PC Steam Blog: Controller Gaming on PC (Xbox 360 controller dominates ownership)

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

Steam Blog:

Three years later, the Steam Input experiment is starting to bear interesting results. By supporting so many controller types we've learned about which controllers are being used on the platform and by accommodating customization we've learned how players prefer to interact with different genres. Today we'll share figures on which controllers have been connected to Steam, how controllers are being used, and what happens when a new controller is released on the platform. We'll also discuss the Steam Controller and how hardware choices set it apart from other controller types.

 

 

[Dre801]

Not shocking.  Been using my trusty 360 controller for years.

[AndrewDean84]

I go back and forth with my bluetooth xbox one controller and steam controller.  

[Xbob42]

I'm in the Xbox One and Switch Pro department! I use them both very frequently.

[legend]

I use a 360 pad for conventional controller games. A steam controller for games that straddle the line or which have good steam controller support, and a KB/M when I need the precision.

[Keyser_Soze]

I use my Design Lab Xbone controller.

How are people using PS2 controllers?

[Dre801]

There are adapters that allow PS2 controllers to be used.  I guess there are some unofficial drivers for it too?

[Xbob42]

I used a PS2 controller to play FFXI on PC back in '03, and it's probably way easier now.

[dualhunter]

Some of that is other controllers counting as Xbox 360 controllers. I didn't know that Steam has supported the DS4 for about 2 years and even can display the correct button icons. I use Input Mapper with my DS4 and mentally translate the Xbox 360 button prompts.

[Mr.Vic20]

Xbox One/Steam controller as required by the game! 

[Zaku3]

16 hours ago, Xbob42 said:

I'm in the Xbox One and Switch Pro department! I use them both very frequently.

 

Is there anything I need to use the switch pro on my PC?

[Xbob42]

3 hours ago, Zaku3 said:

 

Is there anything I need to use the switch pro on my PC?

Just a Bluetooth adapter to connect it, and Steam, which supports it natively. 

[Bjomesphat]

My Wii U Pro would connect as a 360 controller, I wonder how many more are like that? Either way, I've moved on to the Switch Pro.

 

6 hours ago, Zaku3 said:

 

Is there anything I need to use the switch pro on my PC?

 

If you don't have bluetooth, USB works too. I have both, but I find it easier just to plug in my long USB cord and play.

[Greatoneshere]

I used to use a wired Xbox 360 controller for PC games that work better with a controller (I use keyboard/mouse otherwise of course) but it stopped working and I upgraded to a wired Xbox One controller. I'm surprised more people haven't upgraded. 

[Jason]

On 9/25/2018 at 5:30 PM, Xbob42 said:

I'm in the Xbox One and Switch Pro department! I use them both very frequently.

 

What gets you to use one over the other for a game?

[CastlevaniaNut18]

I've used a wired 360 pad for years now. I haven't really found a reason to make a change. Doesn't really seem like the X1 controller is worth the money to upgrade. 

[jaethos]

I used a wired 360 controller up until a couple weeks ago when I finally decided to get the wireless adapter so I could use my xbox one controllers with it.

I was just tired of dealing with the 20' USB cable when gaming on my tv.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

Yeah, we have wireless 360 controllers for the living room PC. Wired is fine when I'm playing at my desk, which is where I do most of my PC gaming.

[HardAct]

Been using wireless xbox one elite controller most of all on PC, before that I was using a wired 360 controller

[Xbob42]

On 9/27/2018 at 12:52 AM, Jason said:

 

What gets you to use one over the other for a game?

Honestly mostly it's compatibility. If the game works fine with the Switch pad (which every Steam game now does) then it's pretty much gonna be the Switch pad. But for games not on Steam (adding yet another layer of irritation to other launchers) then I use the Elite pad. But also I play multiplayer games with my family, so it comes in handy.

 

I guess I can see why some folks would choose a wired controller, but why not just get a wireless one and just leave it plugged in? Same deal except you can make it wireless whenever you need to.

[legend]

2 hours ago, Xbob42 said:

Honestly mostly it's compatibility. If the game works fine with the Switch pad (which every Steam game now does) then it's pretty much gonna be the Switch pad. But for games not on Steam (adding yet another layer of irritation to other launchers) then I use the Elite pad. But also I play multiplayer games with my family, so it comes in handy.

 

I guess I can see why some folks would choose a wired controller, but why not just get a wireless one and just leave it plugged in? Same deal except you can make it wireless whenever you need to.

 

I think my context switching between Switch controller and Xbox controller button layouts, which is finally starting to be okay, would instantly break down if I started using my Switch controller with Steam  

[Xbob42]

Almost all controller button prompts on PC are Xbox-based anyway, so it wouldn't change anything for me. Holding a Switch pad doesn't make me mentally switch to the Switch's button layout, I go entirely on the prompts themselves. Going between Xbox and Switch has the potential for the most confusion, though. Xbox and PS4 are entirely different concepts, so they're easy to align. Xbox and Switch are the same letters arranged in entirely different manners, to make people mad!

[legend]

9 minutes ago, Xbob42 said:

Almost all controller button prompts on PC are Xbox-based anyway, so it wouldn't change anything for me. Holding a Switch pad doesn't make me mentally switch to the Switch's button layout, I go entirely on the prompts themselves. Going between Xbox and Switch has the potential for the most confusion, though. Xbox and PS4 are entirely different concepts, so they're easy to align. Xbox and Switch are the same letters arranged in entirely different manners, to make people mad!

 

But you see, that's exactly the problem!  The PC would start using Xbox prompts and then I'd be internalizing the association between those button prompts and the pad I was holding. But then that's wrong! So when I switch back to a Switch game, I'll have to undo it. Right now I'm pretty sure my brain is only finally handling it because the controller I'm holding does the context switch for me.

[AbsolutSurgen]

Xbox One Elite controller for me.

[CitizenVectron]

My 360 controller still works great for PC, so I see no reason to update to a One controller yet!

[Massdriver]

Regular XB1 controller or keyboard/mouse for me. I don't like the Steam controller.

[RedSoxFan9]

My preference is wireless controllers with extra buttons on the back.  I used a scuf 360 controller for a long time but it's broken now.  It would be nice if Microsoft released an elite controller with bluetooth so I could use it with the steam link.  

[XxEvil AshxX]

On 9/28/2018 at 11:14 AM, CitizenVectron said:

My 360 controller still works great for PC, so I see no reason to update to a One controller yet!

 

I loved the 360 controller, but the thumbsticks on the XBO controllers are much more resilient. I still have a Day One 2013 controller that I've used heavily and it still doesn't show any of the creeping that the old 360 thumbsticks did.

 

I just wish the XBO controller had the heft that the 360 ones did. When I sat a 360 controller on my leg, it sat. The XBO controllers slide off with the slightest tilt of my knee. It's annoying.

[Keyser_Soze]

8 minutes ago, XxEvil AshxX said:

The XBO controllers slide off with the slightest tilt of my knee. It's annoying.

 

Get fatter knees!