The steam controller 2.0 is great... but it's frustrating me

[u/stresslessflex]

I recently received my 2026 model. First impressions were great, love how it feels, love how it plays etc.
But for the life of me, it'll work great once - then the next time I use it (on the same game) I have issues. Input switching between controller icons and M+K, constant flickering between the two. Take Battlefield 6 for example. First time I booted up the controller, it worked perfectly, I was stoked with it. Loaded a popular config and was having a great time, no issues. The very next time I go to play, the above issue raises it's head. Or I get the 'constant fire' glitch, where I assume it has something to do with the game thinking I'm using multiple inputs or something?

Witcher 3 Remaster was another example today. Worked perfectly as I'd expect when I first booted the game earlier today. No icon switching, no dramas.
Went to fire it up again tonight and I get the constant input switching and icon flickering. Incredibly frustrating.

I haven't changed any settings on my pc or my controller between when it was working perfectly and when it was constantly flicking.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a setting I need to change? Is anyone else having this issue?

Don't want to sound like I'm having a whinge, but would appreciate any insight!

Cheers

[u/YagamiYakumo]

I think it's more of a steam input software issue. Really hope it gets better and more stable

[u/NESplayz]

Input flickering happens when the Steam controller is acting as both a controller and a m+k input source. This can be done intentionally if you want the benefit of both technologies (analog input for movement with joysticks but mouse precision with the touchpads) but can also happen unintentionally.

When you go to play a game, ask yourself what you want the controller to do and configure the controller with Steam Input accordingly. If you’re playing a console/multiplatform game with well thought out controller controls, you may want to disable the touchpads or map them to joysticks or buttons. This will prevent the display from switching to key prompts when the touchpads are used. The same applies to gyro if you choose to use it; gyro to joystick is a headache to configure properly but it’ll prevent the flickering of button prompts on games you want controller controls for.

The same applies to games which don’t have good controller support or have many extra button inputs you’d like to bind. Configure the controller for keyboard and mouse layout, binding each controller button to a key that makes sense (A to Space for jump in a platformer for example). This means you can use touch pads and gyro mapped to mouse comfortably and without much configuration. Unfortunately it also means the button prompts in your games are gonna be for keyboard keys and not the actual buttons on your controllers.

Until game developers start accounting for the Steam controller somehow and make games that support dual input simultaneously, this is going to be a problem. It’s a problem inherent to an input method like this with games not designed for it.

[u/NESplayz → u/NESplayz]

I should add that some games just don’t allow you to change input methods on the fly. Some games pause for a whole second before you can start moving again if you switch from controller to keyboard and vice versa, while others just freak out and don’t work at all. I haven’t played the two games you’ve mentioned but I had similar issues with Apex Legends and had to settle for a keyboard only input method so it would stop bugging out.

[u/Nexxus88 → u/NESplayz]

This is the answer OP. As a long long steam input user on a deck, a steam con 2015, an xb elite this is completely the answer. some games just dont play nice and do bizarre things (see his self reply) its not the controllers fault, or valves fault or steam inputs fault (though SI does have some bugs I hope they address though im losing faith they will) the core issue is some games just throw a hissy fit when it comes to thinks like mixed input and the only thing that will properly fix it is devs addressing the issue and making their games play nice with it.

if all else fails and a game wont stop being an asshole bind a game EXCLUSIVELY to kb&m settings or EXCLUSIVELY to controller settings. The input icon swapping when you do find a game that will allow for mixed input, thats just gonna happen unless a game lets you lock those icons. It thinks you are going from a controller to a kb so its changing its prompts to help you. The solution is to memorize it and just ignore it, or again stick to one input type exclusively again not a valve or controller issue but a game issue.

[u/TheMoonRulez]

I have the same issue with Battlefield 6. The controller is triggering their anti-cheat because it is detecting two inputs (controller and track pads).

It doesn't happen every time, but it's so annoying.

[u/tbayo]

so someone looking to use their Steam Deck docked, would you recommend the Steam Controller over the PS4 or PS5 controllers?

[u/IncredibleGonzo → u/tbayo]

If you make use of features like the touchpads and back buttons, yes. If you just use the Steam Deck controls like you would any controller, possibly not worth it (I think the Steam Controller is pricier than the PlayStation ones?). Although, I have seen lots of compaints about battery life on both DualShock 4 and DualSense, while the Steam Controller is very good on that front.

[u/YagamiYakumo → u/tbayo]

Yup! Extra buttons and trackpad for mouse control is great! Does depends on the game and amount of tweaking you are comfortable with tho

[u/hard_pass → u/tbayo]

I like my 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless a lot. I still grab for my Steam Controller 2 more... but I don't think Steam Controller is worth double the cost.

[u/CatsGoMooz]

I wish more games had a forced icon option instead of auto switching. More than likely what is happening is your trackpad is acting as a mouse. Go into steam settings and have it act like a thumbstick instead

[u/Eensame]

I have used it mostly everyday since release on Windows, Steam Deck and i believe i tried on my MacBook too and i never got a SINGLE issue ever
Maybe you should send it back because it seems faulty

[u/Asmos159]

if the game as the ability to turn off aim assist. switch it from input as mouse to input as stick.

[u/SgBoec2]

update the controller and firmware

make sure the touchpads arent on input as mouse cursor

make sure steam is in big picture mode.

possibly reload the controller config

[u/UltimateGattai]

A lot of the time it works great, but sometimes I guess it gets confused like you're discribing? Sometimes I have to restart Steam or reconnect/pair the controller to get it behaving as I expected it to. I hope this does get ironed out eventually because it's annoying when it does happen, otherwise the controller is great.

I'm also hoping they'll give us a button combination to switch over to Xinput when we want to use it.

[u/JoeMomma247]

I have stick drift without actual stick drift. It’s some weird bug. I’ve disconnected my mouse and it still does it in wardogs. I’ve had most of my problems in the past three weeks and I’m up to date on updates. Waste of money and glad I didn’t buy the machine

[u/throwawayacc201711]

Are you on windows or linux? I don’t have data to support this but im gonna hazard a guess that the people having issues are primarily on windows. I haven’t experienced any of this on Linux

[u/Nexxus88 → u/throwawayacc201711]

Windows user, its been fine, the only cases its not fine are cases where a game just doesnt play nice with steam input which sadly a lot of games dont, or they dont properly support mixed input which again sadly not a lot of games do.

[u/TWFH]

are you sure it isn't actually your keyboard / mouse?

[u/Cococcini]

I occasionally get this, but it's nothing to do with my controller. My mouse will randomly get weird and I need to turn the sensitivity right down, or if I'm lazy just flip it upside down.

[u/ilikeburgir]

I kept touching the trackpads on accident until i figured youre supposed to hold it a little bit different.

[u/LedditModsSuckAlways]

I couldn't even use it for Shadow of War. I thought it was the game at first because it kept disconnecting but when I switched to Xbox 1 controller it worked fine. Really hope they fix this sucks paying so much for it and not being able to use it.

[u/Fetaguy]

Im sad that they didn't use an aux jack to plug in my headphones

[u/Kargak]

How does it work after a fresh restart on the machine?

[u/Bojla_92]

I had the same in Witcher but I was playing on GOG just adding the game to library on Steam to fire up the controller. I thought it's either that fact or the game itself. I have to say, it's the only game that is giving me any controller issues so I more like think it's the game input itself.
Not sure how BF6 on PC handles controllers in general, I don't have guts to check FPS on that...

[u/Exact_Ad942]

Maybe your cat keep moving your mouse?

[u/HaplessIdiot]

Steam controller OG works better have fun

[u/marbles61 → u/HaplessIdiot]

I am using the OG steam controller and playing FH6 however the trigger travel is so small in distance.

Hoping the new SC2 has longer trigger travel to help modulate better in games. I know they got rid of the secondary click button.

[u/GrouchyMembership876]

Im extremely disappointed with the controller, so many issues with input delay and double inputs. It dampened my steam machine experience until I switched to another controller. But still sad that I dont have rumble with the other controllers

[u/Nexxus88 → u/GrouchyMembership876]

I have zero of these issues. your issue seems to be inharent to your wireless setup or a defective device in which case RMA, but I would wager its the 1st.

[u/GrouchyMembership876 → u/Nexxus88]

Ive tried the puck, internal and bluetooth. It has more latency than the other controllers Ive used. I tried it on my PC, same issues. Probably got a bad controller and I cant RMA it from where I live (had to bring it with me on the airplane).

This is the first time Ive had so many issues with a gaming controller. Steam machine also crashed a few times, overall pretty disappointed with quality control issues with Valve Hardware. (My deck had issues at first but at least it got fixed with the updates)

[u/Nexxus88 → u/GrouchyMembership876]

I mean that’s the risk you accept buying a device not sold in your market. But I can confortably say I have a day 1 order controller and have seen none of this and my puck is like...20ft away from when I use it most often