what exactly does the "full/partial controller support" mean in the store pages?

[Dweller Beyond the Threshold]

I find it really weird that some of my games that are listed as having "partial controller support" have absolutely flawless support. I plug my controller to the PC via USB and it is instantly detected in game. If the usb gets unhooked by accident, I can just plug it back in and it will get detected again.

Meanwhile, some games listed as having "full controller support" are literally a pain to get controllers working. Game doesn't detect the controller; need to quit and enter big picture mode to check "controller configuations"; If I plug the controller after the game has started, doesn't work and need to quit again and restart; If the controller usb gets disconnected mid-game, game won't detect controller again until I quit and re-enter...

So what exact criteria is used to determine whether a game has "full" or "partial controller support" on Steam?

[IFIYGD]

Full controller support just means all parts of the game can be worked/played using a controller. Partial support means some parts of the game like menus or text input may need a keyboard or mouse.

[Dweller Beyond the Threshold]

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Full controller support just means all parts of the game can be worked/played using a controller. Partial support means some parts of the game like menus or text input may need a keyboard or mouse.

Well I guess devs just put whatever tag for those 2 then lol because I've never encountered a game with only "partial controller support" that has this issue. Meanwhile, games with full controller support might as well not have any controller support because controller just doesn't work.

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

Originally posted by UnhappyLawbro:

Originally posted by IFIYGD:

Full controller support just means all parts of the game can be worked/played using a controller. Partial support means some parts of the game like menus or text input may need a keyboard or mouse.

Well I guess devs just put whatever tag for those 2 then lol because I've never encountered a game with only "partial controller support" that has this issue. Meanwhile, games with full controller support might as well not have any controller support because controller just doesn't work.

It's typically ports of games that tend to be partial controller support and that usually applies to inputting text fields.