Norm from Tested talks about his experience using the Steam Controller with VR headsets It has IR lighting so the Steam Frame can track the controller in your VR/AR space With the Vision Pro, you can connect it via Bluetooth, and it will recognize both the gamepad and trackpads

Finally, it only took 13 years of convincing.

Steam Link on visionOS will also automatically recognize the Steam Controller when you are connected directly through the headset in that way. So bindings will work Truly my favorite overview of the controller Go give them a watch if you haven’t already:

So are the rumors true or false surrounding the standard firmware for the Steam Controller not working well with Windows outside Steam? I would think not, after reading this!

Windows is annoying because of XInput. A very proprietary software layer So if Valve doesn’t create an XInput driver, things are gonna be wonky on Windows w/o Steam Even Apple has a generic gamepad thing built into all of their operating systems that are easier to tap into..

Yeah that's strange, was hoping for a different answer but that makes a lot of sense. I'm surprised there isn't an open source one-size-fits-all controller firmware. Microsoft should take notes!

@SadlyItsBradley It's Microsoft's fault tbh. Linux doesnt have this issue. While you still need Steam to be running on Linux to use the controller, you can actually hold Start on the Steam Deck/Controllers and it switches to generic gamepad mode.

@SadlyItsBradley In all honesty that's an even worse approach. You need proprietary software to handle the proprietary firmware. At least Xinput as annoying as it is, is deeply embedded and doesn't need a specific application to use the controller and most standard controllers are supported.

Has no one shown off the amount of AR tracking lights? I got the impression it was just the single LED, but others didnt, has no one recorded with say a phone so the IR is visible? I wonder if the IR tracking works with the guest headsets too

How does IR light track it? Like i don't see any tracking points

Very cool. Definitely an untalked point, as it will play seamlessly with the upcoming Frame?

Ya

@Noah_A_S Any way to get working with lighthouses? Or need to glue a vive tracker puck to it?

Will this be better than the dual sense controller in every aspect? Also the haptics and shit?

I mean the trackpads alone make it super fucking fantastic for gaming and spatial computing at the same time Especially when you pair those inputs with eye tracking

But for playing flat on a ps5 I mean. Wouldn't the dual sense offer a better experience since it's same brand?

Oh uh. Sure. Not even sure how Playstation handles non-PS based controllers tbh

We'll have to wait and see. You have a ps5? If you try it tell us. If it's better in every aspect including haptics (since I heard the dual sense has some fancy haptics) I'll buy it right away to receive GTA 6 with it

I do not. Sorry

I wonder how much does the IR diode(s) impact the battery life

Likely very little

Stupid question, but where does the IR light come from? Is it behind the Steam button?

@_Arkanian Yesssss

WE NEED AR / VRgaming to make a hit i want to vs my friends across the world in physical games like laser tag or i control a character on a world that i can see, so much potential

Does that mean visionOS has a driver for it or Steam Controller has dinput or something?

Prior to @valvesoftware unveiling this @Steam controller… I reached out to @Microsoft Gaming privilege idiot CEO @XboxP3 at this time… about developing a next generation @XBOX controller, I got crickets. @Microsoft earnings was yesterday hardware is down, geez I wonder why…

Norm’s reviews are always the best

IR tracking on the Steam Controller working across VR/AR headsets including Vision Pro is huge for input versatility. The more input methods that just work across devices, the faster spatial computing becomes practical for real workflows.

noooice

Amazing, I heard it comes with a 100$ bill inside if you open it...

Big