Steam Controller 2.0 REBORN

[Mr U]

After the release of Steam deck, many realized that trackpads are a very convenient management tool. I was inspired by the location of the elements on the Steam deck and based on the xbox gamepad I did such a simple job in Photoshop. What if we release a second version of the steam controller where there will be controls like Deck
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3049532847

[ShelLuser]

I dunno about that... I love my Steam controller but the touchpad is a seriously love/hate for me. It often works but also often works against me. So a trackpad might work on a handheld gaming device, but I doubt it'll do much for a controller.

Heck, just check the latest Playstation controllers and in specific: how often they use the extra touchpad... not often because it takes control away.

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

Doesn't look good enough due how far the face buttons from the right thumb to reach them comfortably. Most likely the Steam Controller 2 will looks exactly like Steam Deck's controller with better grips but personally don't want to be exactly the same like circular trackpads should remain on SC2.

As much as us SC fanboys trying to cope, the original controller is not a huge success and failed to gain massive adoption among PC gamers, and Valve don't want to deal with that again.

[Vepar]

Originally posted by EmperorFaiz.dae:

As much as us SC fanboys trying to cope, the original controller is not a huge success and failed to gain massive adoption among PC gamers, and Valve don't want to deal with that again.

It was a test run for Steam Deck. If they made an upgraded version, people would buy it. Especially now that Steam Deck is basically a 2.0.

[Mr U]

Originally posted by EmperorFaiz.dae:

Doesn't look good enough due how far the face buttons from the right thumb to reach them comfortably. Most likely the Steam Controller 2 will looks exactly like Steam Deck's controller with better grips but personally don't want to be exactly the same like circular trackpads should remain on SC2.

As much as us SC fanboys trying to cope, the original controller is not a huge success and failed to gain massive adoption among PC gamers, and Valve don't want to deal with that again.

hat's why I tried to repeat the steam deck experience by adding 2 full-fledged sticks. Thus, we have the most versatile gamepad.

[lagamemnon]

It should be possible to build a real "next-generation" Steam Controller. People already build their own custom keyboards, so why not?

Hard part 1: Programming a main board to emulate the Steam Controller protocol.

Open source project for a programmable main board: https://github.com/FreeJoy-Team/FreeJoy

Open source projects to reverse engineer the Steam Controller's protocol: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamController/comments/5qktdh and https://github.com/sm-Fifteen/SteamControllerTools

Hard part 2: Getting all the controls you could possibly want.

Circular track pads (example): https://www.mouser.com/c/?marcom=118816186

Haptic feedback modules (example): https://www.mouser.com/c/electromechanical/industrial-automation/solenoids-actuators/?q=haptic%20feedback&instock=y

Accelerometer/gyroscope (example): https://makeradvisor.com/tools/mpu-6050-3-axis-accelerometer-and-gyroscope-sensor/

The triggers are probably going to be the hardest parts to get right. I couldn't find premade ones in a quick online search.

Sadly https://inputlabs.io/ (a set of DIY controller plans and parts shop) doesn't seem to use analog triggers. But it's probably full of ideas.

Hard part 3: Building the shell. Probably involves a 3D printer or a 3D printing service.

Or if you have a spare Steam Controller case and don't mind reusing the layout, remove all the broken bits and fit it with new ones.

Hard part 4: Programming the main board to talk to controls.

Buttons and joysticks should be easy.

Circular track pads: https://github.com/2bndy5/CirquePinnacle

Haptic feedback: https://github.com/topics/haptics?l=c%2B%2B

Accelerometer/gyroscope (example): https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-mpu-6050-accelerometer-gyroscope-arduino/

Hard part 5: Wireless.

Someone would need to reverse engineer the dongle/SC protocol.

Alternatively, Bluetooth LE: https://github.com/lemmingDev/ESP32-BLE-Gamepad

[Mailbox Junkie 📫]

Would love for Valve or a third party to do this.
Trackpads are such an invaluable input method, despite the learning curve, it's really a shame that more companies don't follow suit.

As an aside, a personal pipe dream of mine is a steam controller 2.0 (or alternative), with capacitive joysticks, scroll wheel styled bumpers, four back buttons and a port for accessories like the mini keyboard chatpads.

Honestly if they would release a version of the steam deck that doesn't have the computing hardware components I'd buy it in an instant, even if it cost like upwards of $100.

Edit; some earlier beta models of the steam controller had the face buttons placed around the trackpad, I'm curious how that felt, if not too unwieldy in practice I feel like that would be a decent solution to fit everything inside a standard sized controller layout.

[lost]

ditch the RSTICK. Touchpad is superior for all it's functions. aiming? touchpad > rstick. besides what other functions do games use RSTICK for? it's just a camera rotator in non-fps games. some games don't even use RSTICK.

[Mr U]

Originally posted by lost:

ditch the RSTICK. Touchpad is superior for all it's functions. aiming? touchpad > rstick. besides what other functions do games use RSTICK for? it's just a camera rotator in non-fps games. some games don't even use RSTICK.

because people didn’t like the first Steam controller due to the lack of classic sticks. I tried to transfer all the steam deck controls. Of course, the easiest way is to release a gamepad in the form of a deck without a screen

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

Originally posted by lost:

ditch the RSTICK. Touchpad is superior for all it's functions. aiming? touchpad > rstick. besides what other functions do games use RSTICK for? it's just a camera rotator in non-fps games. some games don't even use RSTICK.

Your idea basically alienating the majority just to satisfy the few. Valve are far wiser with the Steam Deck's controller design with very good reasons. They SERIOUSLY want Steam Deck to be a huge success.

One the few things I learn from Steam Controller is you cannot force new gimmick to new users and expect most of them to adapt without issues when they have the choice of not doing that and instead sticking with the familiar twin sticks controllers.

Originally posted by Mailbox Junkie 📫:

Edit; some earlier beta models of the steam controller had the face buttons placed around the trackpad, I'm curious how that felt, if not too unwieldy in practice I feel like that would be a decent solution to fit everything inside a standard sized controller layout.

Valve had conducted an open beta test with that prototype for select few and they hated it. Perhaps they can bring it back but as extra buttons for you to assign whatever inputs you want instead of completely replace the familiar face buttons.

[Mr. Slave]

I either gotta choose between an Xbox Controller or a Dualsense for Docked Play on Deck. really would like a new Steam Controller, would sell like hotcakes because of the Steam Deck

[Glorious Kev]

Originally posted by 4ypka:

After the release of Steam deck, many realized that trackpads are a very convenient management tool. I was inspired by the location of the elements on the Steam deck and based on the xbox gamepad I did such a simple job in Photoshop. What if we release a second version of the steam controller where there will be controls like Deck
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3049532847

Not a fan of this design. It's basically an Xbox controller. Honestly, what I want from a Steam controller 2 is a normal D pad and bigger face buttons with a more accurate track pad on the right. That's it! Don't change anything else!

[Prydzen ᛋᛟ]

I always have issues with missing rstick since the right pad is never configured properly out of the box and the left pad is never configured properly to function as a dpad properly. I prefer 8 bit do snes+ controllers that look like snes/ps1 controller which is perfect for me but my android tv does not play nice with the controller so i am stuck using steam controller. But the contoller keeps losing bluetooth connection and gives issues pairing. Not sure if sc or tv fault. Blah nothing but issues.

[BlackRedDead]

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

I dunno about that... I love my Steam controller but the touchpad is a seriously love/hate for me. It often works but also often works against me. So a trackpad might work on a handheld gaming device, but I doubt it'll do much for a controller.

Heck, just check the latest Playstation controllers and in specific: how often they use the extra touchpad... not often because it takes control away.

SteamDeck being the same - trackpads in general are amazing, but the click mechanic could use some improvement and the software should be more clean&consistent - most laptops have better trackpad functionality, especially lenovo - i really would love to see similar precision on SD and a new SC^^

[GordonFreemanVTR]

People say SC is a disaster but if that's true why other companies are making simpler versions of the SC and quickly running out of stock? (www.amazon.com/-/pt/gp/product/B0BRZZFPKW/ they had to restock a couple of days ago for instance) Why people get crazy when they see a new controller with touchpad? The truth is that the marketing on SC was terrible for a game changer product and they just took too long to make the improvements needed for the troubles the community was having (but they did). Another thing I don't understand, how people get so much trouble playing with it? I bought one in less than 6 months and I have never had any troubles playing any games, even in Xbox Game Pass. Most of the times there is alredy a pre configuration for the game you wanna play and when there isn't it's just so easy to configurate that a monkey could do it.

A Steam Controller 2.0 is what the world needs. I liked your concept. If they manage to not repeat the mistakes they made when they launched the first one it defintely has the potencial to be known as the best controller ever (like the first one had). But they definitely neet to focus on hard marketing and how to make the first one even better (or on how to mix the SC with Steam Deck and make it even better).

[Mennenth]

Originally posted by 4ypka:

After the release of Steam deck, many realized that trackpads are a very convenient management tool. I was inspired by the location of the elements on the Steam deck and based on the xbox gamepad I did such a simple job in Photoshop. What if we release a second version of the steam controller where there will be controls like Deck
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3049532847

This design is even worse than just having "the deck minus the screen" as an external controller.