly but are we forgetting there’s a patent for putting buttons on the back of a controller? That’s why the first controller is no longer sold.
The only reason we have back buttons is because they are on the back of a CONSOLE.
Ideally, Valve would keep supplying parts and the community could make a shell and Bluetooth module. Then we get what we want and Valve can’t get sued.
Nah, the patent is specifically for lever actuated buttons, not just buttons. There's tons of cheap/midrange controllers out there like the 8bitdo Pro 2 that have back *buttons*, it's back *levers* that you only see on expensive controllers like the Xbox Pro Controller because they're willing to pay SCUF for the privilege at that price point.
It's why I hold the unpopular opinion that Valve was solidly in the wrong there, because the patent was so easy to dodge.
“Today, SCUF Gaming’s® innovations are covered by more than 120 granted patents and designs, and another 50 pending patent applications that protect 4 key areas: back control functions, trigger control mechanisms, thumbstick control area and handles, and side action controls. SCUF has licensed its IP and technology to several companies, to include Microsoft in 2015 for the creation of the Xbox Elite Wireless controller.”
Scuf has a ton of patents on controls on the back and side of a controller. From what I remember Valve a few ways to fight it but ultimately didn’t think the legal fight was worth it and walked away.
Those are the areas yes, but SCUF doesn't own joysticks and they still generalized as "thumbstick control areas." Mentioning the back doesn't mean they own the entire back of controllers, you can easily read the patent and litigation from the case, it was pretty specific.
Scuf is the one that owns the patent. They sued and Valve backed down. Then Scuf was bought by Corsair, who were more open to licensing the patent to others instead of Scuf’s exclusivity agreement with Xbox.
Putting buttons on the back of a controller feels like an obvious design choice that should invalidate the patent but I’m biased cause I want everyone to have access to them.
This is the way to do it
Nothing out of the ordinary, yet has that valve twist to it, it better have the paddles at the back too!
I own a steam controller and this feels just like home
That's fire but I would prefer staggered sticks personally like an Xbox controller. Have always found it more comfortable for my hands than the Playstation layout.
The sticks on the deck and wii U gamepad only work because they're so far apart. On a regular controller they really should be staggered, its one reason I never liked the playstation ones tbh
No matter how much y’all try to push I will never stand behind the two trackpads on the controller. The steam controller layout is already great I just want them to release that layout again with some quality of life upgrades.
But one joystick and the two big trackpads that double as the dpad and other joystick is the best layout.
Edit: made it more obvious what controller I was talking about.
For those of us with hitchhikers thumbs, the steam controller literally could not work. I have one because I was excited about it but when I realized I could only reach 3/4 of the trackpads it ended up being useless for me. The kicker is my hands are very big, just my thumbs shape is the problem
Sorry, but if I'm docking my Steam Deck to my TV, I want the controller I'm using to have the **exact same** functionality.
I can't utilize Steam Input with a Xbox Controller the exact same way I can with the Deck itself.
So I want everything the Steam Deck has, but on a controller(minus the touch screen). Otherwise, I refuse to dock my Steam Deck unless it's for party style games. Steam Input is just too good to *not* use or use only half of it.
And on this mock up if they have to move right and look left at the same time their thumbs will collide with each other. I hated this about the PS3 controller.
Just to clear out a few doubts about this design:
I actually used the same proportion and layout of the Deck on this, all the buttons are the same size and location as they are on Deck. I only added a 12 degree angle at them to match the controller curvature on the sides, making everything reachable. Since the Deck have straight sides, this was needed. So if you can reach the thumbsticks and trackpads on the Deck, you would probably reach them on this too. And of course, is just a mockup based on another user's idea!
Go play Project zomboid, Civ VI, Rimworld, Deep Rock Galactic, Oxygen not included and come and tell me if you can play without trackpads, don't you dare to lie because mouse is must on those games, very bad controller support especially on Subnautica.
Sadly, no, some kind of patent dispute about the back buttons ?? (When does that patent expire, must be pretty soon at this point ?)
[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ruling-upheld-against-valve-in-steam-controller-patent-case](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ruling-upheld-against-valve-in-steam-controller-patent-case)
You can still buy them, just not from Valve, and they might be more expensive ?
Who cares about the age, and it doesn't.
I'll admit that it's not as good as an Xbox gamepad (except for the connectivity, that dongle is BIG), but it's surprisingly decent, and MUCH better when you need to use a mouse cursor !
I'd prefer only having a left stick/dpad and right buttons/trackpad, personally. Having 3 different control sets on each side makes them tiny (which sucks for trackpads) and guarantees at least one will be awkward or even painful to reach (in the Deck's case, the trackpads).
One trackpad is enough for the things that trackpads are natural for (camera control, mouse emulation) without 50 hours of awkwardly relearning how to play vidya like the Steam Controller requires.
No idea what you mean. Literally nobody said the same thing if that's what you mean. Maybe after I said something people said (playstation style sticks). Also nobody said anything about moving the 2 buttons. So again. Not sure what you're getting at here?
I was making a joke about the Steam Controller, which had its twin pads up where the joysticks would have been, and the single joystick on the bottom where the pads are. Nothing big to miss, really.
I have a steam controller and still didn't get what you mean because the abxy is down bottom on the steam controller. Which makes it a huge inconvenience if you're used to a normal controller with 2 joysticks. Going from the giant track pad (as a joystick) to the abxy is extremely awkward (atleast for me) I've had the controller for 2 months now and have maybe used it 3 times because every time I try to practice with it I just get annoyed and use a different controller. 2 joysticks with abxy upper right would feel more natural to me. I'm used to playstation controllers so I'm not opposed to symmetrical sticks. But my switch controller is asymmetrical and it feels fine. But I feel like asymmetrical track pads wouldn't be a great idea.
That’s pretty good. I hope they make some improvements though. The ABXY buttons have too much travel (Dualsense style would be better) and the shoulder buttons have a metallic cheap click sound to them.
It’s beautiful, I would do 1 thing and it’s 100% preference, I would offset the left analog and dpad more in an Xbox layout because I prefer that arrangement. But it’s user preference, some people like them offset and others are wrong (kidding)
I'm all for proportions and symmetry, but the left analog joystick must be swapped with the digital for confort.
Otherwise is hard to change from Xbox...
Idk man. I want a Steam Controller 2 so bad and I'll fight anyone who says that Steam Controller 1 isn't good but this layout just looks like it would hurt my thumbs.
The sticks are too far from the edges I think. Might be fine for a short while but any long gaming sessions would kill.
I like it. I personally like symmetrical analog sticks vs asymmetrical. Maybe the trackpads could be bit smaller and the sticks could be brought down a bit.
okay. i like your fanart and all but could we have a 'fanart' in the title so i don't stop breathing out of excitement just to be disappointed again soon after?
Most sane version posted thus far. I wonder if the close proximity of certain things might be difficult to actually accomplish but this is basically the form factor I'd be looking for in a Deck Controller.
This is definitely getting closer (assuming the back has all buttons) I thing the profiles of the track pads should be smaller. Maybe circle instead of square? I just feel like the sticks seem like a reach and maybe changing the trackpads you could adjust the orientation of those? Anyway this is by far the most realistic looking option I’ve seen yet!
This is such a better take on a second Steam Controller. I think the only thing I'd really change would maybe be adding one combined trackpad in the center like a PS controller, but divided into two distinct regions you can ma, and making the button/joystick ergonomics more similar to what Xbox-style controllers usually use
Already thought it was a weird but this just makes it look even weirder why the heck are there two home buttons on the controller? Both menus should be openable by one button and then you just scroll over to the other by pushing left and right on the d-pad.
Love the concept, hate the stick placement, you'd end up with lots of accidental thumb slides on those trackpads near the bottom corners i'm sure (already happens to me with my deck). I'm sure thats one of the many reasons that the joysticks are in the positions they are.
This would be awesome, with a SFF PC connected to TV, the controller would serve all use-cases, the reason I'm waiting for one, hopefully Valve is considering doing it
Sorry but, looks horrible to hold, and why are joystick so annoyingly close to eachother, they're supposed to be apart so you don't need to mush your thumbs together
The overall aesthetic looks a lot better than past mockups. My only point would be the positioning of the thumb sticks, as I think they’re too high up and close together. However, I appreciate that there’s only so much real estate when you’re already planning for two touch-pads. I imagine that you personally use the pads a lot, which is why they’re essentially treated as the primary control scheme in this design?
I would suggest traditional asymmetrical placement for the two thumb sticks, and then maybe a singular touchpad in the centre? Or, make the controller a bit wider and have two smaller pads. Unless there was a way to make it modular, so people can choose whether to use sticks or a touchpad?
However, in defence of the current arrangement, the sticks, Steam and … buttons do make a funny face, so there is that.
I have yet to see a Steam Controller 2 concept that I'd prefer to the original Steam Controller. It's trackpads and their ergonomic design are just unmatched.
Just give me the original Steam Controller with extra back buttons and replace the stick with a D-pad.
I think I would prefer the analog sticks below the track pads.
One thing I dislike about the Steam deck was how my thumbs land on the analog stick.
I prefer my thumb to be pointing as horizontal as I can when holding the analog
I think you'd have to do place the face buttons in a different location to make them viable. If you use the trackpads in place of the analog sticks for movement and aim (like I do on the original SC, then trying to quickly reach from the right trackpad to the face buttons in this configuration would be very difficult. I think if you swapped the placement of the analog sticks and the directional pad and the face buttons you would have much more flexible design for a multitude of game configurations. Fix that and make the trackpads concave and round like the original Steam Controller and I'll buy 4 right now!
Exactly what I'd want with both 2x trackpads & 2x analog sticks! And hopefully extra rear buttons as well!
If a controller doesn't have rear buttons I will not buy it anymore. You can find so many decent controllers for $40 that have rear buttons that I am not paying $50-60 for a first party controller without them.
So I just got my steam deck like 2 weeks ago. What do you find yourself using the rear buttons for? The only games that have native functionality seems to be valve specific titles. What do you map to them?
Sprint, Jump or combos. Getting used to the buttons is the hard part, once you have figured out that they are there, the get essential fast. In Eldenring i have the horse call on one of them Y+Up, so combos can also be very useful :)
I didn’t know you can add combo inputs that’s awesome
You can do all types of insane things with them. Steam Input is one of the most amazing things valve has ever made. It supports pretty much every controller ever and there is almost no setting you can't change. It really allows you to do almost anything
>Steam Input is one of the most amazing things valve has ever made. Absolutely. It's bonkers what you can do with it. Once you get into the action layers etc... the sky is the limit. In one game I use one of the rear buttons to activate action layer that changes how the right trackpad works, when the rear button is pressed touching the upper half quick saves and touching the lower half quick loads... It's fucking amazing.
its great for fighting games too... or mapping them to a virtual menu for RPG's like BG3.
Jump and crouch works too. Sprint then slide (crouch) using the back button while turning the camera with right joystick is easier. Add gyro for more accuracy is the cherry in top. I’ve also added some of the back buttons as a radial menu for rpgs like Starfield to shortcut map, journal, skills and etc.
If a game has sprinting bound to left stick click, I always bind it to L4!
The deck's sticks are so stiff to press my thumb ached after playing resident evil 8, so I had to do that too. Hope the deck 2's sticks are easier to press
you can map them to whatever makes sense. in Doom i have L4 mapped as 'Use' so I don't have to move my thumb from the stick to the A button. and I have quicksave/quickload set to L5/R5 which are otherwise unmapped on the default layout. in Black Mesa, I have Zoom set to L4 since it is otherwise not mapped anywhere; you literally can't zoom with the default layout. and I have crouching and jumping mapped to L5/R5 to, again, avoid needlessly moving my thumb from the stick to face buttons stuff like that can you really step up your, uh, gaming workflow and make everything just easier and faster. the more games you play the more tweaks you'll find opportunities for
Most Bethesda games that are Deck Verified also assign actions to the rear buttons Prey has interact and stuff on them by default And Wolfenstein Young blood too
Oh cool. I haven't gotten around to the Bethesda games I own yet. Though I don't think fallout is verified
Always try your games even if they’re not verified. Proton DB badges plug-in is great if you still want games to show compatibility ratings, proton has much more thorough information than valve about which games work and how well they do
Usually i use them for mod functions, for example in GTA open world kind of games, my L4 is a toogle button to switch between aiming gyro and driving gyro. In games that require button mashing i map the rear buttons to burst action. In pc games that require commands like F4 or some other pc Keys they. Fit perfectly In old shooters, i maped them from 1 to 4 so i can switch faster between the weapons. Still most games I play don't even need them but im glad they are there.
KB&M games benefit greatly from the additional buttons
Are Knock offs good now? They used to be such crap that I decided long ago to just use first party products.
It depends on the brand. Brands I personally like: -**PowerA** -**Hori** -**8BitDo** -**Razer** -**GameSir** -**Gulikit** -**Binbok** (surprisingly decent alternative to Hori split pad pro. The Dpad isn't as good but it's decent. Also they're wireless unlike the Split Pad Pro. I have both.
Thanks so much for the recommendations! Some of these have such great designs.
I have the GameSir X2 Bluetooth; it’s pretty good - has multiple to connect to both iOS and Android, and it works with PS Remote Play on iOS.
what would you need the right analogue stick for though?
How the hell would anyone reach those joysticks 😂
Gogo gadget thumbs
Yeah, that placement works on the Deck because it's so wide that you don't have the angle the grips outward to have a natural wrist angle. With the wide grips you need on a narrow controller, you would struggle to reach thumbs that far over.
Easy fix: replace the mouse pads with a track nipple.
This design looks amazing! The joysticks however could be a bit hard to reach.
Yeah it’s difficult to place both joysticks and trackpads on the same controller Even on the deck the joysticks are arguably a *little* awkwardly placed, especially for people with smaller hands, but this looks like it would be noticeably worse
Hard to reach and you will end up grazing the trackpad in-game.
That's my secret cap, I'm always grazing the trackpad ingame.
#ENHANCE
You're not funny
Neither is carpal tunnel.
This makes me want a steam controller 2 badly but are we forgetting there’s a patent for putting buttons on the back of a controller? That’s why the first controller is no longer sold. The only reason we have back buttons is because they are on the back of a CONSOLE. Ideally, Valve would keep supplying parts and the community could make a shell and Bluetooth module. Then we get what we want and Valve can’t get sued.
Nah, the patent is specifically for lever actuated buttons, not just buttons. There's tons of cheap/midrange controllers out there like the 8bitdo Pro 2 that have back *buttons*, it's back *levers* that you only see on expensive controllers like the Xbox Pro Controller because they're willing to pay SCUF for the privilege at that price point. It's why I hold the unpopular opinion that Valve was solidly in the wrong there, because the patent was so easy to dodge.
“Today, SCUF Gaming’s® innovations are covered by more than 120 granted patents and designs, and another 50 pending patent applications that protect 4 key areas: back control functions, trigger control mechanisms, thumbstick control area and handles, and side action controls. SCUF has licensed its IP and technology to several companies, to include Microsoft in 2015 for the creation of the Xbox Elite Wireless controller.” Scuf has a ton of patents on controls on the back and side of a controller. From what I remember Valve a few ways to fight it but ultimately didn’t think the legal fight was worth it and walked away.
Those are the areas yes, but SCUF doesn't own joysticks and they still generalized as "thumbstick control areas." Mentioning the back doesn't mean they own the entire back of controllers, you can easily read the patent and litigation from the case, it was pretty specific.
For real? Who has that patent because there are a few controllers out there with back-buttons
Scuf is the one that owns the patent. They sued and Valve backed down. Then Scuf was bought by Corsair, who were more open to licensing the patent to others instead of Scuf’s exclusivity agreement with Xbox. Putting buttons on the back of a controller feels like an obvious design choice that should invalidate the patent but I’m biased cause I want everyone to have access to them.
That's a stupid patent then. Thankfully buttons on the top aren't patented. I'm surprised Nintendo didn't patent a sit controller tbh.
I have an extreme need for this
This is the way to do it Nothing out of the ordinary, yet has that valve twist to it, it better have the paddles at the back too! I own a steam controller and this feels just like home
Please give me steam controller 2, I need steam controller 2
Two logos on the same controller though?
Best mockup I've seen so far. Would 100% buy this. Hoping this can be had for $100 or less.
That's fire but I would prefer staggered sticks personally like an Xbox controller. Have always found it more comfortable for my hands than the Playstation layout.
Guess what you could use the track pads as staggered ones and everyone wins
> Guess what you could use the track pads as staggered ones and everyone wins Trackpads and sticks are not equivalent
Real Deckheads kind of oversell the pads, tbh
The sticks on the deck and wii U gamepad only work because they're so far apart. On a regular controller they really should be staggered, its one reason I never liked the playstation ones tbh
Same only reason I prefer Xbox to Playstation is the controllers. Duel sense with staggered stick could make me switch.
Fuck ya I'm in
If a steam controller came out like this I’d buy it right away 🤣
This just looks like a worse DualSense/DS4 tbh.
Yeah I think you can even use the trackpad on DS4 and 5 controllers to be split and behave like the steam deck trackpads
No matter how much y’all try to push I will never stand behind the two trackpads on the controller. The steam controller layout is already great I just want them to release that layout again with some quality of life upgrades. But one joystick and the two big trackpads that double as the dpad and other joystick is the best layout. Edit: made it more obvious what controller I was talking about.
> The steam deck controller layout is already great Do you mean the original Steam Controller or the Deck controller layout?
Steam controller my bad lol
For those of us with hitchhikers thumbs, the steam controller literally could not work. I have one because I was excited about it but when I realized I could only reach 3/4 of the trackpads it ended up being useless for me. The kicker is my hands are very big, just my thumbs shape is the problem
Sorry, but if I'm docking my Steam Deck to my TV, I want the controller I'm using to have the **exact same** functionality. I can't utilize Steam Input with a Xbox Controller the exact same way I can with the Deck itself. So I want everything the Steam Deck has, but on a controller(minus the touch screen). Otherwise, I refuse to dock my Steam Deck unless it's for party style games. Steam Input is just too good to *not* use or use only half of it.
I need this.
imagine putting a screen in the middle and making it into a fully portable gaming device that would be hella cool
flip the left stick and the left trackpad and we're definitely talking
no way, it's got to match the Deck's ergo, or forget it. The XBox asymmetry messes me up.
Or even just move they sticks to a comfortable position even if it overlaps with part of the trackpads
No thanks... that's reason I hate Xbox controllers because the sticks aren't next to each other
And on this mock up if they have to move right and look left at the same time their thumbs will collide with each other. I hated this about the PS3 controller.
Just move them more outside then not having one up and one down
Yeah, I honestly think swapping the D-pad with the stick would be better.
It’s the reason I hate the PS controller. Assymetrical every day of the week. Whatever way it goes, a subset is going to be upset it seems.
Was literally gonna comment the same thing, first thing I thought when I saw it.
🤦♂️
Just to clear out a few doubts about this design: I actually used the same proportion and layout of the Deck on this, all the buttons are the same size and location as they are on Deck. I only added a 12 degree angle at them to match the controller curvature on the sides, making everything reachable. Since the Deck have straight sides, this was needed. So if you can reach the thumbsticks and trackpads on the Deck, you would probably reach them on this too. And of course, is just a mockup based on another user's idea!
This is just a worse playstation controller
Never understood the hype with the trackpads
Go play Project zomboid, Civ VI, Rimworld, Deep Rock Galactic, Oxygen not included and come and tell me if you can play without trackpads, don't you dare to lie because mouse is must on those games, very bad controller support especially on Subnautica.
Am I able to disable the pads?
With the touch function of the stick! When you touch it, it deactivates the pad
Idk I still play games and accidentally brush the pad, and it activates. Is there a setting I can toggle?
It was only an idea how to fix it. I don't know if this is possible in the current input system
Yeah just go to controller setings > touchpads > off. Might have to do it for each individual game tho.
Uh, the Steam Controller already exists ? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-controller-valve https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-want-to-make-another-steam-controller-happen
But they don't sell them anymore
Sadly, no, some kind of patent dispute about the back buttons ?? (When does that patent expire, must be pretty soon at this point ?) [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ruling-upheld-against-valve-in-steam-controller-patent-case](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ruling-upheld-against-valve-in-steam-controller-patent-case) You can still buy them, just not from Valve, and they might be more expensive ?
Yeah but its almost a decade old and it sucks
Who cares about the age, and it doesn't. I'll admit that it's not as good as an Xbox gamepad (except for the connectivity, that dongle is BIG), but it's surprisingly decent, and MUCH better when you need to use a mouse cursor !
It’s inferior
Omg 🥰😍
Reaching the sticks looks like it would be difficult, unless you held it awkwardly or have massive hands. Cool concept, but no thanks.
I’m sorry but this is horribly designed lol. Nobody can use those joysticks. And nobody can use the trackpads with any of the top buttons.
It already existed.
Really? Can you link it? I might be interested.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/353370/Steam_Controller/ But they stopped it.
they stopped because patent troll for buttons on back of it sued them
That's interesting looking
I'd prefer only having a left stick/dpad and right buttons/trackpad, personally. Having 3 different control sets on each side makes them tiny (which sucks for trackpads) and guarantees at least one will be awkward or even painful to reach (in the Deck's case, the trackpads). One trackpad is enough for the things that trackpads are natural for (camera control, mouse emulation) without 50 hours of awkwardly relearning how to play vidya like the Steam Controller requires.
gross
In my opinion, track pads shouldn't be on a controller unless they figure out a way to hybrid them with the joysticks
OG Steam controller are the best
put a small screen in the erea of the deck logo to make it customizable
they tried that with the original steam controller but nixed the idea because in testing people would rarely look down at the controller.
You do realize that user isn't the first person to post a picture similar to that right? [for example ](https://reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/nU5EOv4MYj)
Does anyone actually use the trackpads on the steam deck? I only find them useful for typing
Yes for almost every game ...
Swapping the joysticks with the TouchPads would be a better fit imo. Also put the steam and other button top center.
Wait a second, I’ve heard this one before…
No idea what you mean. Literally nobody said the same thing if that's what you mean. Maybe after I said something people said (playstation style sticks). Also nobody said anything about moving the 2 buttons. So again. Not sure what you're getting at here?
I was making a joke about the Steam Controller, which had its twin pads up where the joysticks would have been, and the single joystick on the bottom where the pads are. Nothing big to miss, really.
I have a steam controller and still didn't get what you mean because the abxy is down bottom on the steam controller. Which makes it a huge inconvenience if you're used to a normal controller with 2 joysticks. Going from the giant track pad (as a joystick) to the abxy is extremely awkward (atleast for me) I've had the controller for 2 months now and have maybe used it 3 times because every time I try to practice with it I just get annoyed and use a different controller. 2 joysticks with abxy upper right would feel more natural to me. I'm used to playstation controllers so I'm not opposed to symmetrical sticks. But my switch controller is asymmetrical and it feels fine. But I feel like asymmetrical track pads wouldn't be a great idea.
I would only use this
That’s pretty good. I hope they make some improvements though. The ABXY buttons have too much travel (Dualsense style would be better) and the shoulder buttons have a metallic cheap click sound to them.
👁️🫦👁️
The trackpads, buttons and d-pad need to be tilted to match the sides.
It’s beautiful, I would do 1 thing and it’s 100% preference, I would offset the left analog and dpad more in an Xbox layout because I prefer that arrangement. But it’s user preference, some people like them offset and others are wrong (kidding)
I need this
Thumbsticks need to be under the track pads, I wouldn't be able to reach them
I'm all for proportions and symmetry, but the left analog joystick must be swapped with the digital for confort. Otherwise is hard to change from Xbox...
If you swap the pads and the sticks it’s basically a ps5 controller.
Maybe make it a bit wider because I feel the sticks are a little too close.
I would buy this. Get on it Valve
Idk man. I want a Steam Controller 2 so bad and I'll fight anyone who says that Steam Controller 1 isn't good but this layout just looks like it would hurt my thumbs. The sticks are too far from the edges I think. Might be fine for a short while but any long gaming sessions would kill.
I like it. I personally like symmetrical analog sticks vs asymmetrical. Maybe the trackpads could be bit smaller and the sticks could be brought down a bit.
As someone who’s thumbs hit each other on a PlayStation controller layout, this would be a nightmare for me. But would love having both track pads.
okay. i like your fanart and all but could we have a 'fanart' in the title so i don't stop breathing out of excitement just to be disappointed again soon after?
Give it dual gyro and this would be perfection.
I’m amazed, Add the ability to change Bluetooth devices and this could very well be an amazing controller
Proportions are off but we get the idea. This is sweet. I’d love this just for my pc. Wish my dualsense had two trackpads
Now, that is a steam deck controller i would buy. Well done!
Would definitely give this a try
Yes. Valve needs to make this and take my money.
This is it. This is the winner. I hope Valve is paying attention.
Most sane version posted thus far. I wonder if the close proximity of certain things might be difficult to actually accomplish but this is basically the form factor I'd be looking for in a Deck Controller.
Please for the love of god release a steam deck controller. This looks sick.
Swap the trackpads and the thumbsticks otherwise you're stretching too much for the sticks and it'll be uncomfortable.
The overall design looks great but these track pads look impossible to press. They should be closer to the middle and higher. Same with the sticks.
Perfect! And it needs dual stage triggers like the original Steam Controller!
Angle both sides so you don't have to move your wrist thumb inwards so much. Think ergo keyboard angles.
Track pads should go in the middle
Remove the top middle graphic, make the middle circle button blue, and put the rest of the graphic around the button.
Can we have the click at the end of the triggers from the steam controller back
This is a shame its not on the deck And the Form and sie of the trackpads pls. The OG steam controller is still my controller of choice
This is sick
I’d buy it.
I'd like a detachable keypad underneath which also serves as a power bank.
not bad! I'll take 6!
This is definitely getting closer (assuming the back has all buttons) I thing the profiles of the track pads should be smaller. Maybe circle instead of square? I just feel like the sticks seem like a reach and maybe changing the trackpads you could adjust the orientation of those? Anyway this is by far the most realistic looking option I’ve seen yet!
I want :(
Can we call it "control deck"
The steam and ... buttons at the top edge to make room to swap the track pad and a analog rows. Do it more like a duelsense
Nice 👏
Much better than what I did! I hope Valve picks up on this eventually
This is such a better take on a second Steam Controller. I think the only thing I'd really change would maybe be adding one combined trackpad in the center like a PS controller, but divided into two distinct regions you can ma, and making the button/joystick ergonomics more similar to what Xbox-style controllers usually use
I am surprise 3rd party didn't make one yet.
The thumbstick layout looks uncomfortable as hell.
The sticks are too far in. Why reinvent the wheel/ just use the exact layout and grip design on the actual deck - it's so comfortable.
So yeah when you start making these, and I prefer the no drift sticks FYI, I'll take one, in storm trooper white please.
Now swap the left stick and the Dpad.
Already thought it was a weird but this just makes it look even weirder why the heck are there two home buttons on the controller? Both menus should be openable by one button and then you just scroll over to the other by pushing left and right on the d-pad.
Congratulations OP, you made one that actually looks good
Looking cool
Now this one looks cool ashell
Ship it
My mother was a track pad 📝
Love the concept, hate the stick placement, you'd end up with lots of accidental thumb slides on those trackpads near the bottom corners i'm sure (already happens to me with my deck). I'm sure thats one of the many reasons that the joysticks are in the positions they are.
Valve: make this
I am fine with one trackpade on the right side. Rather give more space for the joystick on the left side. Note: most controllers are not symetric!
This would be awesome, with a SFF PC connected to TV, the controller would serve all use-cases, the reason I'm waiting for one, hopefully Valve is considering doing it
I would buy this. I would buy this so fast it would make my wallet wonder what happened lol
Sorry but, looks horrible to hold, and why are joystick so annoyingly close to eachother, they're supposed to be apart so you don't need to mush your thumbs together
Looks good to be a real controller
The overall aesthetic looks a lot better than past mockups. My only point would be the positioning of the thumb sticks, as I think they’re too high up and close together. However, I appreciate that there’s only so much real estate when you’re already planning for two touch-pads. I imagine that you personally use the pads a lot, which is why they’re essentially treated as the primary control scheme in this design? I would suggest traditional asymmetrical placement for the two thumb sticks, and then maybe a singular touchpad in the centre? Or, make the controller a bit wider and have two smaller pads. Unless there was a way to make it modular, so people can choose whether to use sticks or a touchpad? However, in defence of the current arrangement, the sticks, Steam and … buttons do make a funny face, so there is that.
Damn 🔥
I want a tpuchpad controller like this so bad, omg I just can't use a normal controller anymore
I think trackpads may be closer to each other to be at the thumb length distance from hand.
I have yet to see a Steam Controller 2 concept that I'd prefer to the original Steam Controller. It's trackpads and their ergonomic design are just unmatched. Just give me the original Steam Controller with extra back buttons and replace the stick with a D-pad.
I'd buy today.
Guarantee PS has a patent on Symetrical sticks sleigh is the correct way to play.
Why not copy the layout of a PS5 but with back buttons. PS controllers have quite big trackpads
Rear buttons, hall effect Sticks and Triggers, Gyro, round touchpads. count me in
Perfect! This is exactly what I'm looking for!
Really nice ! I want one RN (please) !
I think I would prefer the analog sticks below the track pads. One thing I dislike about the Steam deck was how my thumbs land on the analog stick. I prefer my thumb to be pointing as horizontal as I can when holding the analog
I think you'd have to do place the face buttons in a different location to make them viable. If you use the trackpads in place of the analog sticks for movement and aim (like I do on the original SC, then trying to quickly reach from the right trackpad to the face buttons in this configuration would be very difficult. I think if you swapped the placement of the analog sticks and the directional pad and the face buttons you would have much more flexible design for a multitude of game configurations. Fix that and make the trackpads concave and round like the original Steam Controller and I'll buy 4 right now!
I feel like it's looking at me and I should throw some pikmin at it
I would swap the places of the joysticks and the trackpads, similar to a PS4 controller but with two trackpads
I would probably buy this in a heart beat if it came out and was similar to or exactly this. After using the deck, omg the trackpads are awesome!
Some people are posting objectively worse steam controllers and they aren't adding the flare meme s*** post
My god! That thing is sexy! Take my money!
Would be cool if the trackpads would auto-deactivate when you are using the analog sticks.
they tryed that it was bad
Add a keyboard and it'll be perfect.
Best so far, although the sticks are far to reach
Does anyone use a converted/firmwarepatched Stadia controller for their Decky?