Steam Controller + VMWare Fusion on Mac

[nrubin29]

I have tried everything possible to get the Steam controller to work with Windows 10 running on VMWare Fusion, including plugging in via USB, having Steam running on the mac, and adding the controller as a USB device to VMWare. It works fine with my Xbox 360 controller, but it doesn't work at all with the Steam Controller. Do I need to wait for proper game controller emulation?

[REEEEEEEEEEEEE!]

It can be done. I have my Steam Controller working in a Windows 10 guest virtual machine running on a macOS High Sierra host. I can use the controller with Steam running in the virtual machine. Both latest versions of OS as of 28th November 2017. The problem is that Fusion does not allow HID devices to connect to virtual machines by default. The fix is:

Connecting a second mouse or keyboard directly to a Fusion virtual machine such as Steam Controller

https://recommender.vmware.com/solution/SOL-20676

Solution
Mice and keyboards belong to a special class of USB devices known as Human Interface Devices, or HID. Fusion does not allow these to be connected to the virtual machine by default, due to the risk of removing all human interface from the Mac. It is possible to instruct Fusion to make it possible to connect these devices by modifying the virtual machine settings.

Caution: You require access to a second keyboard and/or mouse for these steps. Do not follow these steps if you only have one mouse and/or keyboard, as you will not be able to use the device(s) with your Mac while Fusion is running.

To connect an external keyboard and/or mouse directly to your virtual machine:

1. Shut down the virtual machine that needs the mouse/keyboard.
2. Plug the second mouse/keyboard into your Mac.
3. Edit your virtual machine's .vmx file using a text editor to include these lines. For more information about editing the .vmx file, see  Editing the .vmx file for your VMware Fusion virtual machine (SOL-21155)

Caution:
* Before you alter the virtual machine's files, VMware recommends copying the virtual machine's bundle to a safe location (either on an external hard drive or anywhere else on the Mac's hard drive) to backup the virtual machine. For more information, see Best practices for virtual machine backup (programs and data) (SOL-21178).
* Before editing the .vmx file of the virtual machine make a backup copy of the .vmx file.
To edit a .vmx file:
1. Ensure the virtual machine is shut down (not suspended).
2. In VMware Fusion, from the Apple menu bar, go to Window > Virtual Machine Library.
3. Note: If the virtual machine is encrypted, you need to click on settings and enter the password when prompted.
4. Hold the Option (Alt) key and right-click the virtual machine. Select Open Config File in Editor.

usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"
usb.generic.allowLastHID = "TRUE"

Add both entries to the end of the .vmx file and save and close the file. Now you can run the virtual machine. If you mistype you might get a .vmx corrupt message, double-check you've typed everything correctly then save and it should work. If you get a Dictionary error check you haven't entered the same entries more than once.

1. Note: The usb.generic.allowLastHID = "TRUE" entry is optional. It allows the last remaining HID device to be taken from the host and attached to the virtual machine. This prevents the keyboard and mouse from being returned back to the host without unplugging it.

Now when I start the virtual machine and plug in my steam controller a dialog asks me if I wish to attach the controller to Windows.