Speculation time: As someone who makes heavy use of their Steam Controller, I will admit that the possibility of a proper second generation has me quite excited.
PCGamesN recently wrote about it, which included a video from the YouTube channel Critical Input. The video goes over a Patent published in December last year, which shows it has a slightly different design with batteries that possibly go into the middle (hooray!), along with the back paddles being split into two on each side. That's pretty interesting but what's more exciting, is that it seems Valve may have already been testing it, as references were found in the Steamworks SDK for it.
Oh, on top of that it seems the Patent also mentions multiple "force sensitive resistors", which has "an electrical resistance" so it can detect how much pressure you're applying on it. Something similar is used the Valve Index Controllers (previously known as the Knuckles Controller).
You can see the video below:
Direct Link
While not confirmation, it's pretty good evidence towards something happening. As a hardware company now as well as software, with Valve now manufacturing the Index VR system they're probably in a good place to bring out a second generation Steam Controller.
This could all turn out to be nothing more than Valve playing with ideas of course, but I have hope especially since references were found in the actual SDK.
Would you grab this if it becomes a reality to purchase? I will be running to get in line if it happens, especially as I confessed my continuing love of the Steam Controller only recently.
Hat tip to Naib.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Kimyrielle Jul 4, 2019
The only thing I struggle with is strategy games. Somehow I find marking units accurately very hard. Which is weird, because that is what it is supposed to be good at...
Mohandevir Jul 4, 2019
I was affraid to lose my trackpads if ever one of my Steam Controller failed me. Best news since Steamplay!
Edit: I'm in a Doom run, atm, and I tried playing it with my Shield controller, with a DS4 that I borrowed from my son's PS4 and nothing comes close to my SC's trackpad with the gyro for precision shooting.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 July 2019 at 8:19 pm UTC
As it is, the original is my favourite controller so far, even if there are things that I could see there being room for improvement on.
I love the fact that the Steam Controller runs off of regular batteries, though if they included a NiMh charging circuit that'd be cool. I love the trackpads on it, though I'm not perfectly sold on the patterning on the left one. I love the dual-stage triggers, though their travel is a bit too short. I love the high-precision linear actuators, though they could really do with better regular rumble emulation and support.
Most of all though, I love that I can easily flip it to BTLE for use when I'm out travelling, so I don't have to worry about losing the dongle.
Mohandevir Jul 4, 2019
Quoting: AnanaceI love the trackpads on it, though I'm not perfectly sold on the patterning on the left one.
I didn't witness a situation where the left trackpad was really needed... In my personnal experience, it could be replaced with a standard d-pad, similar to what you get in a DS4... Unless there are some special use case that I don't know of? I'm just curious to know...
Edit: d-pad... That's what I meant. Thanks seanbutnotheard!
Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 July 2019 at 9:11 pm UTC
qptain Nemo Jul 4, 2019
It's especially frustrating when you bind the left joystick to produce output for the right one and see that yup, it works exactly as it should.
I'd vastly prefer if this was addressed in hardware or software by Valve so I don't have to fall back on Dualshocks.
Quoting: MennenthYou may need a correction, actually digging into the text of the patent, the batteries will still be in the grips. The graphic may be that way just to show its battery powered.It goes over multiple placement options.
QuoteAs shown in the Fig.5, the battery compartment 272 optionally may be approximately centrally located between the left and right handle portionsThat's referencing the design where it has the force sensitive resistors, which is what I was talking about.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 4 July 2019 at 9:01 pm UTC
Mohandevir Jul 4, 2019
qptain Nemo Jul 4, 2019
Quoting: MohandevirOk now... Where is the Steam Machine that's selling with it?SOON™
Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: MennenthYou may need a correction, actually digging into the text of the patent, the batteries will still be in the grips. The graphic may be that way just to show its battery powered.It goes over multiple placement options.
QuoteAs shown in the Fig.5, the battery compartment 272 optionally may be approximately centrally located between the left and right handle portionsThat's referencing the design where it has the force sensitive resistors, which is what I was talking about.
Gotcha. I for one hope they dont actually go that direction. the batteries would be TINY and probably not last very long (low mah) compared to the AA's where they are now.
seanbutnotheard Jul 4, 2019
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