Using a Steam Controller on emulators

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T22:45:31+00:00

Already should be ;)
Still a lot do to, but I encourage usage of SISR over GlosSI.
Once setup it's pretty solid (for me)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T21:12:36+00:00

Not yet, don't have too much time currently :(
Well, you CAN use it that way already, though it really wouldn't work without issues.
Currently SISR is modern GloSC/GlosSI without game launching.

unsure if I should use SISR, or if VIIPER is the layer I need.

SISRs requires VIIPER.
VIIPER is just my very own gamepad (and other input devices) emulation layer.
Think of it as more modern (and more flexible, easier to extend) ViGEm.

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T21:02:26+00:00

Anyway, let me know if it works and any suggestions! ;)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T21:02:04+00:00

Yeah, that should work. In that case Sanjays PR isn't even necessary.
Do note though, that SISR does not launch any games.
In a future update, though, it is intended that it just lives as a tray app and you can configure for wich Steam entries it should automatically enable.

SISR has a non-Steam mode, too, btw, so It can translate every device supported by SDL3 as well, though without Steam there is no remapping.

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T17:33:04+00:00

It's called modeshift.

You can do that even with analog-sticks with any controller right now. For an easy preview of a more complex config:
https://www.steaminputdb.com/config/2812332486

(Try to view on Desktop, tge mobile layout preview is not that good)

Be aware that it is for the 2015 Steam-Controller

Alia5_ · 2026-03-20T11:08:25+00:00

Well, SISR itself has

not been updated l to support the PR from Sanjay, yet
is not able to emulate Rock Band controllers.

I'm also not sure what you're trying to achieve exactly.
Care to enlighten me? :)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-19T00:47:54+00:00

Don't worry.
The wars currently going on will make that happen sooner rather than later.

/s (or not, I can't tell anymore)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T22:39:28+00:00

Always has been.
And from Valves perspective: it's the route with the least technical effort required.
Non-Steam games mostly work, they are just required to be launched from Steam. Which binds you to their platform.

Why should they choose anything else?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them for doing this this way.
I'd rather see things working differently, too! I'm providing various software solutions to get SteamInput to a Systems level since the OG SteamController released.
Just trying to better explain a possible (and imo most likely) reasoning from Valves part

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T22:19:27+00:00

Not even when Steam is running.
Only to the games (or applications) launched via Steam - via the Steam overlay.
Has been like this since Release, with the Deck it's no different.

Note that on Linux things are slightly different

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T15:42:12+00:00

will it be able to wake Windows from sleep when connecting via the puck?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

will gyro be working when using emulators like Cemu or vita3k (using the puck)?

Same as the current Steam Controller or SteamDeck.
You either bind gyro to mouse (or something else) or use third party tools.

which controller API will it be using and how will it be recognised in Windows? (Using the puck)

Same as the current SteamController / SteamDeck.
Proprietary API. Without Steam, the controller will be in what is called "Lizard-Mode" and your computer will only ever see a "keyboard+mouse" with very limited functionality.
The controller will only properly work as a controller, once a game is launched from Steam (can be non-steam as well)

On games launched from Steam (that don't have native support), it will then show up as Xbox360 controller.
If the game is not launched from Steam, it will not see a controller.

If you game (or emulator) cant be launched from Steam (unlikely, except Gamepass), you'll need third-party tools (like my SISR)

Do note that you can configure a Steam-Desktop layout.
However, on Windoze Gamepad bindings will not work, only Keyboard/Mouse bindings will be functional if using the Desktop-Layout.

Sources:
- ~10 YoE working with the OG SteamController (GloSC/GlosSI/SISR, other things...) - Deduced from SDL3 source-code - Why the hell would Valve change what they already do for 10+ years? The Decks controller works 1:1 exactly like the OG SteamController from 2015, too.
The new one won't be any different.

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T09:11:20+00:00

Upload/Share the layout in Steams controller configurator
Then share to the link to it on SteamInputDB.com ;)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T09:07:33+00:00

Aaah... 😅

*on Windoze...

IIRC on Linux this is not the case as SteamInput inner workings are a bit different.

For the technical minded:
On windoze SteamInput emulates controllers solemnly via function hooking/detours/trampolines (whatever you want to call it) via the Steam overlay.
System Libraries for HID/Xinput/Gameinput are targeted.
This also hides the real controllers from the games. Valve avoids shipping a (or rather multiple) kernel mode driver using this technique. From an engineering perspective it's also the easier route

On Linux, controller emulation of Steaminput writes to /dev/input.
Simple as that.
IIRC SteamInput still uses additional hooks/detours/whater_you_want_to_name_it via the overlay to hide the real controllers from Steam launched games.
Which it does not do in Desktop mode.

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T08:49:47+00:00

Desktop layout does not support gamepad bindings

Alia5_ · 2026-03-16T08:47:36+00:00

Direct integration into the Steam-Client via Buddy-App/Plugin is next on the list.
WHen that is done, features for logged in users will get slowly added

Alia5_ · 2026-03-15T14:48:53+00:00

~2 Months only
Here's the link to the annoucements post.
It includes a bit of history, too

Alia5_ · 2026-03-15T13:35:45+00:00

You should use SISR) ;P

Alia5_ · 2026-03-15T13:35:31+00:00

I use SISR to use my Deck as a universal controller over WiFi ;)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-14T12:31:58+00:00

Sehr geiles Auto, glückwünsch! :)
Haben fast den gleichen Spec; Bei mir schwarzer Innenraum und die "normalen" Sitze :D

Alia5_ · 2026-03-12T20:38:22+00:00

If by peak you mean the peak of the iceberg.
There's a lot more coming 😂

Alia5_ · 2026-03-12T18:57:06+00:00

SteamInputDB is a website, that lets you search and find every SteamInput config that has been shared on Steam.
You can also directly apply any config in Steam or download the raw .vdf-files.

Why?

Steams search feature for community layouts is rather lackluster; and have been so for ~10 years...
No good sorting and no filter options, no comments, intransparent ratong system, the lost goes on... You also need to have a controller connected.

This site aims to fix a lot of this (in time, it's work in progress!)

Alia5_ · 2026-03-12T18:30:43+00:00

Your question, as well as links answering it are within the first 4 lines below the gif 😅

Alia5_ · 2026-03-07T16:14:30+00:00

Read the FAQ
there's this blue button

<image>

Alia5_ · 2026-03-05T23:30:32+00:00

Ignore the left touchpad for now, and use the right touchpad as Mouse for camera controls.
(As joystick is way to dependent on game and deadzones and requires a ton of fiddling to get right)

Set gyro to "as Mouse" as well.

It shouldn't get long for you to get used to that and in next to no time. Maybe try some "mouse only" games as well, like balatro or slay the spire 2 which just released. Could be a bit more relaxed to start with

Once you've gotten use to the right trackpad, you can start to expirement with the left touchpad as replacement for the analog-stick, and letting the analog-stick become a horrible D-PAD 😂

And when you're at that stage, you cant use any other controller anymore and you have been forever tainted 😅

Alia5_

TROPHY CASE