Whether the Steam Controller is worth buying mainly depends on the player's usage scenario. Our tests indicate that it is suitable for living room PCs, compact computers, and other away-from-desk gameplay, but it may not fully satisfy users who place high importance on competitive responsiveness or configuration convenience.
This device combines the functions of a mouse, keyboard, and controller. The right touchpad moves the cursor, the left touchpad scrolls pages, triggers perform clicks, and shortcuts bring up the keyboard. Additionally, the device features TMR joysticks, four back buttons, and haptic feedback.
With Steam Input, players can apply or download community configurations for city-building games, real-time strategy titles, and some older games that lack native controller support. For players who want to control their PC from the couch, these features can reduce the need to additionally use a keyboard and mouse.
Its limitations include a 250Hz polling rate, which is lower than the many 1000Hz competitors listed in the article; traditional membrane face buttons are also not suitable for users who prefer microswitch buttons. The device also lacks onboard profiles that can be carried over across games, meaning players often need to reselect schemes and set up back buttons when encountering new games. Actual testing suggests that a Black Friday price drop is unlikely, so buyers who prioritize price or specific performance may want to consider other controllers.