At PAX Prime 2015, "Team Fortress" co-developer Robin Walker showcased the Valve Steam Controller providing a glimpse at how the hardware works to satisfy the couch gamer's various needs.
Speaking to Walker at the event, YouTuber OMGChad got the inside scoop on the Steam Controller which you can watch on the video below. The Australian game developer said that the main problem the hardware had to solve was how it can be used to play all the games Steam's massive library.
"It needs face buttons, triggers, traditional joystick controls, but also mouse-like functionality and the ability to type messages quickly," DigitalTrends said.
To solve the problem, Walker said Valve turned to user feedback. After several updates, the Steam Controller in its current iteration was made possible.
"The main innovation present in the Steam Controller hardware is the (twin) thumb pad design," according to Hexus.
Per the website, these pads can be "virtualized" so that they behave like a joystick, trackball or mouse, according to the player's needs. Apart from Valve or game developer's recommended settings, configurations can be customized and remapped to suit individual preferences.
What's more is that configurations can be shared and downloaded by community members.
Even the pads' feel can be changed "depending upon your preference or the controller you want to emulate," Hexus said.
Walker also showed off the Steam Controller's rear-grip buttons which were designed to be used with important functions such as reloading on first-person shooters. Also of note are the dual-stage triggers. These allow players to aim and shoot with just one button instead of two on other gamepads.
As Franchise Herald reported back in July, Valve opened development applications for the device for "select developers."
The Steam Controller, along with Steam Machines and the Steam Link, is set for a Nov. 10 release date. It is currently available for pre-order on Steam.
