UI bug/ Steam Deck Virtual Keyboard + Text Box

[starvette5]

I submitted the following ticket to Zenimax, but since this problem is probably a Steam issue, I'm submitting it here in the forums to raise awareness. I will also include a link to the Zenimax forums discussing this issue here.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/674414/ui-bug-steam-deck-virtual-keyboard-text-box#latest

What were you doing?
Using text box features in the game (e.g. the chat feature in the lower left corner of the screen and the search feature in my inventory).

What did you expect to happen?
To use the features without any Steam keyboard overlays. Until Update 45, I have never had a Steam keyboard pop up in game.

What actually happened?
The Steam keyboard, without intentional prompting, automatically popped up when using the chat and search text boxes, which is problematic since Steam's keyboard while potentially convenient is buggy and very inconvenient in the following ways:

1. When inputting multiple strings in quick succession in the search text box (e.g. "pl" to filter for platinum jewelry, quickly followed by "wr" to filter for master writs, "surv" to filter for surveys, and "" to view an unfiltered inventory), the keyboard will "freeze" in place while the game continues to operate normally (e.g. animations, sound, etc. are all normal). The only solution is to restart the game.

2. Suggestions for forward slash commands in the chat box aren't visible since the Steam keyboard covers much of the screen. This makes finding emotes a bit more difficult.

3. Managing chat is also more difficult since the Steam keyboard covers the chat box. For example, switching between zone chat, guild chat, whispers, etc. must be managed in under the Social tab of the menu, which is simply more cumbersome.

4. Traditionally, when dealing with other menus (e.g. the WritWorthy addon menu), I would typically press "Enter" on my keyboard to enable/favor mouse and keyboard actions on those menus; now however, pressing "Enter" on my keyboard prompts the Steam keyboard to activate, which ultimately forces me to disable gamepad mode before attempting any actions that begin with pressing the "Enter" key.

What else would you like us to know?
1. I'm including a screenshot of the overlay for context.

2. I play on a PC with Windows 10.

3. I play through Steam to take advantage of their gamepad mode since I prefer to play with controller and/or keyboard depending on the activity.

4. I updated Steam the same day that I updated ESO for U45.

5. There is very little information/support for this niche problem.

6. I have already used step-by-step guides to remove Steam's keyboard display by navigating "Settings" > "Controller" > "Non-game controller layouts" > "Desktop Layout" & "Guide Button Chord Layout" > "Edit" > "Edit Layout" > and removing all actions that trigger the on-screen keyboard.

7. I can disable Steam's keyboard by navigating "Settings" > "In Game" > "Enable/Disable Steam Overlay". However, this causes a litany of minor problems. For example, disabling Steam overlay disables screenshots and, perhaps, other features. Furthermore, even when disabled, I can hear Steam UI audio in the background during gameplay, which is distracting and concerning since I don't know if I'm accidentally playing with Steam while playing the game. In addition, I am forced to click on text boxes twice before I can type anything into them. And oddly, for reasons unknown, ESO doesn't shut down smoothly when I disable Steam's overlay.

8. While this may be a Steam issue at its core, my experience playing ESO is noticeably worse as a consequence. Honestly, I'd be happy if I never had to see another Steam keyboard pop up in game ever again!

[MISO4EVER]

Just deleted it off the deck it runs like doo
Doo cakes on the deck like many games. I tried many times tinkering with it just not worth it honestly

[Daeymon]

This is a specific issue when running ESO in gamepad mode, so its an ESO issue. I suspect some kind of miss-step in ZOS's attempts to get deck verified by Valve. If its in KB mode, the popup doesn't appear but that doesn't help those of us playing on deck.