Console Controllers and Steam A Guide to Steam Controller

Did you know that Steam comes with a feature-complete controller manager? Well it does, and it’s called the Steam Controller Configurator. If you have console controllers that don’t do anything when playing games through Steam, go and get one.

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got it? Well, let’s take a look at how to use this powerful, often overlooked tool.

What is Steam Controller Configurator?

Originally designed to support the Steam Controller, and later fully integrated into Steam’s Big Picture Mode, the Steam Controller Configurator is a catch-all controller manager that lets you configure controller bindings and other universal settings. Allows to configure.

What many users may not realize is that, if the game is running through Steam, it is actually the Steam Controller Configurator that handles the software side of controller input.

This means that Steam can actually fully support more controllers than Windows.

So, if you’ve already connected your console controller to Steam, let’s take a look at what else you can do with this powerful tool.

Which controllers does Steam Controller Configurator support?

There are six main categories of controller supported in Steam, and there’s a good chance that any generic or brand controller you can imagine will fall under one of these categories.

This means Steam can recognize almost any controller instantly. This opens up the possibility of using any high-end Xbox or PlayStation controller with Steam, as well as any generic brand controller you might have lying around.

Steam also has systems in place to support the Nintendo brand of Pro Controllers.

What can you do with Steam Controller Configurator?

Now to get into the flesh of it. Pairing your controller with your PC to play games is cool, but what about further customization? The Steam Controller Configurator is packed with features you didn’t even know you wanted. We’ll start by taking a look at the settings, which you can apply globally across all games and controller types.

global controller settings

In Steam, open Steam, then Settings, Controllers, and then General Controller Settings.

This opens a Big Picture-style window. Use this window to activate more advanced functions depending on your type of controller. We’ll go over the important features for you to consider first.

PlayStation Configurator Support: This will enable the Steam Controller Configurator to interface with PlayStation DualShock controllers and Reband controllers.

Xbox Configuration Support: This will enable the Steam Controller Configurator to interface with and rebind controllers based on Xbox controllers.

Xbox Extended Feature Support: Enables a custom Steam driver that allows up to 16 Xbox controllers to be supported at once, as well as enabling bindings for Xbox Elite controllers.

Switch Pro Configuration Support: This will enable the Steam Controller Configurator to interface with and rebind Switch Pro controllers. Note: This will take priority over Windows inbuilt Switch Pro controller support, and will need to be disabled if you want to use the Pro Controller without Steam.

Use the Nintendo Button Layout: Swap the A/B and X/Y buttons to resemble the layout on a Nintendo controller. This works for any type of controller you use.

General Gamepad Configuration Support: A catch-all setting for any controller that is not recognized by PlayStation or Xbox Configuration Support.

Those are the main settings in this menu to consider, and there’s no harm in enabling them all at once (apart from the Nintendo button layout, of course!).

Other settings are minor quality-of-life functions, such as the guide button Focus Steam, which causes Steam to open whatever menu button you have on your controller. The controller shutdown time controls the idle shutdown timer.

The Steam Controller Configurator has an extensive rebinding system that can be quite daunting to look through. Right click on any game in Steam with a controller connected to it, go to Manage and then click in Controller Configuration to open this menu.

It’s a lot easier to navigate than it sounds, and it can be a great tool for personalizing your gameplay experience, or adding controller support to games that don’t support it.

Once you change one bind, you’ll immediately know how to change the others. So, for the sake of this guide, let’s go through a fairly straightforward process.