A couple of months have passed since the Steam Controller launched, giving PC gamers another way to enjoy Steam games with features like trackpads, gyro controls, and Steam Input support. However, the controller is mainly designed for use with PCs and the Steam Machine, primarily connecting to your device via a unique wireless puck.

While Valve’s official wireless puck pairs the controller with supported PC devices, it doesn’t offer compatibility with other consoles. Now, a community developer has come up with a DIY alternative called OpenPuck, which lets users connect the Steam Controller to platforms like the PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

OpenPuck software is available for free, but you’ll need a microcontroller

OpenPuck is an open-source project created by Safijari that recreates the functionality of Valve’s official Steam Controller puck while adding several extra features. Instead of using Valve’s hardware, the project relies on an inexpensive Pro Micro NRF52840 microcontroller board, which costs less than $10. Once the custom firmware is installed, the board behaves like the official Steam Controller receiver, allowing the controller to pair wirelessly just as it would with Valve’s own accessory.

The biggest advantage of OpenPuck is that it can make the Steam Controller appear as different types of controllers depending on the platform you’re using. With simple button combinations, users can switch between Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch modes. For example, plugging the OpenPuck into a Nintendo Switch allows the console to recognize it as a supported wired controller, complete with features such as gyro controls and haptic feedback. The same applies to PlayStation and Xbox-compatible modes, making the Steam Controller much more versatile than it normally is.

This solves one of the Steam Controller’s biggest limitations. On PC, many of its advanced features rely on Steam Input, which translates the controller’s inputs while Steam is running. Outside of Steam, those features become much more limited. Notably, this makes the gamepad inherently incompatible with Game Pass games outside of the Steam ecosystem.

OpenPuck handles the translation itself, allowing the controller to work across different platforms without depending on Steam. It can also switch into the controller’s default “Lizard Mode,” making it behave more like a standard mouse and keyboard input device when needed.

The project is also designed to be easy to build. Along with the microcontroller, there’s also a 3D-printable enclosure (courtesy of Jakiii) that gives the finished device a polished look similar to Valve’s official puck. There’s also a web-based interface that lets users change USB modes and customize controls without dealing with complicated software.

There are a few differences compared to Valve’s official accessory. OpenPuck currently does not support wireless charging, which is one of the features offered by the original puck. However, this isn’t a major drawback, as the Steam Controller can still be charged directly through its USB-C port. The developer has also listed charging support as a feature they hope to add in the future. All in all, the project looks to be yet another example of community modding done correctly.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.