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Steam Controller review leaks, but price of Steam Machine accessory may disappoint
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this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2026
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$99 isn't bad at all when you compare what you can do with it to any 'pro gamer' controller out there. It has massive programmable potential comparatively to a normal Xbox controller. Pro controllers usually run $150 and up. Yes this is pricier than a shit ass China controller but you're also getting a massive amount of flexibility with it.
I appreciate the enthusiasm but the controller market offers way more than you think. There are fantastic controllers with great hardware and software for less than a standard Xbox controller. I went deep after two Xbox controllers failed fairly quickly and I expect great things from any controller that is $100. I’ve gotten used to mechanical switches, strong layouts, software and software-free options with onboard memory, and so on.
There are no controllers, no matter the price point, with touchpads like this, capacitive thumb sticks etc. And the stuff you can do with Steams controller settings is WAY beyond any other controller software.
Do share your wisdom. By which I mean the sauce.
Functionally, you can do the same Steam Input customization on a $50 8bitdo that you can on this $100 controller.
Just no trackpads.
Notably, Linux support sucks with those. I have one, and you can't do any of this on Linux through their software. There are ways to do it still though, as you can do with any controller really.
Is there any 8bitdo controller with 4 additional back buttons, too? Those are clutch for dual stick games; I'm almost always remapping then to the face buttons so I never need to stop moving or looking to do an action.
But yeah; the touchpads are critical. So many games become playable with touchpads. Nested radial menus allow for effectively infinitely many controls, which allows for most simulation games. Many Path of Exile builds are unplayable without back buttons and trackpad radial menus, due to input requirements.
tbh, I often play games on my Deck instead of my gaming PC for the controller. It's really that good. (Although nothing beats kB+mouse for FPSs.)