In preparation for the upcoming Steam Link app release, the Steam Beta Client has been updated with support for the Steam Controller using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mode.
Firstly, here's the changelog for the beta client:
Steam Input
- Enabled the Steam Controller BLE FW Update, for more information visit here.
- Added support for the NACON Revolution Pro 2 PS4 controller
- Added support for the PowerA Wired Controller Plus Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
- Improved software gyro drift correction
Diving into more detail in another post, Valve explained the new Steam Controller functionality. It's interesting, because it won't just enable the Steam Controller to link up with Android and iOS devices for the Steam Link app that's coming. It will also allow you to link it to say, a laptop, where perhaps you have no USB ports free for the wireless receiver or if you've broken/lost it.
It does require a firmware update for the Steam Controller, which is a simple process. When you load the Steam client from the latest Beta, it will come up with a prompt with a button to update when you turn your Steam Controller on. Warning: You will need to pair your Steam Controller again as this wipes it.
I tested it myself this afternoon and it will come up exactly like this:
It will then bring up a much bigger window, that will warn you about it needing to be done over a wired connection:
The process is a little dumb right now, as soon as I plugged the wire into my Steam Controller that window just vanished. Thankfully, Valve have thought about that and so there's this page which includes a link to force the update.
I had quite a lot of trouble getting my Steam Controller paired again after this, since it wipes it. If you also have the same issue, try unplugging the wireless dongle and then plugging it back in. Then re-try pairing, which made it work for me. And now here we are, all updated:
Once done, you can switch between the modes easily when turning the Steam Controller on. Simply hold down the Steam Button + A for the normal wireless mode and Steam Button + B for BLE mode.
Going a little further, I decided to test out this BLE mode on my laptop. Sure enough, it works! Paired okay after a few attempts of turning Bluetooth off/on:
It connects fine and with the Steam Client loaded and having the correct udev rules in place (see Valve's GitHub for them) it did seem to work:
Switching it between modes to test between my desktop and my laptop worked perfectly too. Connection on both was instant. Seems like this is going to make the Steam Controller quite a lot more useful. Good stuff from Valve here, really nice to see them continue to improve their hardware.
Thanks for the tip, pepster!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
buckysrevenge May 12, 2018
Quoting: buckysrevengeSo, to clarify, do we need to press the steam button AND A (or B) every time we turn on the controller, or just when wanting to switch modes?As mentioned in the article, that's for switching the mode, which you do while turning it on.
Quoting: PatolaDoes it in any way disturbs sc-controller from working? sc-controller is much less bug-ridden than the steam driver and it is much more powerful too. I mostly use it for my steam games instead of steam native support.It shouldn't get in the way at all, as long the Steam Controller is connected in the normal mode.
Quoting: PatolaI just tested, works as expected with SC Controller.Quoting: liamdaweAgreed: it shouldn't. But I guess it could. I prefer losing all my steam controller configuration on steam than in sc-controller (and I customize it for every game, no less). So if anyone has tested sc-controller after the firmware update, please let me know!!!Quoting: PatolaDoes it in any way disturbs sc-controller from working? sc-controller is much less bug-ridden than the steam driver and it is much more powerful too. I mostly use it for my steam games instead of steam native support.It shouldn't get in the way at all, as long the Steam Controller is connected in the normal mode.
Edit: To be clear, that's in normal mode :)
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 12 May 2018 at 3:49 pm UTC
So, keep trying until you get a code without A in it.
Quoting: rkfgI only have one question: did the SC contain an inactive Bluetooth module all this time or did they manage to implement the protocol using their generic radio transmitter (i.e. not a standart BT/Wi-Fi module)? I suppose the frequencies and everything else are different so if they did that it's quite an achievement.
IIRC, it was known for a long time that it was BLE-capable. So it's likely the former. I guess that their own protocol is BLE slightly tuned for better latency, not sure if they had to pass a FCC certification for this (I guess they did).
Edit:
QuoteOtherwise we suggesting sticking with the original protocol. It provides the fastest connection, with low-latency support for up to four controllers per receiver, and works across all major operating systems. The BLE connection is excellent, but the native wireless protocol was designed from the ground up to provide the best experience for a Steam Controller.Wasn't this up to 16 controllers previously?
Last edited by MayeulC on 12 May 2018 at 7:02 pm UTC
Quoting: MayeulCWasn't this up to 16 controllers previously?
I think it was up to 16 controllers per PC but 4 per dongle.
Quoting: malahHuge ... I always forgot this useless dongle when I travel ...
Yep.
For me it would've helped quite a bit if they had included a slot for the dongle at the controller,
where you can put it when unplugged.
My desktop Bluetooth 4.0 dongle isn't and was pretty much driving me nuts!
Tested on my laptop and BANG! Started working immediately.
------------ EDIT ------------
Or maybe, just maybe, make sure you have all the necessary packages installed.
Maybe then it will work.
Last edited by joaojotta on 13 May 2018 at 10:34 am UTC
I was hoping I can have Steam beta on my laptop and Steam stable on my main gaming PC, but it seems that stable Steam client, although recognizes the updated Steam controller with normal / wired connection, it can no longer read its preferences, name, etc. and is unable to configure steam configurations for it in games.
So if you decide to opt in for the beta client and upgrade the firmware of your controller, you have to install beta client on all your Steam computers.
buckysrevenge May 13, 2018
Quoting: F.UltraStill sad that still in 2018 things get's completely wiped on firmware updates. Wouldn't it be nice if vendors of controllers, BIOS/UEFI, Smart TVs and so on would put the configuration on a separate memory location that didn't get wiped.It's not "completely wiped", it just is no longer paired. Once I paired my controllers, they had retained their personal settings (name, start up tune, etc.).
I'm also not having the "'A' cancelling out the pairing" problem. In fact, one of my codes was all A's and it worked fine.
Quoting: subFor me it would've helped quite a bit if they had included a slot for the dongle at the controller,
where you can put it when unplugged.
This one has it, but, even more so with shipping, might be a bit too expensive for such a feature:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/530970/Steam_Controller_Battery_Door/
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