Mac Silicon M1 Big Sur Controller Support Workaround

[Dayex]

As I'm sure anyone on Big Sur who like to play games with a controller are well aware controllers no longer work with steam. Steam tries to install a driver for controller input but the installation fails.

There is now a workaround for this issue on non-M1 Silicon Macs - see link below - but no fix in sight for M1's,

Steam are aware of the issue, but yesterdays Steam update did not fix the issue, none of the beta releases have solved the problem either and Steam support won't provide any information on timeline for fix.

I was really looking forward to using this new super speedy Mac for gaming - but it looks like Steam just don't care.

Does anyone know of a workaround for using a PS4 Dual Shock or Nintendo Pro Controller for input with a Steam game, without using the actual steam input extension - i.e key mapping?

[Dayex]

Link to workaround for non M1s - https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/2/3004429475624592660/

[Isaaca La Vaca]

I have the same question. Others have tried this and seems that it is an issue from steam drivers not working properly (so far) with the combination of Steam + Big Sur + M1. I followed this discussion on Reddit

[Gianchi]

This problem is also if you want to use your M1 as a server for Steam Link; the installation of joystick driver fails...

[Skrug]

Same issue here on m1 mac mini. Please update to fix controllers.

[vickigodsgirl]

@steam; Will it help if I say "Me Too!!"?
Please fix this soon.

[Dufus]

i found I fixed the controller issue by completely deleting every steam kext ... after I did that, my controller (ps3) just worked. it still nags to update the driver if I'm in big picture mode (despite the controller working fine) but I just dismiss the pop up and continue on my merry way. (but yes, steam link will no longer work, the client app refuses to continue if the drivers aren't what it wants on the "server" machine)

[brianproffit]

Two months later Steam still doesn't give a rat's butt.

[Kosmonaut7]

Installed the Mac beta 11.3 on my Mac mini M1. DualShock controller still not working.

[Kosmonaut7]

I wrote to steam support:

Hello steam team,
I have a Mac mini M1 and a PlayStation DualShock controller. I am running the newest version of steam and OS X Big Sur 11.3 beta.
Besides Tomb raider every game with controller support I am running asks me to install a new driver to use my controller. But the driver installation fails and I get an error message. I can't play all the games I purchased over your platform. I really need help to solve this.

his was the answer:
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a timeframe for when this issue may be resolved.
Once a solution has been announced, opt into the Steam client beta to get the fix.

guess we will have to wait and see…

[Restless Revenant]

The lack of outward attention to this issue is getting infuriating. This issue has dragged on for several months with little acknowledgement.

[Hayland]

Confirmed with 11.3 release version: it's still not working.
Controller (DualSense) works fine in Steam, but not in any game.

[Harrison Fnord]

11.3 is also (still) not working with my 2016 MacBook Pro. PS4 Controller works in Steam, but not outside of it.

[dantonya]

Not working on 11.3 for me either.

[MrCr4cker]

I can confirm that it is not working on 11.3 as @Kosmonaut7 described. Is there some way we can improve visibility/priority for this issue?

[Alejandroll]

and!!!???