By default, controller layouts won’t immediately work, but there are multiple fan software that works fine in giving full access/control. Steam Deck Tools will very easily just make it work in that it will allow you to use it as a controller, but I use Handheld Companion because I can map the … button to keyboard, STEAM to showing the home screen, and the back controls I’ve mapped to changing mouse modes or even screenshots/recording. You really have tons of flexibility and these software get updates often for more features.
Steam Deck Tools also has options for other Steam OS features like FPS/performance tracking, fan control, etc. so I’d recommend checking them out if you do end up going with them. There’s also other software for similar purposes like Glossi and SWICD, but those have a few issues/are a bit outdated versus Handheld Companion and Steam Deck Tools.
Thanks, this was quite informative as to what the state of things are on the Windows side.
That said, I highly dislike the idea of undermining Valve’s efforts to get PC gaming less dependent on Windows so certainly will not be using any of this.
I think it’s not really undermining Valve’s efforts since both have their own pros and cons. Valve’s work is absolutely incredible considering how talking about playing triple A games on Linux would get you laughed at even just a few years ago and now they have a computer that excels at doing so, but like Windows, but it’s still got its own weaknesses and I think it’s good to look at both for what they can and can’t do. Most of my games are installed on the Steam OS side but I spend more time in Windows so I can use all the many tools I need to be able to access for everyday life. Both have their own uses and I think the fact that the device is so easily able to handle them is wonderful and don’t undermine but rather compliment each other in filling the pitfalls the others have. Those are my thoughts at least, and why I personally use both (not trying to say you need to use Windows, but just my own thoughts from using them each).
By default, controller layouts won’t immediately work, but there are multiple fan software that works fine in giving full access/control. Steam Deck Tools will very easily just make it work in that it will allow you to use it as a controller, but I use Handheld Companion because I can map the … button to keyboard, STEAM to showing the home screen, and the back controls I’ve mapped to changing mouse modes or even screenshots/recording. You really have tons of flexibility and these software get updates often for more features.
Steam Deck Tools also has options for other Steam OS features like FPS/performance tracking, fan control, etc. so I’d recommend checking them out if you do end up going with them. There’s also other software for similar purposes like Glossi and SWICD, but those have a few issues/are a bit outdated versus Handheld Companion and Steam Deck Tools.
TLDR: works pretty well!
Thanks, this was quite informative as to what the state of things are on the Windows side.
That said, I highly dislike the idea of undermining Valve’s efforts to get PC gaming less dependent on Windows so certainly will not be using any of this.
@Louise @Saitama @steamdeck
I think it’s not really undermining Valve’s efforts since both have their own pros and cons. Valve’s work is absolutely incredible considering how talking about playing triple A games on Linux would get you laughed at even just a few years ago and now they have a computer that excels at doing so, but like Windows, but it’s still got its own weaknesses and I think it’s good to look at both for what they can and can’t do. Most of my games are installed on the Steam OS side but I spend more time in Windows so I can use all the many tools I need to be able to access for everyday life. Both have their own uses and I think the fact that the device is so easily able to handle them is wonderful and don’t undermine but rather compliment each other in filling the pitfalls the others have. Those are my thoughts at least, and why I personally use both (not trying to say you need to use Windows, but just my own thoughts from using them each).