Today’s the day a new controller for Steam officially comes to town from Hori, affectionately called: The Horipad (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLLKRFG8 – $59.99).
The name might be a bit suspect, but it seems to pack some punch at a familiar controller price:
“The Wireless HORIPAD for Steam is the controller specifically designed for use on Steam™ for Windows 11/10 and Steam Deck™. Quickly pull up Steam menus during gameplay with three dedicated menu buttons – great for playing in Big Picture mode! This fully featured rechargeable pro pad connects to your Steam Deck or Windows PC running Steam via Bluetooth wireless with 12 hours of battery life. No Bluetooth? No problem – HORI has you covered with a USB-A Bluetooth receiver. Also functions as a wired connection via the included USB cable (XInput Mode only compatible with wired connection). Packed with features including gyro sensors for motion control, two programmable back buttons and two function buttons, analog/digital triggers, and Capacitive Touch Thumbsticks – assign functions to be activated when touching the Analog Sticks. (*Does not include the following features: vibration, trackpad, headset jack.) Compatible with Steam™ and Steam Deck™” – product description on Amazon
Interesting. True story, but I haven’t tried using any other controllers with my Steam Deck to date. Just use it as is. I’ve never docked it like others have. It’s essentially a bigger Nintendo Switch the way I use it, but there are many other ways to use it, which is a main attraction point.
Here’s more on this HORIpad from Polygon:
“Notably, its thumbsticks are capacitive like the Steam Deck’s, meaning they know whether your thumb is resting on them or not. This trait allows you to program functions to the sticks via Steam’s controller customization tools, be it triggering gyroscopic aiming (which the controller supports), bringing up a mini map, or any other command you can think of just by holding your finger to the stick. The Horipad for Steam has almost all of same buttons that present on the Steam Deck, including its vital system-level buttons, as well as two pairs of mappable macro buttons. While the Deck puts both pairs on its backside near the grips, this controller puts one pair on the front (underneath the D-pad and right stick) and another pair on the back.” – via The new Horipad for Steam is a wireless controller with neat features | Polygon
There has been all kinds of news stories recently that Steam is working on another controller. I have one of their older ones and it wasn’t terrible, but it was definitely odd. I think the success of Steam Deck has really put Valve back in the hardware game.
Valve is also making the SteamOS something that Steam Deck competitors can run and be licensed. Word is they are working with Rog Ally to have SteamOS working on there. Lots of stuff happening in Steam land in the hardware space.