Last month, a Steam client update introduced, among several improvements, Steam Configurator support for the DualShock 4 controller. However, the team is hardly done with improving controller support, as a new beta update introduces some very welcome enhancements.
The latest Steam client beta update introduces XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support so that it will be possible to use the same mapping features available for the Steam Controller and the DualShock 4. Additionally, the new update introduces support for third party PlayStation 4 controllers, including some MadCatz and Hori fight sticks.
Here are the full patch notes for the latest Steam client beta update.
General
Made the error clearer when you fail to install a game and don’t have enough disk space due to user quotas
Big Picture
Added support for using the overlay keyboard for games that have launchers
Improved display when running on retina enabled devices under macOS
Linux
Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.
Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn’t have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0
Added idle detection, friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze
Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session
Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications
Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support
Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers
Steam Controller
Added XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support. This allows all recognized controller types to use the advanced mapping features of the Steam Controller Configurator. Note that because X-Input currently lacks per-controller means of unique identification, all controllers of that type will share personalization and configuration settings. As they share the same inputs, Xbox 360/One/Generic controllers will all see each-others configurations when browsing. Automatic conversion will be attempted when loading configurations from other controller types.
Unrecognized Generic X-Input gamepad style controllers will be recognized by the Steam Controller Configurator once their buttons have been assigned to match a generic gamepad layout.
Recommended configurations specified for a game by the developer will now attempt to assign based on Controller Type.
Added option to disable Guide Button issuing a Steam focus change. This is available through the Big Picture controller options menu. This allows better interoperability with other applications which use the Guide Button, such as PSNow.
Added Single Button simple button mode for trackpads. This allows a trackpad to be treated as a single giant button.
Fix for free-floating On Screen Keyboard running very slowly if a game was open but did not have focus or was running windowed.
Added independent horizontal/vertical scaling to joystick move and joystick mouse.
Joystick Move mode no longer shows mouse sensitivity option unless mouse output is selected.
Added additional support for third party PS4 controllers, including some HORI, MadCatz, and Armor pads and fight sticks.
Fixed a bug with PS4 triggers where they were being scaled incorrectly, leading to maxing out of the value too soon.
Added ability to change x-input controller order from the Controller Options menu – so in multi-controller setups of x-input games, the mapping of phyiscal controller to x-input index can be swapped around. Note that this currently only applies to controllers that have opted into Steam Controller Configurator support.
Fixed Configurator Switch Controller interface not showing controller icons.
Re-enabled Gamepad outputs for desktop configurations for users of third party programs which hook into applications via the desktop configuration.
Steam overlay
Fixed incorrect colors in screenshots and In-Home Streaming for Vulkan applications on AMD hardware
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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