My suggestion: Remove the annoying "Please connect a controller." popup...

[Muramoth]

Seriously this popup is just dumb. So just because the dev recommends a controller you open up a dialog that annoys the player? That is bad for multiple reasons:

1. It is absolutely patronizing. If I want to play a game with a controller I will do so. You don't need to tell me.
2. As someone who likes to play 2d side-scrollers where the sentiment "controller strongly recommended" is thrown around pretty much the whole time, let me tell you, most of the time the devs themselves apparently have no clue what their games are best played with (leading to funny situations where the devs recommend controller, but a lot of the fastest speedrunners and challenge players actually go with keyboard...), so you really should not put such an emphasis on that flag set by them.
3. It does not even work, since it apparently does not count steering wheels as controllers. It's really ridiculous if you start up a racing game and steam wants to push you to using a controller over a steering wheel.

So all in all it just does not serve any useful purpose and is just annoying. Please remove it again!

[Serendipity]

I am 100% with you on this, I recently bought a game and loaded it to play, the first thing I see is a message 'This game is better played with a controller'

I like to play with keyboard and mouse, after all I do have PC not a console, my choice I know but I should not be forced to play with a controller. Developers must know that the majority of gamers play on pc with K/M. Please start catering for those gamers.

[Tanoomba]

Most games that recommend controller play also allow for the use of mouse and/or keyboard. All that screen is telling you is that the game was designed from the ground up with controller play in mind and that, in the devs' opinion, that is the optimal way to play. That's it. Nothing is being forced on you, it's not a jab against you, you can still play however you want.

Personally, as someone who plays almost exclusively with a controller, I love to see the "controller recommended" screen. It means I know that I will have easy access to all the game's inputs, I won't need to use 3rd party software to re-map inputs, I won't need to distort my fingers into awkward positions, I won't need to stretch over and use the mouse to navigate a menu, etc.

[Muramoth]

First of, I have actually played games that were recommended as "better on controller" where you would not have been able to remap the controller. (But ironically the keyboard inputs were actually remappable.) So the screen is not a guarantee, that it is great on controller either. (Just another reason why "in the dev's opinion" is not really a valid argument imho.)

Secondly, as I explained it even happened on a racing sim. The dev definitively designed that with steering wheel in mind. They simply put the "better on controller", because racing sims are among the very few genres that actually are better on controller than on keyboard... but even better on steering wheel still, so the screen was just stupid there.

Lastly, while it is just an inconvenience and not actually forcing us, given that it still lets us start the game without a controller, it is a completely unnecessary inconvenience. Steam should just start the game and not try to patronize us. Sure it does not force me to use controller, but it sure is very damn annoying. At the very least they should have an option to never show it again on any game ever.

[kitt]

this whole controller crap needs to go or be optional.. just another sign that Valve is run by incompetent folks.

if these people would focus in making Steam better with more and better filters but no all they do screw the platform over with their nonsense nobody is asking for.

[Tanoomba]

Originally posted by Muramoth:

First of, I have actually played games that were recommended as "better on controller" where you would not have been able to remap the controller. (But ironically the keyboard inputs were actually remappable.) So the screen is not a guarantee, that it is great on controller either. (Just another reason why "in the dev's opinion" is not really a valid argument imho.)

Of course it's not a guarantee. It's a suggestion whose value can vary based on personal preference. Like I said, I like knowing that a game was designed with controller in mind, and that that's how the devs suggest I play. I've had enough problems using a controller on games that weren't designed for it that a "controller recommended" screen is welcome and reassuring. It certainly does no harm.

Originally posted by Muramoth:

Secondly, as I explained it even happened on a racing sim. The dev definitively designed that with steering wheel in mind. They simply put the "better on controller", because racing sims are among the very few genres that actually are better on controller than on keyboard... but even better on steering wheel still, so the screen was just stupid there.

The game was probably designed and tested primarily with controller in mind, but also happens to be compatible with a steering wheel peripheral.

Originally posted by Muramoth:

Lastly, while it is just an inconvenience and not actually forcing us, given that it still lets us start the game without a controller, it is a completely unnecessary inconvenience. Steam should just start the game and not try to patronize us. Sure it does not force me to use controller, but it sure is very damn annoying. At the very least they should have an option to never show it again on any game ever.

What's the inconvenience? It's a splash screen like any other. Also, Steam has nothing to do with it, it's something the devs put in their games. Finally, there's nothing patronizing about it all. You're seeing insult where there is none. Just ignore that screen and play however you want. Problem solved.

[Muramoth]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

... Also, Steam has nothing to do with it, it's something the devs put in their games. Finally, there's nothing patronizing about it all. You're seeing insult where there is none. Just ignore that screen and play however you want. Problem solved.

You obviously don't know what we are talking about, so let me explain: We don't mean a splash screen within a game, that just says "controller recommended". If that would be the case I would complain on the forum of those specific games (or more likely just ignore it). What we are talking about is, that if the game is marked as "better on controller" in the store, then when you start it without having a controller connected, steam (not the game, but steam itself) will show you a popup asking you to connect a controller. It is not even just a warning like "hey the game is designed with controller in mind so keyboard enjoyment may vary." No it very clearly asks you to connect a controller, as if that's the only way to play the game. Sure you can cancel that bs, but then the game does not even start directly, but you have to manually start it again. You might not have seen it yet, since you apparently mostly have a controller connected, but for the rest of us that don't, it is quite an aggravating annoyance.

[Jess]

I have a form of ADHD and this is a big deal for me. It is absolutely infuriating. This absolutely ruined my day.

[AustrAlien2010]

If we have a problem, we fix it ourselves. That's how it always goes.
Connect a gamepad, or make a virtual one. Then at least the messages will stop.

[Rocket]

Things like this will make me buy my games from other platforms.

[Callyste]

Originally posted by AustrAlien2010:

If we have a problem, we fix it ourselves. That's how it always goes.
Connect a gamepad, or make a virtual one. Then at least the messages will stop.

I get that g*dd*mn popup even though I DO have a controller connected and am even PLAYING WITH IT

[ransan]

Remove this dialog.
It does not respect my ability to decide for myself how I play games.

[Maskerader]

I think it's better to change the phrasing and also - most importantly! - run the game even when you close the pop-up! Right now, if you close the pop-up instead of clicking "Ok", the game doesn't start. That's a pretty confusing situation: it's only recommended to use a controller, not required, so why doesn't the game start; why does it expect me to basically agree to connecting a controller when I'm not going to do that.