Sick of waiting for Steam Controller 2, a modder has built one using the remains of a Steam Deck. Proving once again that necessity truly is the mother of invention, TommyB took matters into his own hands by tearing out the screen from a handheld and squishing the trackpads into a more compact form factor, designed explicitly for PC gaming.
This ambitious DIY project involved carefully deconstructing Steam Deck and reassembling the remaining hardware using cleverly designed 3D-printed connectors. This Frankenstein contraption retains the original control layout, complete with dual touchpads, buttons, and triggers, now housed in a split design that’s not world’s apart from Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. TommyB’s innovation neatly bridges the gap between portability and desk-bound gaming, essentially delivering what Valve fans have been craving since the original Steam Controller faded into obscurity.
As someone who’s developed an arguably unhealthy attachment to the Steam Deck’s touchpads, I can confirm they’re a revelation, particularly when it comes to FPS games. The tactile precision offered by these pads blows analogue sticks out of the water, providing pinpoint accuracy that can even rival a gaming mouse once properly calibrated. Swirl your thumb across a pad with the right profile, and it can even effortlessly emulate a mouse scroll wheel.
My first introduction to the magic of the Deck’s trackpads was during the Core Keeper early beta, where mining benefits from a steady hand. Switching from analogue sticks to the touchpads was like trading a blunt spoon for a pinpoint laser. Once experienced, it’s genuinely difficult to return to sticks alone.
Yet, despite this obsession, my attempts to replicate Steam Deck’s superior control scheme with a second-hand original Steam Controller ended in bitter disappointment. What was supposed to be a seamless transition felt like trading a premium experience for cheap plastic, distracting creaks, and trackpads that barely deserved the name. The original Steam Controller, pioneering though it was, lacks the responsiveness and tactile finesse Valve later perfected in the Deck.
TommyB’s mod, however, represents a tantalising glimpse into what an official Steam Controller 2 could, and should, look like. Sure, ergonomics may not impress dedicated Xbox controller fans accustomed to contoured grips and offset analogue sticks, but if you share my trackpad obsession, this modded controller is nothing short of gaming nirvana.
If you fancy trying your hand at the project yourself, keep in mind that it’s not simple. TommyB used “a ton of off-the-shelf parts,” a Steam Deck, and a ton of elbow grease to bring it into existence. The end result is arguably worth it, though, complete with a modular design that allows you to adjust the ergonomics with 3D printed mid-sections. I just hope Valve’s official Steam Controller 2 looks this good.
Rumours continue to swirl that Valve may indeed be working on an official Steam Controller successor, fuelled by scattered patent leaks and hopeful whispers in the community. Until then, this DIY project scratches an itch Valve is slow to address. Now, the real question is whether my modest 3D printing skills can handle TommyB’s ambitious blueprints, or if I’m destined to envy this mod from afar. You won’t catch me disassembling Steam Deck OLED to make it happen, that’s for sure.
