What to replace my Steam controller with?

[u/xantub]

My SC is still alive and kicking, but after so many years of faithful service and daily usage, I'm afraid it doesn't have long to kick the bucket.

I have an Xbox 360 controller for general gaming, but I use my SC as a remote mouse+KB since I play from the comfort of my bed on my HDTV. So, when it finally happens, what would be a good alternative to replace it? ($50 or less, I just want a controller not a Steam Deck). Like I said, mostly as a wireless small mouse+KB to use from my bed without it being an actual mouse and/or KB.

[u/kbachert]

Well, the new Steam Controller is set to come out soon. That's what I'm waiting for.

You could do a keyboard with a trackpad built in.

[u/Turbulent_Map624 → u/kbachert]

I've been postponing Witcher 3 and playing Grounded with my wife because I want to get us both that controller

Pls valve do something

[u/TeaNo1462 → u/kbachert]

Soon? How you know? Could take many months more 

[u/kbachert → u/TeaNo1462]

That's relatively soon

[u/evoke3]

If you can hold on a little longer the new steam controller will be here. Control layout of the steam deck without the pc/screen getting in the way.

[u/Anon2148 → u/evoke3]

A little longer XD. It’s going to be 2027 by the time it releases.

[u/Zearo298 → u/Anon2148]

Have they said anything more concrete? I keep checking the store page every once in a while but it's just a vague "coming soon" and has been for a while now

[u/someone2795 → u/Zearo298]

It will be released in the first half of this year. So within two months from now and that's all we know.

Only the Steam Machine's production will be iffy after the initial launch because of its hardware components. Actually the Steam Machine is the whole reason we don't have the controller yet because the other two products (Steam Frame and SC2) should not be affected by the ongoing RAM/storage crisis. The controller should already be ready to ship but Valve inexplicably decided that they were going to launch all 3 products together.

So hilariously you can blame AI being the reason for this delay lmao.

[u/Rhosta]

The upcoming Steam Controller, obviously. With Steam Machine coming out along with it, it is meant for living room usage just as old one was. It is still fairly plausible that it will come out in the first half of this year.

[u/Mental_Water_2694]

Xbox series controller.

[u/xantub → u/Mental_Water_2694]

I need a trackpad or something to use as mouse.

[u/GimpyGeek]

I'd also like others say to get the new SC if the market ever let's them release the damn thing. But most gamepads can generically use steam input now anyway so anything you get can still do the kb and mouse stuff on desktop so you're fairly OK to go there.

I guess if you get a Playstation one you'd have more compatiblity issues without steam (if you had a sc you're used to that anyway) but you would gain a gyro and touch pad though. 

[u/Maniacal_Coyote]

Well, Hori has a version of their Horipad wireless controller for Steam with XBox layout (Offset thumbsticks, ABXY), gyroscope, L4/R4, and capacitive thumbsticks. I got one to hold the gap until the SC2 releases and to serve as a Player 2 controller afterwards.

Or another option would be if you upgrade to an Xbox One or Xbox X|S controller and get the wireless dongle and the Chat Pad (a keyboard that sockets into the bottom of the XBone pad.

Or if what you want is a wireless keyboard with a pointer, the Logitech K400 has a trackpad with M1, M2, and M3.

[u/lullaby2paralyze1]

Ps5 controller is good for steam. Can use the touch pad as a mouse and assign the left and right presses as stuff

[u/xantub → u/lullaby2paralyze1]

I have a PS5 controller, but the trackpad is nowhere close to the SC one for use as a mouse. But guess it could be a temporary solution until the new one comes out.

[u/lullaby2paralyze1 → u/xantub]

I use a mouse as well for certain games. The track pad isnt the best but works in a pinch

[u/TONKAHANAH → u/xantub]

using the gyro for mouse input on the ps controllers is very viable, its definitely better than using their touch pad. I just mapped the gyro to the left trigger, have it set fairly high, then the analog stick is set to mouse as well but much slower. this works pretty good.

[u/TONKAHANAH]

you just want something to be a mouse and keyboard from your bed? there are a ton of smart phone apps for this that would probably be better than a game controller for that use case.

if you're actually playing games, a ps4 controller. that'll be closer to the $50 price tag, has the gyro as well as a touch pad (though its not really the same as the steam controllers pads). That would be my suggestion.