Valve has released their first official Steam Controller update, affording us a behind the scenes look at how the controllers are made, as well as what they’re improving.
This should come as no surprise, but Valve is basing a lot of the changes and improvements they’re making to the Steam Controller on feedback from their fans and users. Of course, Valve already leverages community labor on multiple tasks, and here their efforts will make the controller a better product as well. It should be noted some of these changes were invented or created by fans, but some were also made by Valve themselves, based on said feedback.
The most significant improvement should actually be quite familiar to many a Splatoon fan; players are using the gyro to improve FPS controls. Using the gyro to make small, viewpoint changing turns, and the trackpad for more conventional movement, makes controlling intuitive, and ridiculously easy.
Other changes Valve is implementing include:
· Mouse-Like Joystick mode, via NeoGAF user mntorankusu
· Mouse Regions, which maps trackpads to on-screen regions
· A 16 button, configurable Touch Menu
· Register Steam Controllers to bring your game configurations anywhere you go
· Home theater PC functions
· Non-Steam game support
· Controller HUD, so you can see what input does in real time
Finally, you can check out the factory Valve has their controllers made. Valve being Valve, of course they put the Aperture insignia on their manufacturing machines, and they have humans on hand to make sure the controllers are made right, or keep the robots docile.
Do you already have a Steam Controller? How do you like Valve’s approach to making improvements on the controller? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
