Forgotten Gem: My $5 Steam Controller’s Epic Living Room Comeback!

Remember all the buzz a while back about Valve releasing a new Steam Controller? Yeah, the one that sold out faster than biryani at a wedding, even crashing their services for a bit! While everyone was scrambling for the latest gadget, it got me thinking about an older, much-forgotten piece of tech I had gathering dust: the original Steam Controller.

Back in 2019, just a day before Valve decided to pull the plug on it, I snagged one of these controllers for a ridiculous $5. Seriously, it was cheaper than a cup of chai! The shipping cost almost double the price of the actual pad, but hey, a bargain is a bargain, right? I bought it on a whim, thinking it might be a cool novelty.

Well, that novelty sat in its box, untouched, for what felt like ages – literally years! I totally forgot it even existed. Fast forward to a few months ago, I finally decided to crack it open. My expectations were super low, to be honest. I’d heard all the talk about it being clunky and awkward. But guess what? It completely blew me away!

Sure, the face buttons are a bit small, and the stick can be a tad stiff, but holding it? Way more comfortable than its unique design suggests. Overall, it feels solid and well-built. The biggest surprise, though, was how incredibly useful it became, especially with my Steam Deck.

You see, ever since I got a dock for my Steam Deck, it’s basically become my go-to living room console. I’ve been using a trusty 8BitDo controller, which is great for most games. But for those quirky, menu-heavy indie titles like Balatro or Case of the Golden Idol, where you really miss a mouse, it was a bit of a struggle. And let’s be real, nobody wants a wireless mouse and keyboard cluttering up the coffee table!

This is where the old Steam Controller truly shines like a star. Its spacious, precise thumbpads are a game-changer. The mouse experience it offers is even better than the Steam Deck’s built-in pads. The haptics and unique shape really help, especially when you use the left pad like an old-school iPod scroll wheel. For any “mouse-y” game you want to play on your big screen, this thing is pure magic.

It’s a shame Valve originally marketed it as the *only* controller you’d ever need for your living room. That was a bit ambitious. Instead, it’s a fantastic *specialized* controller, perfect for situations where a traditional gamepad just doesn’t cut it.

What’s even more mind-blowing is how well-supported this ancient hardware still is. Thanks to the awesome community and Steam Input, no matter what game I throw at it, there’s almost always a perfectly crafted, touchpad- or gyro-compatible layout waiting for me. Old classics or brand-new titles, it doesn’t matter – the community has got it covered. You can even see how many people have liked a layout and how many thousands of hours they’ve played with it. That’s how I found a Balatro layout better than anything I could cook up myself!

I checked my installed games, and a whopping 81% of them had community layouts available. Would I use it for every single one? Probably not. But having those options is a beautiful thing. I’m not usually a gyro fan, but trying Pragmata with a layout that only activated gyro when I held the left trigger felt surprisingly good.

This controller might seem niche, but honestly, it’s less niche now than ever. PC gaming has finally found its permanent spot in our living rooms, and that future definitely needs smart mouse input options. I’m never going to put a mouse on my coffee table, but this old Steam Controller? It’s staying right by the couch. Just gotta make sure I don’t lose that tiny USB dongle. Come on, Valve, a little slot for the dongle wouldn’t have hurt!

If you think a mouse-focused controller could elevate your living room gaming setup, I wish I could say these are easy to find. They pop up on eBay, but rarely at a price as sweet as my $5 deal. But for me, this whole experience clarified a few things:

• Gaming controllers are truly fascinating pieces of hardware.
• We desperately need more unique, “weirdo” gamepads for those specific gaming scenarios.
• And if one of those weirdo controllers is available for just $5 brand new, it’s an impulse buy you absolutely won’t regret!

Sorry for overlooking you for so long, old Steam Controller. You’re a legend!