Valve has finally launched its new Steam Controller, and while the Steam Machine and Steam Frame will have to wait, we finally have a release date for new Valve hardware in 2026. It arrives on May 4, and review coverage has been released to give fans a deep dive into what it’s capable of, how comfortable it is, and frankly, anything else you’d like to know about the gamepad.

Valve made it clear in its original reveal last November that the 2nd-gen controller is compatible with “anything running Steam,” and reviews give us a closer look at how it operates inside and outside of the Steam ecosystem. If you like to dabble with other launchers or platforms, one of the biggest bombshells is the controller’s lack of compatibility in these environments.

Steam Controller gamepad requires Steam Input

The controller and its connecting ‘puck’ do still function without Steam opened or installed, but this is only for trackpad and keyboard operation. For the whole gamepad to be functional, including the two analog sticks, you need to be connected through Steam Input, which is Valve’s translation layer – in other words, Steam must be running.

Additionally, according to Gamers Nexus’s review, the controller can open the Steam on-screen keyboard, but it only works if the Steam client is open. It also fails to appear over the top of the Windows lockscreen, meaning you won’t be able to use it to log in from the comfort of your couch without resorting to Microsoft’s on-screen keyboard instead.

If you wish to play non-Steam games while using the Steam Controller, you’ll need to launch them through Steam. While adding non-Steam games to your library is not too much of a hindrance, it is still a downside if you were looking for a plug-and-play experience across all your game launchers on Windows.

One notable spot is Xbox’s popular Game Pass service, which many players use as their main platform for PC gaming, alongside Steam. It should also be noted that, for the same reason, the Steam Controller is not natively compatible with console devices such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch (though someone did get Steam running on a Switch recently).

In its review, PC Mag claims that the Xbox app did provide permission to add its game binaries to Steam, meaning you’d have to own a copy of the game on Steam to play on Valve’s controller. Tools like UWPHook exist to add these games to your Steam library, but this doesn’t enable Steam Input support alongside.

The good news is that this is a problem that may be solved by the community at some point, especially since the original Steam Controller had the same issue. A program named GlosSI was developed to enable Steam Input at a system level, but it hasn’t been updated since 2024 – maybe the community will enable support for the new Steam Controller, too.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.