Valve Reveals Interesting Stats About Steam Controller Use

Steam's Recent Controller Usage Statistics Highlight Growing Popularity

A recent Valve blog post reveals a significant surge in gamepad usage on the Steam platform. Over the past several years, controller support has become a key factor for gamers purchasing games on Steam, and this trend is only accelerating.

Valve, renowned for its innovative approach to both software and hardware (as evidenced by titles like Half-Life, Team Fortress 2, and Portal, and hardware like the Steam Deck), has seen daily controller usage on Steam triple. This represents a substantial increase from 2018, with controller usage now accounting for 15% of all daily sessions. Of that 15%, a remarkable 42% utilize Steam Input.

The blog post also highlights the evolving controller landscape, noting the Xbox controller as the most popular choice among Steam users. To keep pace with this growth, Valve has consistently improved controller support, with recent updates focusing on enhancements to Steam's Big Picture mode and virtual menus.

Key Recent Steam Controller Support Improvements:

• Big Picture mode updates
• Enhanced controller configuration tools
• Gyro aiming functionality
• Improved virtual menus
• Expanded support for PlayStation and Xbox controllers

The importance of Steam Input is emphasized, enabling compatibility with over 300 different controllers. This versatility is a cornerstone of the Steam experience, further complemented by the Steam Deck's flexibility, allowing for both handheld and remote play.

Valve's commitment to innovation continues with the Steam Deck, a highly successful handheld device launched in 2022. Competing in a market dominated by the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck has quickly gained popularity, boosted by regular price reductions. Its high-end performance allows users to carry a significant portion of their Steam libraries wherever they go.