Steam Input Archives

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

Why aren’t there more PC-first gamepads? Valve don’t know, but they “did see an opportunity” for the new Steam Controller

Valve's new Steam Controller is set to launch on May 4th, focusing specifically on the PC gaming experience. Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Steve Cardinali discussed the lack of PC-specific controllers in a market dominated by console peripherals. They noted that existing controllers are primarily designed for consoles, with 59% of Steam users currently using Xbox controllers and 26% using PlayStation controllers. The new Steam Controller aims to address the needs of PC gamers by incorporating familiar thumbsticks and inputs, as well as Deck-style trackpads for enhanced utility. It is priced at £85 and is designed to work seamlessly with the Steam platform. Yang and Cardinali also mentioned potential features for future iterations of Valve's gaming hardware.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Steam Controller is incompatible with all your Game Pass games, but a community fix could save the day

Valve has announced the release of the Steam Controller, set to launch on May 4, 2026. The controller is designed to work with anything running Steam but does not support other gaming platforms or launchers. It requires the Steam client to be running for full functionality, including the use of both analog sticks. The controller can operate without the Steam client for basic trackpad and keyboard operations, but features like the Steam on-screen keyboard are only accessible when the client is open. Non-Steam games must be launched through Steam to be played with the controller. The Steam Controller does not natively support console devices such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. While there are tools to add non-Steam games to a Steam library, they do not provide Steam Input support. Community initiatives may emerge to extend support for the new controller.

BetaBeacon

April 21, 2026

How to Install Steam on Android with ROCKNIX

The text provides a list of Steam-compatible devices from different brands such as AYN, AYANEO, Retroid, and KONKR. It also gives detailed instructions on how to install ROCKNIX on these devices, back up existing ABL, flash ROCKNIX ABL, change boot mode, install Steam, enable Steam Input, change game configs, and adjust ROCKNIX Steam settings. Additionally, it compares the pros and cons of using ROCKNIX versus Android on compatible devices and recommends installing ROCKNIX on a microSD card rather than on the internal storage due to potential risks.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC impressions

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features themes of connection, grief, and the transient nature of existence, set in Australia and linked to the Chiral Network. The game is noted for its engaging gameplay and visual capabilities, with performance tests showing around 60 fps in demanding environments on high settings with an RTX 4070 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900K. Lowering settings can yield up to 94 fps, while enabling frame generation can surpass 126 fps. PICO upscaling combined with DLSS frame generation provides optimal visuals. The Steam Deck struggles with performance, achieving only 24 fps on the Portable preset. The game supports various controllers, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and DualSense, with a new difficulty mode called "to the wilder" that increases challenge through tougher enemies and resource management.

Winsage

December 24, 2025

Steam client under Windows fully converted to 64-bit, support for 32-bit ends in 2026

Valve has transitioned the Steam client on Windows 10 and Windows 11 to a fully native 64-bit architecture, ending support for 32-bit Windows installations. Users on 32-bit systems will receive security updates and bug fixes until January 1, 2026, after which the Steam client will be considered insecure. Less than one percent of active Steam users are affected by this change. The shift to 64-bit allows for better RAM access, improved stability, and eliminates the need for the WoW64 compatibility layer. The update also includes technical enhancements such as a fix for H.265 game recording on Nvidia 50 series graphics cards, support for Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, and improved chat moderation features. Valve has ceased support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 as of the end of 2024.

Winsage

December 22, 2025

Steam’s December Update Moves the Windows Client Fully to 64-bit

Valve's December update for the Steam client has transitioned the Windows version to a fully 64-bit application, ending partial 32-bit support. This change allows for improved performance and stability, as 64-bit applications can access greater system memory and manage larger tasks more effectively. Most Steam users on Windows, who already use a 64-bit operating system, will experience a seamless update. However, support for 32-bit Windows will continue only until January 1, 2026, after which it will cease. The update also includes enhancements such as improved reporting of suspicious messages, fixes for Big Picture Mode and Remote Play, and expanded controller support, including for Nintendo Switch 2 and GameCube controllers. Users on 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 will have the update installed automatically, while those on 32-bit systems must transition to a 64-bit version to continue using Steam after the cutoff date.

BetaBeacon

November 13, 2025

Valve cracks the door on Steam to Android games

Valve's Steam has 35+ million concurrent users, making it the largest PC gaming storefront in terms of active engagement. Android games will run natively on Valve's new Steam Frame, which runs on an Arm-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform. Developers can reuse their existing toolchain when bringing Android games to Steam, but will need to integrate Steamworks features. Valve's broader Arm ambitions include paving the way for SteamOS to be more broadly supported across Arm devices. By embracing Android games, Valve is breaking down platform walls to benefit developers and players, potentially making it one of Steam's most important platform expansions in years.

AppWizard

October 11, 2025

How To Make A PS4 Or PS5 Controller Work With PC Games

Players can use Steam Input to map PlayStation controllers to games that do not natively support them. Custom Steam Input mapping for PlayStation controllers is typically enabled by default for many popular games. If players encounter Xbox icons instead of PlayStation icons, they can switch to PlayStation icons by going to Steam Settings, selecting the Controller section, and enabling PlayStation Controller Support. For games without Steam Input enabled, players can activate it by right-clicking the game in their library, selecting Properties, navigating to the Controller option, and enabling Steam Input. Once enabled, players can customize their controller emulation and access various alternative layouts created by the community.

AppWizard

July 30, 2025

Grounded 2 Save File Location for PC

Grounded 2 has been released in early access on PC via Steam and the Xbox App, as well as on Xbox Series S|X. The game has received positive critical feedback and a high number of concurrent players at launch. The PC version, despite some performance issues, is favored by players. The save file location for Grounded 2 on Steam is found at C:Users[Windows Username]Saved GamesGrounded2, where players can find individual folders for each world. Players can create multiple worlds and save slots, accessible from the main menu under "Load Game," where they can view statistics and rename their worlds or save files. Grounded 2 on Steam includes features such as Steam Cloud for automatic progress saving, Family Share for shared access among family members, and Steam Input for compatibility with various controllers.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Modder behind the ‘Swiss army knife of PC gaming’ deletes their 20 year-old Steam account with anti-Valve manifesto: ‘By the end of my bitter dealings with Valve… there was zero hope’

Kaldaien, the creator of the graphics and performance enhancement tool Special K, has deleted their Steam account after two decades, citing frustrations with Steam's update policies and the platform's evolution since 2002. They criticized Steam for becoming bloated and complicating software compatibility, making older games unplayable due to updated requirements. Kaldaien expressed concerns about the diminishing freedom for gamers to purchase from various sources and criticized the Steam Input API for obstructing access to alternative input options. Despite being a Steamworks partner, they felt unresponsive to Valve and noted that some issues stem from developers' choices rather than Steam itself. Kaldaien's experiences highlight the concentration of power in Valve's hands and raise questions about the long-term implications for gamers reliant on a single platform.