The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is happening now in San Francisco, and we’re learning a lot about new hardware from Valve. People are especially excited about the upcoming Steam Controller, Steam Frame, and Steam Machine.
It still feels unusual to see ‘Steam Controller’ and positive feedback mentioned together. While it had a dedicated fanbase, the Steam Controller was often considered quite strange when it launched in 2015 with the Steam Machine. Many people found its unique features a bit too different at the time, but developers are now praising its trackpads, comparing them favorably to those found on Macs.
Valve didn’t give up on those ideas and used what they learned to create the Steam Deck. People have really enjoyed the Steam Deck’s controls, and the new Steam Controller is basically a Steam Deck, but without the built-in screen.
The Steam Deck came out in 2022, but Valve hasn’t stopped improving it. Recent feedback from journalists, developers, and those at GDC suggests the Steam Deck is now even better than before.
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So, I was checking out what Alex Nichiporchik, the head of tinyBuild (the guys making that wild game, Kingmakers), was saying on X (formerly Twitter). He was doing a Q&A and just generally chatting, and he kept giving shout-outs to trackpads, saying they’re awesome and comparing them to the really good ones on MacBooks. Pretty cool to see him highlight that!
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Because the trackpads are positioned close to the thumbsticks, some users worried about accidentally touching them. However, Valve appears to have implemented effective technology to prevent these unintended inputs.
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Jon Hibbins, CEO and Game Director at Psytec Games, praised the product, stating it was high-quality and functioned perfectly as expected.
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Hibbins also responded to a question about the D-pad, describing it as “great, just quality and premium.” This improved D-pad will make playing classic games much more enjoyable, as the Steam Deck’s original D-pad felt soft and imprecise.
The controller’s magnetic attachment and charging base were praised as being well-designed, suggesting it will be easy and convenient to use daily. It’s frustrating when you want to use a controller on your computer only to find it’s dead or difficult to connect – this controller seems to address those common problems.
We can expect to see what we’ve learned and improved upon now applied to the next Steam Deck when it’s released.
People are excited about more than just the Steam Controller. A developer recently gave the Steam Deck high praise, though they couldn’t say too much due to a confidentiality agreement.
It’s currently unclear if the Steam Controller will be available before the Steam Machine releases. Unlike the Steam Machine, the controller isn’t affected by the recent memory price issues and supply chain problems, so its availability isn’t tied to those factors.
Authors
Cole Luke is a freelance journalist and video creator who works with TopMob Gaming. His work also appears on websites like Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, and Network N.
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2026-03-12 19:04