# Steam Controller

> discontinued video game controller developed by Valve

**Wikidata**: [Q16530754](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16530754)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/steam-controller

## Summary
The Steam Controller is a discontinued video game controller model developed by Valve Corporation. First released on November 10, 2015, it is a gamepad designed for use with Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. Valve discontinued the device on November 26, 2019.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Valve Corporation (American video game development and digital distribution company).
- **Release Date:** November 10, 2015.
- **Discontinuation Date:** November 26, 2019.
- **Product Classification:** Gamepad / Video game controller model.
- **Operating Systems:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux.
- **Model Number:** 1001.
- **Distribution:** Distributed by Steam (Steam Application ID: 353370).
- **Warranty:** 1 year limited warranty.
- **USB Device ID:** 28de:1142.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Steam Controller released and discontinued?
A: The Steam Controller was released on November 10, 2015, and was discontinued by Valve Corporation on November 26, 2019.

### Q: What operating systems are compatible with the Steam Controller?
A: The Steam Controller supports Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

### Q: Who developed the Steam Controller?
A: The Steam Controller was developed and manufactured by Valve Corporation, an American video game development and digital distribution company founded in 1996.

### Q: What distinguishes the Steam Controller's hardware layout?
A: The controller features two clickable trackpads, one analog stick, clickable dual-stage analog triggers, and two digital back buttons (LG, RG), differing from the dual-analog stick layout common to many other gamepads.

## Why It Matters
The Steam Controller represents Valve Corporation's strategic expansion into hardware input devices, specifically designed to bridge the gap between PC gaming and traditional living room console experiences. As a gamepad developed by a leading digital distribution platform (Steam), it offered a unique alternative to standard console controllers by prioritizing customization and compatibility across multiple operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux).

Its introduction in 2015 and subsequent discontinuation in 2019 mark a specific era of Valve's hardware experimentation. The device is significant for its specific technical configuration, including dual clickable trackpads and dual-stage triggers, which attempted to replicate the precision of mouse-and-keyboard inputs within a handheld gamepad form factor. With a warranty period of one year and a specific model number (1001), it remains a notable, albeit discontinued, artifact in the evolution of PC gaming peripherals.

## Notable For
- **Unique Input Design:** Features two clickable trackpads and only one analog stick, unlike the standard dual-stick configuration found in most modern gamepads.
- **Dual-Stage Triggers:** Equipped with clickable dual-stage analog triggers (LT, RT) that offer distinct input phases.
- **Valve Hardware:** Being a first-party hardware product developed and manufactured by Valve Corporation, a major entity in the video game industry.
- **Cross-Platform Support:** Native compatibility with Linux in addition to Windows and macOS.
- **Back Button Integration:** Includes two digital back buttons (LG, RG) located on the grip of the controller.

## Body

### Development and Manufacturer
The Steam Controller is a video game controller model developed and manufactured by **Valve Corporation**. Valve, an American video game development and digital distribution company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, serves as the primary entity behind the device's creation and distribution via Steam.

### Hardware Specifications
The controller is classified as a **gamepad** designed to be held in two hands, where fingers provide input. Its physical composition includes a specific array of buttons and trackpads:
- **Trackpads:** 2 Clickable trackpads.
- **Analog Stick:** 1 Steam Controller analog stick.
- **Triggers:** 2 Clickable dual-stage analog triggers (LT, RT).
- **Shoulder Buttons:** 2 Digital shoulder buttons (LB, RB).
- **Face Buttons:** 4 Xbox-style face buttons (A, B, X, Y).
- **Back Buttons:** 2 Digital back buttons (LG, RG).
- **System Buttons:** 1 Steam button, 1 Select button, and 1 Start button.

### Product Lifecycle
- **Inception/Publication:** The device was officially released on **November 10, 2015**.
- **Discontinuation:** Valve ceased production and distribution of the Steam Controller on **November 26, 2019**.
- **Identifiers:** The device carries the model number **1001** and FCC product code **2AES41001**.
- **Warranty:** The hardware was covered by a 1-year limited warranty from the date of shipment.

### Software and Community
The Steam Controller is designed to operate on **Microsoft Windows**, **macOS**, and **Linux**. It is integrated into the Steam ecosystem with the application ID **353370**.

Community engagement and support resources include:
- **Subreddits:** r/SteamController, r/SteamControllerMods, r/steamcontrollermusic.
- **Discord:** An unofficial Discord server (invite ID: 8R5BRym).
- **Technical Databases:** The device is indexed by PCGamingWiki (ID: Controller:Steam_Controller), Gentoo Wiki, and iFixit.

## Schema Markup
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{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Steam Controller",
  "description": "Discontinued video game controller developed by Valve Corporation.",
  "disambiguatingDescription": "A gamepad developed by Valve with dual trackpads, released in 2015 and discontinued in 2019.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q353370"
  ],
  "additionalType": "VideoGameController"
}

## References

1. Quora
2. [A place to share mods of the steam controller](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamControllerMods/)
3. [The Steam Controller Orchestra!](https://www.reddit.com/r/steamcontrollermusic/)
4. [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/8R5BRym)
5. [Valve Hardware Warranty](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4E41-6123-79EF-25BA)