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:
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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.
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The comments on this article are closed.
I dig my Steam controller, it *looks* great and feels really good.
But... In too many games - especially those built for controllers - I've still found myself returning to my old trusty "classic" controller from Logitech. There's just something about two analogue sticks and the physical feedback it gives on position etc that really is very hard to replace.
But... In too many games - especially those built for controllers - I've still found myself returning to my old trusty "classic" controller from Logitech. There's just something about two analogue sticks and the physical feedback it gives on position etc that really is very hard to replace.
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Quoting: MohandevirI 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...Geometry Wars 3 on full doule touchpad setting is really a waaay better experience overall than using regular joysticks , there are other games in my collection that are twin stick shooter type games like that , that can take advantage of a dual touch pad setup so I'd be really sad to see them go away ...
Besides if you REALLY need a D-pad then you want the best one there is out there and therefore not plugging a DS4 into your computer is just asking for trouble ...
(sorry XBOX controller fans but NO those are not proper D-pads regardless of which XBOX controller we're talking about their D-pads are just straight up garbage )
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Protip for those who find using the left touchpad as a D-Pad to be awkward: try setting it to Radial Menu, with the first 8 inputs being D-Pad Up, Up & Right, Right, Right & Down, Down, Down & Left, Left, Left & Up; with activation on always. Though it may not work for inputting beat 'em up moves.
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Mohandevir Jul 5, 2019
Quoting: dubigrasuI'd very much prefer to have them keep the left trackpad, since is much more usefull than a simple dpad.
Don't get me wrong, the left trackpad is doing the job. It's just that it gives a weird d-pad feeling. I was just wondering if there are situations where the left trackpad is used for something else than a d-pad.
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Quoting: KimyrielleI love the Steam controller and would quite certainly eventually replace it with a newer version, at least at the end of its life. My only gripe with it (although not Valve's fault) is that Godot engine doesn't support it, so I can't add controller support to my own games. :S
Hmm, https://github.com/kozec/sc-controller, maybe :)
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Quoting: MohandevirIt is a bad dpad for sure, seems to be an agreement about this. I'm guessing that if someone is heavily into platformers, he's totally not gonna like the Steam Controller, no matter how useful is the left trackpad.Quoting: dubigrasuI'd very much prefer to have them keep the left trackpad, since is much more usefull than a simple dpad.
Don't get me wrong, the left trackpad is doing the job. It's just that it gives a weird d-pad feeling. I was just wondering if there are situations where the left trackpad is used for something else than a d-pad.
But I think that overall the left trackpad redeems itself through its multiple uses.
Here's a video showing some things you can do with it. Granted, many configuration options he's talking about can be applied now to a lot of classic controllers. When the Steam Controller was released it had a definite edge over a regular controller because of its unique configuration options, but now thanks to Valve's support you can apply that to any controller. Sure, some left trackpad options can be somewhat applied to a regular dpad, since they overlap a bit, but in practice and in the actual gameplay, the trackpad takes the cake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9hcntkvKX8
Last edited by dubigrasu on 5 July 2019 at 2:16 pm UTC
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Mohandevir Jul 5, 2019
Quoting: dubigrasuQuoting: MohandevirIt is a bad dpad for sure, seems to be an agreement about this. I'm guessing that if someone is heavily into platforms, he's totally not gonna like the Steam Controller, no matter how useful is the left trackpad.Quoting: dubigrasuI'd very much prefer to have them keep the left trackpad, since is much more usefull than a simple dpad.
Don't get me wrong, the left trackpad is doing the job. It's just that it gives a weird d-pad feeling. I was just wondering if there are situations where the left trackpad is used for something else than a d-pad.
But I think that overall the left trackpad redeems itself through its multiple uses.
Here's a video showing some things you can do with it. Granted, many configuration options he's talking about can be applied now to a lot of classic controllers. When the Steam Controller was released it had a definite edge over a regular controller because of its unique configuration options, but now thanks to Valve's support you can apply that to any controller. Sure, some left trackpad options can be somewhat applied to a regular dpad, since they overlap a bit, but in practice and in the actual gameplay, the trackpad takes the cake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9hcntkvKX8
A numpad... Forgot about this one. Even worse, I use it in ESO. #Facepalm
Thanks for making me remember.
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Quoting: dubigrasuIt is a bad dpad for sure, seems to be an agreement about this. I'm guessing that if someone is heavily into platforms, he's totally not gonna like the Steam Controller, no matter how useful is the left trackpad.
But I think that overall the left trackpad redeems itself through its multiple uses.
I'm playing a ton of SHMUPS and Fighting games where I do want a good D-pad and for those I do indeed use the Playstation 4 controller .
For anything else though ? I fucking looooove the steam controller. So i dunno maybe is it because I come from the fighting game fandom where the word of wisdom and mouth of the community is that there is no such a thing as a one size fit all controller and therefore don't mind cycling them around . But really like I said the horrendous D-pad doesn't hinder my love for the steam controller because I NEVER planned to use it for games where I would want one anyway .
Last edited by TheSyldat on 5 July 2019 at 2:13 pm UTC
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Nice, I do like my steam controller. Awesome how customizable it is. Hopefully, if there is a new version, will be even more customizable (MORE BUTTONS PLEASE).
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