Steam Client's Latest Update Adds Universal Controller Support

Steam has offered users a wide range of options and configurations when it comes to playing games for years, with the platform's latest update giving more options than ever for those that want to use controllers in their games.

In the patch notes for Steam's latest client update, the patch includes some major features such as universal controller support across the platform for a majority of games available on Steam. Specifically, the patch notes address that universal configuration support has been added for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and generic X-input controllers across the platform to allow "all recognizes controller types to use the advanced mapping features of the Steam Controller Configuration," and allow users to map keyboard and mouse controls to gamepads and controllers, even if they don't normally support the option in-game.

Alongside the newly-integrated features for controller support, the new update also adds support for select third-party PS4 DualShock 4 controllers, third-party fight sticks and other controller options, while also adding general fixes, Big Picture mode tweaks, and a variety of updates for Linux support.

Steam's latest Client Update is now available, and full patch notes can be found below:

General

Made the error clearer when you fail to install a game and don't have enough disk space due to user quotas

Big Picture

Added support for using the overlay keyboard for games that have launchers

Improved display when running on retina enabled devices under macOS

Linux

Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.

Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0

Added idle detection, friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze

Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session

Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications

Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support

Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers

Steam Controller

Added XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support. This allows all recognized controller types to use the advanced mapping features of the Steam Controller Configurator. Note that because X-Input currently lacks per-controller means of unique identification, all controllers of that type will share personalization and configuration settings. As they share the same inputs, Xbox 360/One/Generic controllers will all see each-others configurations when browsing. Automatic conversion will be attempted when loading configurations from other controller types.

Unrecognized Generic X-Input gamepad style controllers will be recognized by the Steam Controller Configurator once their buttons have been assigned to match a generic gamepad layout.

Recommended configurations specified for a game by the developer will now attempt to assign based on Controller Type.

Added option to disable Guide Button issuing a Steam focus change. This is available through the Big Picture controller options menu. This allows better interoperability with other applications which use the Guide Button, such as PSNow.

Added Single Button simple button mode for trackpads. This allows a trackpad to be treated as a single giant button.

Fix for free-floating On Screen Keyboard running very slowly if a game was open but did not have focus or was running windowed.

Added independent horizontal/vertical scaling to joystick move and joystick mouse.

Joystick Move mode no longer shows mouse sensitivity option unless mouse output is selected.

Added additional support for third party PS4 controllers, including some HORI, MadCatz, and Armor pads and fight sticks.

Fixed a bug with PS4 triggers where they were being scaled incorrectly, leading to maxing out of the value too soon.

Added ability to change x-input controller order from the Controller Options menu - so in multi-controller setups of x-input games, the mapping of phyiscal controller to x-input index can be swapped around. Note that this currently only applies to controllers that have opted into Steam Controller Configurator support.

Fixed Configurator Switch Controller interface not showing controller icons.

Re-enabled Gamepad outputs for desktop configurations for users of third party programs which hook into applications via the desktop configuration.

Steam Overlay