A Retrospective: The Steam Link and Steam Controller
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- #steam #steamlink #steamcontroller
Hey gamers! Join me as I give a retrospective on the Steam Link and Steam Controller. I'll go over the pros and cons of each device and cover the history leading up to the Steam Deck's release earlier this year. If you enjoyed this video, please consider linking this video, subscribing, and checking out my other content! As a small creator, I need as much support as I can get!
If you're wondering if the Steam Link or Steam Controller is worth it, then watch this video to find out! Hopefully by the end of this video I'll have answered the timeless question of: Is it worth it?
you missed some of the reasoning behind the abandonment of the steam controller. they had a major court battle with the ofwers of scuff. I believe corsair owns scuff, and they have patented alot about the design and funtionionality of back buttons. the weird thing however is that back buttons already existed before scuff ever had their patents. So it is weird that the patents where ever aprroved to begin with. The patents that where battled over where mostly about the desing aspect (paddles that cover most of the back of the controller). That is why the steamdeck uses back buttons instead of the previously used paddle designs.
That's a good point! I think I remember hearing about this back in the day. I unfortunately haven't had the chance to purchase a Steam Deck yet, but if I'm able to make a video on it, I'll be sure to bring it up! 😂
Steam deck has the same back buttons and isn’t much different from stems controller
@@evanfarah4442no the steam controller, had one large paddle that was the whole back plate.
The steam deck effectively has shoulder buttons on the back of the system.
They work, feel and function very differently.
Just to clear up something; plugging the steam controller into your pc with a usb cable capable of data (some are power only) does allow you to update the firmware of the steam controller, enabling you to pair it over bluetooth so you do not need to use the proprietary dongle.
Side note; that dongle costs a LOT because its a watchman dongle. The short of it there is that such dongles can be flashed with custom firmware, and vr enthusiasts would buy up the steam controller dongles specifically (because at the time they were the only readily available watchman dongles) to flash them with firmware to connect additional vr controllers to enable full body tracking. Luckily one dongle with its normal firmware can pair up to 4 steam controllers, so...
As for the steam controller itself; its an incredibly good controller for those that spent the time to learn it, which is why I really think people judged it unfairly. Even though its a "controller" and bears a resemblance to other such "controllers", it should really be viewed as a "genre peripheral" alongside other such peripherals as guitar hero guitars to play pretend guitar, fightpads/arcade sticks for fighting games, hotas' for flight sims, etc. The Steam Controllers "genre"? "keyboard and mouse, only without the keyboard and mouse". And for that genre, it is literally the best controller ever made.
And then because of how programmable it is, its versatile enough it *can* play other genres. One might be inclined to argue over its efficacy at those tasks... I didnt let that deter me. I speedrun 2d platformers with it despite it lacking a dpad - something most people are adamant is absolutely necessary to play those games.
Valves marketing mistake was that they aimed at couch gamers, which are a notoriously casual crowd. The Steam Controller is actually an enthusiasts device both in how the hardware is unique and the software enables you to tweak it to hell and back. I hate how the trackpads have taken a back seat on the Deck...
Hey, thanks for the comment! And for the fact! I was totally unaware that you could update the firmware!
I guess that just goes into your point of the Steam Controller being more of a peripheral than a traditional controller, to which I completely agree! Poor marketing can kill an incredibly cool concept. I'll defend the Wii U until the day I die, but I understand why people have various issues as well. I've tried the Steam Controller as primarily a console gamer, which I suppose has led me to a more negative conclusion about the device. I'll always think of it as an awesome piece of Valve's history, and I still enjoy using it in certain settings. The haptics on the touchpads are great, it's nothing I've felt on a traditional controller and it highlights the many ways that Valve tried to innovate with their Controller. I also think that many of the problems I had with the Controller were fixed in the Steam Deck. I'm happy to see Valve taking what worked well and expanding on it! I appreciate the time you took to reply and providing everyone who's reading the comments with some great extra info! I hope you enjoyed the video overall :)
When released, i bought 4 steam controllers off ebay for $25 each. they were display units, but fully functional with the dongle. they work flawlessly to this day. for years I used one for fps; in my left hand thumb stick for movement, I dont wasd. its so programable; I put run in the outter ring of the stick, used the 4 way for crouch peak left right, prone crouch. half trigger for interact, full trigger reload, shoulder btn for grenade. in my right hand I use the mouse to sight/shoot ect. thousands of hours into PUBG and chicken dinners a plenty. it is definately a complex tool not just a controller, its def a shame they could not market better. the deck definitely carried on the tradition of being able to program the controls.
I actually just picked up a Steam Controller today! It’s my first one and I’m enjoying using it with the Deck docked to my TV.
I remember getting the Link for my sister for like £20 years ago. Really great little thing that reminded me of an external hard drive.
Great video and dropped you a sub!
Thanks for the comment and sub! Glad to hear you also had some fun using the controller and link. I know I gave it a lot of crap in the video, but there are genuinely a lot of cool things about the Steam controller which the Steam Deck later adopted. Hope you continue to enjoy both the controller and my content! I'll hopefully have more out soon here :)
That Portal music awakened a very specific sense of nostalgia in my heart❤
It's never too soon to start another Portal playthrough 😤👏
To this day, I cannot live without the steam controller, despite its flaws. There just isn't anything on the market as flexible in gaming as the steam controller is. It's a dream of mine to one day see a steam controller 2!
It'd be great to see a revised take on it! I think it's grown on me since I made this video, and I hope at one point that I'll be able to try out the Steam Deck for an extended period of time. If a second one DOES come out, you bet I'll be one of the first to buy it, just out of pure curiosity 🤣
from my perspective, i bought two stream controllers and one steam link after 2020
and yes, they're worth it
steam link works as it should
steam controller requires customization on steam inputs
and that's it
Most definitely! Even from a collection standpoint, they're amazing pieces of tech. They both work well, even if you have to fiddle with the controller to get the inputs right. I still use the link regularly, especially when playing games with small text 😂
The steam link was on sale for $10 or so when they were discontinued.
It's my understanding they have a steam link app now for smart TVs.
If so the hardware would be completely obsolete.
It definitely is outdated! It was released during the era of the Chromecast - great technology back then! As for now? We have better options, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good way to play Steam games!
@@DuckOfTheStarzYou can attach a 4k Gamer Pro on it and play in 4k. Steam link is 1080p, the requirement it needs for the 4k Gamer Pro to work.
@@DuckOfTheStarz what options would those be?
The steam link app is sooo much better. Especially if u combine with big picture mode, u can essentially transform it into a steam deck. The app can be controlled by both ur controller and ur tv remote! Heck even some games like final fantasy x can be partially played by tv remote.
Glad this video came up. Haven’t played any video games since like 2018 and recently got back into gaming. Now I gotta go dig up my steam links and controllers
Happy to hear I reminded you of it! Despite the Steam Link being almost a decade old, both it and the controller are still a fantastic and cheap way to play your games on the big screen. I'll definitely still be using mine for years to come 👍
I love my Steam Controller. Got it for like 27€ 1 Year before it was discontinued. And I also still have two Steam Link Boxes here, because they were 2€ + delivery in one sale.
I remember when it went on sale! Unfortunately, I was in high school so I was beyond broke. I believe it was also $2 here in the states along with the Steam Controller 😂
@@DuckOfTheStarzcorrect, grand total for both the link and controller was under 10 dollars excluding shipping of course. Wish I would’ve bought another set back then.
You DON'T need the USB DONGLE. Steam controllers all have bluetooth if you hit steam button and Y you can pair it with your steam link (which has bluetooth). If you do have the dongle you can switch on the fly. Steam button + B will do bluetooth and Steam button + A will do the dongle.
I really like the steam controller. Its not a substitute, its more of a controller for games that cannot use a controller. I think having to tinker with it too much is really what got most people. I do wish it had been more available to test before buying. Its really hard to tell if you will like a controller design until you hold it and try it.
I bought this thing many years ago for 1 dollar in combination with a human fall flat promotion and I am still enjoying this to this day.
I use it on the TV in my bedroom because not only does it stream steam, you can just minimize big picture and have access to the main screen of the PC to use it like you where at your PC if you connect a mouse and keyboard to the link. I mainly use it to play simple games or watch movies with VLC straight from my bed.
Love the steam controller too, my thumbs are thankful for the touchpads, and when you are lazy you can use it as a mouse and keyboard.
Shame they discontinued it.
It sure is a shame, though I guess in retrospect we know exactly why 😂
Good video! One thing I'd add is that steam link is still plenty relevant. It just likely won't be done using the steam link device. But chromecasts, old phones, apple tvs, etc can use it.
The Steam Link is definitely still relevant! Valve may have given up on it, but that doesn't mean it isn't super useful!
@@DuckOfTheStarz i can never get steam link to work, most of the time it says my PC is offline, and when it says online it says can’t connect to relay. Also the pin I get almost always says 0000 meaning no server available. I see people praise steam link all the time but it just doesn’t work for me
I used a steam link for a few years. It worked well enough for a while then the sound started getting out of sync. I switched to a mini PC (Brix). This too worked well for a few years until Steam updated their OS on my PC and now the streaming is jerky and grainy. I then switched to Sunshine (on host) and Moonlight (on client). Setup is easy, quality is fantastic, plus I can access all games, not just those on Steam.
Interesting, I haven't had any issues with streaming! I mean, it's clearly a bit dated nowadays, but still my preferred method when I'm just enjoying a game or two alone. Maybe I just haven't used it enough. Here's hoping not!
Really awesome video. I hope you keep doing these videos. You’re gonna have a ton of subscribers one day.
For ergonomics: the steam controller is still a good option when the average xbox controller doesn't work. Also - It has a built-in battery depending on which version you got. A pair of AA would not fit inside it, unless awkwardly stashed in the grips, this space is taken up by different things depending on that model. Furthermore: it will work fine as a wired gamepad if you just hook it up to a normal pc usb port.
Hey, thanks for commenting! I certainly agree that it can be a good option when a conventional controller just doesn't work. Try playing a game like Crusader Kings or Civilization VI and it becomes immediately apparent that a standard controller doesn't always equate to the most optimal playing method. There are plenty of things I like about the Steam Controller, though I feel like the design team could have made some better choices. Case in point, you're 100% right about the batteries. They fit awkwardly in the grips, though Valve _did_ have the decency to make some "eject switches" to make it easier. Unfortunately, my model does not have a rechargeable battery. And while I could play wired, I feel like it takes away from the point of the controller being a counterpart to the Steam Link. this likely stems from my preference as a console gamer, but I appreciate your input! Hope you enjoyed the video :)
@@DuckOfTheStarz Yes. The Steam Link segment was very good. As for the steam controller: using it wired is nice if the user forgets to charge it. Unlike some other controllers being sold where plugging in the charge cable actively shuts down the controller. (Thanks for that, Thrust)
No way, is that a real problem in the PC community? I've never encountered a controller that won't turn on when plugged in. 😂
This will be a big channel some day. Mark my words.
Thank you very much! I'll do my best to make sure you're right 💪
You can connect the steam controller to the steam link without the dongle just fine.
I use both a regular controller and a steam controller. And while I don't use either of them a lot for most games. I haven't had much problems with the steam controller. You can use a USB cord on it to install Bluetooth firmware from steam and use it without the USB receiver.
steam controller batteries if energizer will last about 5 times the typical xbox life. whatever steam did it sips the juices ever so slightly and I get about a months use before having to replace.
I've noticed this too! I still haven't had to replace the batteries from when I made this video. For all the crap I give it, Valve did make some solid improvements over conventional controllers.
I've used steam link with a steam controller since they came out. I have one on my TV right now. I normally used it to stream Jackbox games from my upstairs PC or to stream the desktop and I would use chrome and stream video from the web I can't get on fire TV or roku
I'm a new adopter, but my eyes have been saved from countless hours of strain thanks to the link. I never thought to use it for games like Jackbox for some reason, but I'll definitely be thinking of it going forwards haha
@@DuckOfTheStarz When my family comes over that's how we played Jackbox. I don't think I've ever played like a real videogame on the tv. Now though, it is easier to use a USB c to HDMI cable on a steam deck and Bluetooth pair the same controller to the link. I don't have a dock so I can't charge at the same time, but Jackbox doesn't kill the battery in the same way. Link isn't getting a ton of use at this time for me.
I would rather have the Dualshock 3 over the steam controller. Though I love my steam link, I found android TV's can supplement the same functions via an app you can download, so that is how I stream now for my Sony A8H. I am thinking of hooking up the steam link to my kids TV in the basement so that we can game down there.
Really? I was a late adopter for the PS3, which meant that I had the chance to use pretty much every other controller before I even touched a DS3. I don't know, I always saw it as flimsy. It feels like a cheaper DS1/DS2 to me. But I've always been very critical with Sony, so take my opinion with a grain of salt 😂
Hope they don't abandon the steam link. Nothing else streams better than that thing but don't care much for the steam controller.
Unfortunately they kinda already have! I think they stopped selling it a few years ago, but it will always be functional!
such good editing:)) very informative!
No. He got several points wrong.
I actually really like the Steam Controller, the issue was really that there was no perfect solution. Game at the time generally didn't play nice with controllers unless they were ports from consoles, and so you ended up with needing more controls than could usually be mapped onto a controller without having controller support built into the game for context based inputs. Even now my only gripe with the Steam Controller is that they replaced the d-pad with a touchpad, though I suppose only having one touchpad replacing the right stick would make twin stick shooters weird.
Also, it wasn't really that Valve didn't see any point in continuing the production of Steam Controller, they were pretty much forced by a patent troll to kill it. As for the Steam Link, by that point it had grown a lot and instead of just being a box it was an app that could be downloaded on any phone or smart TV or even a Raspberry Pi, so there truly was no need for it by that point.
I really hope they make a steam machine based on the steam deck. That would mean steam controller 2. 😊
I love VR so much, and I know the Steam controller can be updated to firmware that allows standard Bluetooth pairing, but goddamn was it infuriating watching people harvest the Steam Controller stock and online listings like vultures just to take the dongle and flash it for the sole purpose of hacking together weird headset and controller combinations (and then usually relist the dongle-less Steam Controller for pretty much the same price they bought it for). I know many folks don't like the SC very much, but I'm so glad community-made dongles took over eventually even though the damage is already done.
'Tis an unfortunate part of gaming. People know that these things are good, so they'll jack up the price. Third party innovators are a godsend, especially for discontinued hardware 🤣
I love the tf2 integration and the cat
Thank you! Just had to pay homage to the classics 😤👏
The Steam Controller has a bit of a learning curve but the first time I used it to play Civ on the couch I fell in love. Steam link though I strongly dislike.
I picked one up before Christmas to use for a couch party I was hosting but it was a terrible experience. Wired controllers connected to it worked great for a time, and the wireless Steam controller worked great always, but there was so much input lag on bluetooth controllers they weren't usable. Then the wired controllers would periodically disconnect and need to be unplugged and replugged in. Even switching it from being connected to a switch to directly cabled to my PC did nothing so I ended up returning it.
I wish there was a steam link 4k 120hz.
It'd be great to see, but unfortunately I think Steam is going all in on the Steam Deck. I believe there is a Steam Link app now available on smart TVs and cellphones though! 🤔
My biggest gripe with the steam controller was no d-pad. I got proficient enough with the track pad as an analog stick, but that bastardised recessed fake d-pad on the left track pad was such a crime against nature. I don't recall a single instance where the left track pad was useful. A solid d-pad instead would have been amazing.
It feels like nobody can give us a decent d-pad these days! Even Nintendo didn't deliver this generation, at least on the standard joy-cons. At least Microsoft and Sony are getting better with it 🤷
I would love to see a Steam Controller 2 that took the unique idea of bringing mouse controls to the gamepad and built a better design out of it, I would also like it if they did the Steam Link as a built-on-order thing so they wouldn't have so much unused stock since not that many people want it, but there's still certainly uses for it that people want
I just wish they would make an updated steam link because the quality of the steam link is horrendous.
It is certainly past due for an upgrade. Unfortunately, I don't know if Valve has the demand for it, but I would buy a revised version if it ever were to be released!
they updated it and you can hook it up with Bluetooth now
I own two links, and one controler. the controller is okay but the link is awesome, I use them daily with a wireless keyboard+mouse combo. I'm currently using it now, yes you can use your PC outside of steam with these lovely beasts.
6:08 53 bucks to get a dongle for a 356 bucks controller seems legit.
7:02 Actually, they've been patent trolled AFAIK.
I actually have 3 steam links. But technically the pstv did it first. Sony has a history of doing things early and then abandoning the tech right before it takes off. Even the psp could stream games from a psp.
That's true! PlayStation has a plethora of odd devices that I'd love to make videos on. The main problem is finding one for a decent price these days. I was lucky enough to find the PS3 3DTV, but that's unfortunately the hardest peripheral to make a video on 😅
Microsoft soft did it before that with Remote Desktop, if we want to get technical.
And before that there was third party software
You can actually use the steam controller via Bluetooth instead of the dongle. So if you’re missing the dongle update it and hold y and the steam button together or make it discoverable.
Do you know whether this works on the Steam Link? Or is this just on PC?
@@DuckOfTheStarz it should. The steam link has Bluetooth capabilities. But I personally have never tested it.
I have a steam link but mine does have too much input lag to run any fast pace games. I use it as a remote desktop for movies in another room
It's a pretty decent machine for the time. Once I have space in my living room again, you already know I'm setting it back up and playing my steam games on there 💪😤
@@DuckOfTheStarz I’m not sure what you mean. It’s the size of a deck of cards. How small is your living room?
@@teddys5775 Oh, I mean that I already have a bunch of other game consoles plugged into my TV at the moment. There's a video on my channel showing it all off if you'd like to see what I mean!
@@DuckOfTheStarz I understand now. Basically my dream of having all my old consoled hooked up so I can enjoy some sonic without spending an hour digging it out of the closet.
@@teddys5775 Exactly! Took a long while to get to that point, and even still I have to make adjustments every few months 😂
You have a proper gaming set up there with the appropriate amount of clutter on the table.
And that's the stuff I'm letting you see! 😂
You actually don't need the Steam controller USB dongle for Steam Link and PCs. On PC if your Steam controller was plugged in you could go to big picture mode (old big picture) go to controller settings, you could update the firmware which added Bluetooth support for the controller
i love the steam controller .. so much customazation to it ... i bought two of them but only use one at the moment and the other is still boxed as a backup ... but i use it in my living room and bedroom with custome keys for media functions like opening youtube or navigating Plex or opening certain websites with a click of a button .. i also use it with my steam link in the bedroom with certain games like click and point games .. awsome product ... 👌 👍
10/10 video i loved it
Thank you! I hope you'll stay tuned for some of my upcoming content then, as my editing has gotten faaaaaar better than it was back when I made this video!
The Link is amazing. Im not gone on the controller though.
I certainly don't hate the controller, and I think it's grown on me a little since I made this video a few months back. But I've always played on Xbox and Nintendo, particularly the GameCube, which might mean that I just put standards a little too high 😂
I absolutely disagree 100% about all complaints with the controller. I actually love the Steam Link controller I instantly acclimated to it.. haptic trackpads really add an interesting twist that I wish more controller designers would focus on.
I actually like the steam controller, it works for most games I just wouldn’t recommend it for COD or anything like that.
Just brought a use steamlink today
Samsung tvs no longer support steam link app. Will this work with steam deck?
I believe so! I have a friend with a Steam Deck who I can ask for clarification, but since it works with the Steam Link app, I see no reason to believe it wouldn't work with the actual hardware 🤔
@@DuckOfTheStarz Wow! Thanks! I certainly appreciate it.
Thanks for the info
You got it! That's what we do here 💪
nice cat
She's the true attraction of this video, glad ya caught that 😂
If I remember correctly the controller could be paired directly to the steam link with no dongle
Good to know! I looked into it myself and it seems like there's some compatibility! I'm not certain it'd work with a lot of computers from what I've seen though
thats a cute cat
She knows! She tries to make a cameo in every video I make 😂
Do you have to have a computer to use the steam link? Can you use the steam link on your TV and not have a computer? And can you still use it in 2023?
Yes! So unlike the Xbox Cloud, for example, you do need a device that can already play Steam games. I haven't tested how far away it has to be, but I know that it can be more than just a room away. That was one of its advertised features! As for whether or not it still works, I used it for a good three hours last Friday, if that answers your question! Hope that helps, lemme know if you have any more inquiries :)
I can’t play games on my Steam Link, my screen got frozen but I can hear the game
Huh, that's strange. Did your Steam Link come used? Was there any physical damage to it? 🤔
great video! question: can the steam link output to 4k?
I don't think so, I think it's maxed out at 1080p. However, if you have a phone or Smart TV that has 4k output, there's a chance you can download the Steam Link app. The new app can output to 4k!
Buy a 4k Gamer Pro and attach it on the Steam link. Problem solved.
upgrade the firmware on it and it works on bluetooth for steam controller
Notice John doesn’t specify this videos budget 😂
Do you mean for the video? Or for the Link and Controller? 😅
@@DuckOfTheStarz both 🗿
I found my steam link, can't use it no power cord. Ugh.
Ya know, Valve is probs the only company that's making PC gaming interesting and improving them. PlayStation is already putting up their customer's experiences.
I don't like where Valve put the face buttons on the Steam controller.
But can we update it to the current Steam OS? We should be able to if u believe the claims that the new Steam OS can be installed on any machine!! Let’s have someone do a video on it??? Hint! hint! 😎❤️✌️
An interesting challenge you've proposed to me... I shall see what I can do! Can't make any promises but I'll talk with a couple people who know SteamOS a little better than I do. I'll keep any progress updated on my Discord server! 🫡
@DuckOfTheStarz thank you very much. Worse comes to worse I a could always use my Raspberry pi with the steamlink app! And have my own Steam valve! But we shall see. Nothing pressing at. The moment because I am in the progress of putting my steam machine together! Everything goes as planned I might put a little vid as an introduction to my long awaited RUclips channel. Which will be a little different flavor than yours, which is a good thing so that we can cover a multitude of related content. Thanks again! Keep up the great work!! 😎❤️✌️😜
It’s crazy to see how bad a take can get.
Stay mad 😁
FYI, your audio is somewhat resonant at 220 Hz (but I see this video is 7 months old, so maybe you've changed your setup by now, in which case, never mind) :)
Thanks for the tip! Audio has always been a struggle for me, I'll look more into it going forwards 😅
I actually find the steam controller more confortable to hold
More comfortable than a conventional console controller? What games do you typically play with the Steam controller? 🤔
@@DuckOfTheStarz I mean to play with, but to hold it, just got it so I'm trying a bit of everything, but gestion type games work not bad
6:00 Umm.. That isnt true. You CAN use the controller with the Steam link, without the Dongle. That's how i use mine. But yeah, i do prefer using my 360 E2 controller.
Interesting. And how does one do this? It's not advertised very clearly 🤔
can i used steam link to stream in my phone?
You actually can stream to your phone without the Steam Link! The hardware is discontinued, but there is an app called Steam Link which does the same thing for phones and smart TVs!
400 👍🏻
Thank you! We'll be celebrating this milestone real soon! 🥳
I've played with my steam controller against console bros, i always win.
compressed air sir
it's not really worth it anymore since there's tech that can easily do everything that it can do
basically any android device hel even an iPhone😂
True, but some people want to play on a bigger screen, not on a tiny phone screen. That's my opinion anyways 😅
*SHUTTER SPEED HAUNTS YOUR DREAMS*
You can do the same shit with your phone j.s.
Well sure, but I've personally never met someone who'd genuinely prefer to play on their phone rather than on a TV 😂
The comments are more useful than the video. Very little research, such a small retrospective, as if the video is enticing emotion more than informing. 😮
Clean your controllers ....wtf.
...I do? What makes you think I don't? 😅
@@DuckOfTheStarz the dust and the hairs on the ps4 controller.
5:02
Tbh all of them are bad ...but the ps4 is the worst of all.
@@sherlockholmes3317 While it's possible you're seeing a hair from one of my cats, it's likely that the particles are actually from the wipes I use to clean the controllers. That's one of the lovely side effects from using certain disinfectant wipes, and I'm still trying to figure out the best concoction to keep controllers looking and feeling clean 🤔
@@DuckOfTheStarz wipes are for azz.For tech ...there's tons of different microfiber cloths and chemicals. 😁
@@sherlockholmes3317 Like... Weiman disinfecting wipes! 😂
I love mine I got 4 still on #1 - Total War is amazing on SC would share on community but key rebinds from shitty default means no. Powers fine on a usb cable, it's the best controller ever made. The cheap feeling wears off - well it did for me. Like I said the best controller ever made.
Is steamlink as good as steamdeck streaming from pc
Probably not. The Steam Deck is a few years older, so I imagine the technology has improved substantially. Good question though!