I think Valve won’t deliver for touchpad primary users. Just not possible to fit in 40mm circular touchpads and an additional dpad and joystick without making the controller comically larger. Even smaller touchpads end up compromised to accommodate the comfort of dpad and facebutton access for joystick users. Controller would need to go modular which I highly doubt Valve would do.

There’s been proposals from dual touchpad users to try to accommodate dual joysticks with joystick in place of where the facebuttons are on the Steam Controller, and facebuttons located in an arrangement similar to the chell prototype.

But dual joystick users are generally unwilling to compromise not only on the joysticks, but also the traditional diamond cluster facebuttons too. Touchpad users are so desperate they’d probably jump at the chance to get a controller that only had 40mm circular touchpad with a design meant for primary usage even if it didn’t have any face buttons.

So best case scenario for dualpad users at this point is hoping a standalone gyro module comes out that can be stuck onto any controller so at least the gyro experience is upgraded for them. Alpakka standalone gyro would be a dream. Or the Steam Deck controller has touchpads connected by long flexible cables so a 3d printed shell that moves the touchpads into a better position could be used. Or by some magic it could be replaced with 40mm cirque glidepoint circle touchpads.

I grew up using xbox, playstation, and nintendo controllers too and 360 was my main controller on the PC until the Steam Controller came out and I became sold by this gyro touchpad demo that blew me away because I was amazed by how fast the camera was whipped around along with use of gyro in place of aim assist. Been using joystick controllers all my life so experienced with both, and I never felt lacking when it came to joystick controller options as I do for dual touchpad options which is why I’m not much excited by another joystick centric controller even if it throws in touchpads that are just slightly better than the dualsense.

On the Steam Controller I use the touchpads for

• consistent 180 turns
• quick switching between items/abilities
• movement

With all the swiping and clicking I do in combination with the back button usage the touchpad placement led to putting strain on my hands. I don’t feel that discomfort with the joysticks, which feel comfortable in its placement and reachability of all the inputs around it.

And the 180 consistency I have hard time replicating with my natural swipe pattern despite adjusting the rotation in Steam Input, so I have to do corner to corner swipes due to Valve going with a square over a circle. The layout is one where I’m having to force my hand out of what would naturally feel comfortable.

I would be so happy if that happened, but I think Valve has moved away from touchpad centric layouts. I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t touchpad enthusiasts involved

There’s little signs here and there with the placement and shape, but also signs that people at Valve don’t use stuff like dpad modeshift with an inverted outering bind for 5 click inputs over the default 1 click that long time Steam Controllers love. With the biggest sign coming from not separating soft press and regular click for the touchpads in the new Steam Input.

Leading to having to use stuff like action layers on the Deck because regular click pressure can’t be set without soft press to set up the touchpad for 5 click functions. Not ideal with how action layers can sometimes get stuck between layers. https://imgur.com/a/b1wyHEK

Checking the configs I have uploaded and another game I have is Spin Rhythm XD if you have it. It’s named “Pad and Gyro for Steam Controller” in the community config. The gyro is set to activate on right pad touch, but I recommend switching it to always on.

I might go and upload my left 4 dead 2 config too when I have time since that’s a game lot of people have. You may need to lower the gyro sensitivity if you aren’t used to using it.

The configs people come up with can be really unique from user to user which is why the ones who came to like the Steam Controller have a really hard time finding a controller that matches the functionality they become used to. Since the usual default console controller experience doesn’t do it for them anymore.

Yeah, I find the controller disappointing as a Steam Controller user because I want a new touchpad centric controller for updated gyro with the old one not feeling smooth for high refresh rate displays.

The approach they went with is one that satisfies joystick users who aren’t really lacking for options when it comes to joystick controllers, but disappointing for the few half dozen users who main the touchpads and have only the option of the discontinued Steam Controller. The Deck pads were a let down for me with the ergonomics, placement, size, and shape so they didn’t end up being a good touchpad successor for my use case opting for the joysticks when I use the Deck.

I’m not surprised with the more mainstream direction they went. Just disappointed but I expected to be disappointed.

I use the Steam Controller for games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

Using steam input is a requirement to get the most out of it.

This is my basic approach for most games.

• Mapping mouse to touchpad and adjusting sensitivity to 180
• Mapping mouse (beta) to gyro and adjusting sensitivity until 90 degree turn of the controller turns in game camera 675 degrees for first person/450 for third person
• Setting up a dpad modeshift on right touchpad click and inverting outer ring so I can set the touchoutput 5 different actions depending on if I click up, down, left, right, center as opposed to only a solitary single click action. If I need more I set up a chord so holding left grip shifts the same actions into another set of 5 inputs. I got for Dead Zone: 181919 and Outer Ring Binding Radius: 16750 when it comes to values in the new Steam Input.
• Setting movement to left pad and and setting an outer ring sprint bind on it and mapping crouch/slide/dash actions on click

I saved the template for gamepad bindings for games that support mixed input and full mouse and keyboard for ones I don’t. So I don’t have to go through the whole thing all the time. I just apply my template and then just switch the bindings around and adjust the sensitivity.

If you want to try out a config I have one uploaded for the Finals called “dualpad with gyro update…” Some changes you’ll want to make to the settings is Mouse sensitivity to 20, mouse focal length sensitivity 106, swap ping and emote in game, change sprint and crouch to hold, and obviously turn off aim assist. Holding the right start buttons switches into an action set I use when playing light where left grip is crouch as opposed to a chord modifier like in the default and left pad click is for dashing and grappling. Default action set clicking the left pad is crouch/slide and left grip changing the right pad clicks to gadget switching.

I love my Steam Controller. I still use it majority of the time over my playstation, nintendo, and xbox controllers because of the touchpads.

But, I didn’t like using the touchpads on the Deck because of the size, shape, and orientation making it a regression for maining the touchpads for the games I play. So not surprised by the leak, since Valve would obviously be better off focusing on making the ergonomics better for joystick users than touchpad users. Still let down because it’ll mean for touchpad focused users like me Steam Controller is the only touchpad centric controller on the market with great ergonomics, size with 40mm concave pads, and circular shape for more consistent swipes.

But, it is discontinued and the gyro feels aged compared to the options out there. Will still be using it though from the looks of it for years to come hoping for an eventual dual pad centric controller from some niche group.

I use the Steam Controller still for games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

Basically any first or third person game that has aiming, but I am not sold on the Deck touchpads as primary inputs. Tried it and didn’t like it. Found them uncomfortable, size too small, and shape resulting in inconsistent swipes as someone who likes to target a consistent 180 on an edge to edge swipe.

So it will be a good controller for dual joystick users who occasionally want to use the touchpads, but not a good follow up to Steam Controller users who wanted a new controller to use the touchpads for a majority of their games.

Yeah, I’ve been playing lot of 2d platformers on my Deck or button mashers like the Yakuza collection where I’m less likely to miss touchpads.

One of the things noticed when trying to set up an edge to edge swipe output a 180 was how inconsistent it turned out to be unless I changed the rotational angle to be corner to corner. Which is even less ergonomic than swiping naturally. Smaller surface area probably made the 180 less consistent too with how much further the camera moves with small movements.

I use dual touchpads for games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

I’d be sad to lose the left track pad since I use it for movement in games like Dying Light and Finals.

Touchpad is great for turns. Example here of 180 turn demo with my Steam Controller. And I use that with gyro to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc without aim assist.

I used left touchpad as a touch menu when I was using the left joystick. After moving to the left touchpad I prefer it over joystick due to being able to rely on a sprint hold mapping it on the outer edge without accidentally triggering it like I would on the joystick. And I’ve come to love mapping stuff like crouch, slide, or dash to it too so combining movement actions to touchpad clicks. Frees me to use back buttons for other stuff and further reduce my need to lift my thumbs away from movement and camera controls.

That’s my experience as left joystick and left touchpad user.

Some functionality that keeps me using the Steam Controller has been touchpads for movement, quick gadget swapping with touchpads, quick 180s/gyro activation with touchpads.

I use it to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

Sadly I don’t find myself doing the same on the Steam Deck opting for the joysticks instead, since I don’t find the placement, smaller size, square versus circle, and flat surface versus concave offering the type of consistency that I use the touchpads for on the Steam Controller. It feels more a touchpad appropriate for slow paced games or just desktop navigation than optimal for the way I use the touchpads on the Steam Controller. And I don’t see Valve delivering on the touchpad end that I would like with the next Steam Controller with all the inputs it would be fitting in.

Some functionality that keeps me using the Steam Controller has been touchpads for movement, quick gadget swapping with touchpads, quick 180s/gyro activation with touchpads.

I use it to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

Sadly I don’t find myself doing the same on the Steam Deck opting for the joysticks instead, since I don’t find the placement, smaller size, square versus circle, and flat surface versus concave offering the type of consistency that I use the touchpads for on the Steam Controller. It feels more a touchpad appropriate for slow paced games or just desktop navigation than optimal for the way I use the touchpads on the Steam Controller. And I don’t see Valve delivering on the touchpad end that I would like with the next Steam Controller with all the inputs it would be fitting in.

Some functionality that keeps me using the Steam Controller has been touchpads for movement, quick gadget swapping with touchpads, quick 180s/gyro activation with touchpads.

I use it to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

Sadly I don’t find myself doing the same on the Steam Deck opting for the joysticks instead, since I don’t find the placement, smaller size, square versus circle, and flat surface versus concave offering the type of consistency that I use the touchpads for on the Steam Controller. It feels more a touchpad appropriate for slow paced games or just desktop navigation than optimal for the way I use the touchpads on the Steam Controller. And I don’t see Valve delivering on the touchpad end that I would like with the next Steam Controller with all the inputs it would be fitting in.

Not an issue for most players who will be using joysticks as their primary, but sucks for Steam Controller dual touchpad users who’ve been waiting years hoping for a Steam Controller with updated gyro, better bumpers, and 2 more back buttons.

I’m the minority that wishes the controller would have the same layout for the touchpads with it being large, circular, concave, and in the same upper positions.

I use dual touchpads on the Steam Controller to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.

But, on the Deck I did not find the touchpad good for those games due to the shape, size, and placement so it turned out as being as useful as the dualsense with it becoming more a joystick controller than a touchpad controller I wanted to use in the same way I use the Steam Controller. Been hoping for years for a proper Steam Controller with upgraded gyro and 2 additional grips, but looks like it’ll never happen even if Valve came out with a new controller when it comes to a dual touchpad controller I want to use. Would be more a xbox/sony controller alternative.

I’ll try Doom though. I saw a couple of Doom 1-inspired games this year. I can try those.

Gyro works great with Doom. I played through Doom Eternal on nightmare difficulty without aim assist. Gyro is the closest to mouse like precision on a controller if you aren’t using aim assist.

Lot of life long controller users aren’t good at aiming using only joysticks either with increasingly stronger aim assist over the years doing the bulk of the carrying which has led to some players saying a games controls are bad if the aim assist is weaker than ones they do well in.

Then add in how different the dead zone and acceleration curves are for joysticks from game to game and it makes carrying over muscle memory difficult even if you master joystick in one game. It’s like how acceleration can throw off mouse users.

But, gyro helps a lot if native gyro is mouse like or you opt to bind mouse to gyro, since the sensitivity is something that can be replicated from game to game like people do with regular mice. This video might be a good starting point. One quirk of gyro is that some games you can just bind mouse to gyro and start playing, but other games may not support simultaneous gamepad + mouse so having to opt for mouse and keyboard binds on the controls. Some people bind joystick to gyro but that introduces unwanted negative acceleration.

I recommend Portal for starting out and getting used to gyro. Then once you are used to aiming with gyro something like Left 4 Dead 2 which has good Steam Input support.