dualpad

Unless you need the touchpad and resistance triggers I've come to prefer the Ultimate 2 wireless over the dualsense.

Has TMR sticks, extra bumper buttons, back buttons, and charging dock. Got firmware update to allow the extra buttons to be remappable through Steam Input too.

Don't see myself considering a PlayStation controller on the PC unless future versions start coming with hall effect or TMR sticks, and even then with them charging double the price for paddle buttons it is a hard sell over third party controller options on the PC.

Right now has to be the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless. Not the bluetooth switch one. Need to update the dongle and controller to the latest beta firmware and launch it in dinput mode by turning it on while holding the B button. Then all the extra buttons can be mapped along with using gyro with analog triggers, which couldn't be done before.

There is a bug that needs to be fixed where rumble can cause the controller to stop working in game, so for now need to use it with rumble off until that is fixed. But, everything else works when it comes to binding through Steam Input.

Prey was great in that department actually having a config that mapped mouse to the right touchpad instead of emulating a joystick like so many games did, and then had different action sets that automatically switched depending on if it was gameplay or you were in the menu. And showed proper icons like the touchpad click to reflect Steam Input mappings people set it to.

I was initially intrigued by having buttons on the bottom of the controller, where your fingers naturally would be thus freeing your thumbs to stay on the pad/sticks. And imagine my frustration to realize those rear buttons are just extensions of triggers already on top.

My set up approach to having both my thumbs stay on the pads a majority of the time has been to set up a dpad modeshift with an inverted outer ring bind so clicking up, down, left, right, center output different inputs. And depending on the game I'd set up a chord so holding the left grip and clicking the right pad would output a different set of 5 inputs. And my right grip is set to jump so with the left grip chord function for 5 additional inputs on a right pad click if needed for a total of 10 that's been my way of doing that.

So for like Doom Eternal I swap between weapons every shot to bypass reloading through the right touchpad. I like that approach better than using stuff like weapon wheels, which in some games actually slows down the actual gameplay and interrupts the flow.

How did you use the touchpad. My approach has been to adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad until an edge to edge swipe does a 180, and for gyro having a 90 degree rotation of the controller do 675 degree rotation in game for first person and 450 degrees for third person. Made it a consistent aim experience no matter what game I played as long as the mouse input in the game was good and didn't do things like emulate a joystick causing negative acceleration.

And for the right touchpad I set a dpad modeshift with an inverted outer ring bind so clicking up, down, left, right, center output different inputs so I didn't have to reach down to the facebuttons as often. And depending on the game I'd set up a chord so holding the left grip and clicking would output a different set of 5 inputs.

And I just saved the template so I didn't need to set it up all the time.

Liked it for Doom Eternal, since I could activate gyro, swipe the camera to quickly turn, and click to swap between weapons every shot to bypass reloading all on the right touchpad.

And pvp games like The Finals clicking the right pad to switch through gadgets and using the touchpad to quickly turn and activate gyro, and not feeling like my inputs were too slow versus mouse users. And not having to bother with aim assist.

My dream steam controller 2 would be the steam controller layout with the large circular concave touchpads in the top most position, better bumpers, two extra bumper buttons like the 8bitdo, 4 back buttons in total, alpakka quality gyro, and nice premium feeling material used for the shell.

But, they'll go with the Steam Deck layout if there is one, which unfortunately has not been good for using touchpads as primary inputs for my hands. Which has me hording Steam Controllers, since it'll likely be the only dual touchpad focused controller around. And hoping Alpakka comes out with a standalone gyro module I can stick on the Steam Controller to at least have the gyro component updated.

I'm still using the same AA eneloops I used since I picked up my Steam Controller all the way back in 2015-2016. And I also used it with my 360 controller too. Just keeps chugging along being good for a month before I need to swap.

Yeah the PS4 battery life has been crap and I don't know why. Was finally able to replace Sony controllers with 8bitdo now that Steam provides support for the extra buttons to be mapped to unique keys and use analog triggers and gyro together. So been nice not having to spend money on the dualsense, which doesn't even have hall effects/TMR sticks.

If you are curious here is some of my gameplay video in games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, The Finals, etc.

Was the first controller that allowed me to completely drop aim assist for good and not feel slow against PC players and offer keyboard like functionality for input swapping.

I just assumed they worked in a similar manner to the decks track pads.

By the way I don't like the Steam Deck trackpads either since I found trying to use them as primary inputs in place of joysticks like on the Steam Controller was not ergonomic for my hands,and camera swipes weren't as consistent on squares compared to concave circular pads. So on the Steam Deck despite wishing I could use the touchpads I opt for joysticks. So I don't really see Deck touchpads as a good endorsement for using as primary inputs, since even I can't find myself using it like the SC.

If you are curious here is some of my gameplay video in games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, The Finals, etc.

Was the first controller that allowed me to completely drop aim assist for good and not feel slow against PC players and offer keyboard like functionality for input swapping.

I think it's been fine in Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, The Finals, etc.

Was the first controller that allowed me to completely drop aim assist for good and not feel slow against PC players and offer keyboard like functionality for input swapping.

Trying to find replacement batteries for integrated batteries is a pain too, since might not be able to find an OEM replacement or battery from a reputable brand. So you end up having to go with whatever random no name battery that could be worse than the OEM battery and end up dying after less than a year.

My preference is rechargeable AA or AAA. And even better if the controller itself can recharge the battery like drone controllers.

I think it’s undeniable that it’s pretty plasticky.

I don't disagree one that part. In fact, you'd find most Steam Controller fans biggest wish is for a more premium update. That's been a big wish for a long time with mine being a Steam Controller with better bumpers, gyro with higher polling for high refresh rate gaming, 2 more back buttons, extra bumper buttons like the 8bitdo has, dpad replacing the left joystick, pressure sensitive touchpad that are bit larger, and a much nicer material for the shell.

But, despite the less than premium build quality enthusiasts find the actual functions useful enough to keep using it. Much like the Alpakka controller that doesn't even have a right joystick or touchpad, but gyro enthusiasts use it because it has the best gyro available right now for controllers.

So basically the stances about build quality and it not being a mainstream device is not something most Steam Controller users disagree with. That's not really been the point of contention. There's been agreement on that.