One thing you need to know about the Steam Controller is that it’s not an Xbox or Playstation controller with trackpads. Do not try to use it like a traditional controller, it is pretty different and as new kind of input decive you’ll have to get used to it.
The biggest difference is how to hold it. On an Xbox controller I use my left thumb for the left stick (and d-pad) and my right thumb for the face buttons (and right stick), and my index fingers for the bumpers and triggers.
On the Steam Controller I acutally find it comfortable to keep my thumbs on the trackpads, my index fingers on the bumpers, middle fingers on the trigger and ring finger + pinkie on the grip buttons. I grip the xbox controller from the bottom, while my grip on the Steam controller is much more towards the top.
I set the left trackpad to output the left stick and the right trackpad to output mouse movements. This way I get both analog movement and precise mouse controls. Actually using 4 of your fingers on each hand instead of 2 means you’ll have to switch your between inputs much less and you’re pretty much awalys ready to press whatever button you need immediatley.
Another thing that is really different is clicking the trackpads vs clicking sticks. Pressing the trackpads in works so much better as a button compared to pushing a stick in, especially when you try to keep it pressed while moving it around.
In Souls games this has the biggest advantage, where I use the left trackpad click to activate the B button. I can quickly press the trackpad to dodge or keep it pressed in to run. This works extremely well, as dodging now only requires a single input instead of two. I just click the trackpad in whatever direction I want to dodge to.
Dual Stage triggers and in Elden Ring mode shifts to turn the right trackpad into a clickable pouch item dpad mean I rarely use the stick or the face buttons on the Steam controller.
One thing you need to know about the Steam Controller is that it’s not an Xbox or Playstation controller with trackpads. Do not try to use it like a traditional controller, it is pretty different and as new kind of input decive you’ll have to get used to it.
The biggest difference is how to hold it. On an Xbox controller I use my left thumb for the left stick (and d-pad) and my right thumb for the face buttons (and right stick), and my index fingers for the bumpers and triggers.
On the Steam Controller I acutally find it comfortable to keep my thumbs on the trackpads, my index fingers on the bumpers, middle fingers on the trigger and ring finger + pinkie on the grip buttons. I grip the xbox controller from the bottom, while my grip on the Steam controller is much more towards the top.
I set the left trackpad to output the left stick and the right trackpad to output mouse movements. This way I get both analog movement and precise mouse controls. Actually using 4 of your fingers on each hand instead of 2 means you’ll have to switch your between inputs much less and you’re pretty much awalys ready to press whatever button you need immediatley.
Another thing that is really different is clicking the trackpads vs clicking sticks. Pressing the trackpads in works so much better as a button compared to pushing a stick in, especially when you try to keep it pressed while moving it around.
In Souls games this has the biggest advantage, where I use the left trackpad click to activate the B button. I can quickly press the trackpad to dodge or keep it pressed in to run. This works extremely well, as dodging now only requires a single input instead of two. I just click the trackpad in whatever direction I want to dodge to.
Dual Stage triggers and in Elden Ring mode shifts to turn the right trackpad into a clickable pouch item dpad mean I rarely use the stick or the face buttons on the Steam controller.