Valve Reveals Interesting Stats About Steam Controller Use

Steam's recent statistics highlight a surge in gamepad usage, showcasing a significant rise in controller popularity on the platform. This growth, tracked over several years, underscores the importance of controller support as a key purchasing factor for Steam users.

Valve, renowned for its innovative approach to both software and hardware (evident in titles like Half-Life and Portal, and hardware ventures like the Steam Deck), has seen controller usage on Steam triple since 2018. This represents a 15% increase in overall controller usage, with a remarkable 42% utilizing Steam Input. The blog post also noted a shift in the controller landscape, with Xbox controllers emerging as the most prevalent choice.

To accommodate this growth, Valve has continuously refined controller support, significantly enhancing features within Steam's Big Picture mode and virtual menus.

Key Steam Controller Support Enhancements:

• Big Picture Mode updates
• Enhanced controller configuration tools
• Gyro aiming functionality
• Improved virtual menus
• Expanded support for PlayStation and Xbox controllers

Valve emphasized the versatility of Steam Input, enabling compatibility with over 300 different controllers. This adaptability, a cornerstone of the Steam experience, is further exemplified by the Steam Deck, offering both handheld and remote play options.

Valve's ongoing commitment to innovation is clearly demonstrated by the success of the Steam Deck, released in 2022. This handheld device, competing with established players like the Nintendo Switch, has quickly gained popularity, boosted by regular price reductions. The Steam Deck's high-performance capabilities allow users to enjoy a large portion of their Steam libraries on the go.