_ChaosFox_: but it's terrible for anything not bought through Steam...
How so? "Games" > "Add non-Steam game to Library..." and away you go. It works literally no different from Steam games that way. Yeah, it has issues with Origin and Uplay because those launchers interrupt it and you have to set up GloSC to get around that. Yeah, it has issues with dosbox games for the exact same reason. But if it's a Windows game that doesn't have a separate launcher, it works exactly the same, including community configurations. When the controller was first released it didn't have as good of support for nkn-Steam games, that is true, but that changed really quickly.
_ChaosFox_: The Steam Controller is useless for any game that is dependent on fast-paced reactions with the digital d-pad or two analogue sticks, which other than as a mouse replacement really means that it's only good for racing games.
Yeah, gonna have to completely disagree with you on this one. Yes, the D-pad takes some learning and configuration, but I've found it to be superior in my use than even a regular D-pad. Shrink the deadzone and set it to touch instead of click and you can just rest your thumb right in the middle, use the indentations to feel where on the pad your thumb is, and just shift slightly to get immediate input in whatever direction you want. Faster, smoother, and more ergonomic than any analog D-pad I've ever used.
As for twin-stick games, like twin stick shooters, set the right pad to mouse region instead of joystick or normal mouse, again, far better than anything I have EVER used.
I don't know what your specific experience with the Steam controller is, but I must say it just sounds like you haven't really experimented with and learned the ins and outs of the steam controller. I can understand if that's not something you wanna do, but unless you do, you've kinda got no base saying it's useless for any kind of game. I haven't found a single genre of game that hasn't been improved (both in enjoyment and skill) by my use of the Steam Controller.
ChrisRevocateur: The game has to be launched through Steam, but it doesn't have to be a Steam game. You can add games to the Steam launcher through the very top menus. Games > Add a non-Steam game to my Library...
timppu: Does that work ok also with other "client" games, like EA Origin games? So you launch the game from Steam, which in turn starts the Origin client, which launches the game itself...?
I wonder if Microsoft will come up with a PC gamepad that can be used only with Windows Store games? Nice how the PC (Windows) gaming scene is starting to become fragmented when even hardware peripherals start requiring store clients...
That's the one place that I've found the Steam Controller to have real issues. It's possible, but you have to use
GloSC (Global Steam Controller). Download, install, open, add new game, navigate to the .exe for the game itself (not the client), and change the settings to make it work. For Origin and Uplay games you have to uncheck the box that says "Close GloSC when shortcut closes" as if you don't, when it launches the game, it will work for a second while the Origin or Uplay client takes hold, but will then close right as the actual game launches. After that, click the "add all to Steam" button, then launch steam and launch the new shortcut. So yes, it does work, it just needs a piece of 3rd party software to do it.