Almost 5 years after Valve discontinued its experimental Steam Controller, a brand new formally licensed gamepad for Steam is on the best way. The brand new controller is made by Hori, and it’s solely coming to Japan (no less than for now).
Dubbed the Wi-fi Horipad for Steam, the PC-centric controller matches the Steam Deck’s menu buttons and has related contact sensors atop its sticks to activate gyro controls. It additionally helps Bluetooth wi-fi and USB-C wired connections in addition to a complete bunch of customized programmability utilizing Hori’s software program. However whereas it shares rather a lot with the Steam Deck, it’s not a Steam Controller 2 — it lacks rumble, an identical set of 4 again buttons, and the hand-held’s signature trackpads.
The brand new controller is ready to launch in Japan on October thirty first in 4 colours (black, white, neon yellow, and violet), promoting for 7,890 yen (about $50).
Nonetheless, the Wi-fi Horipad appears to have a complete lot extra happening. For starters, it’s truly wi-fi, albeit restricted to Bluetooth, which is often much less dependable than a USB wi-fi dongle. The Steam model additionally has 4 programmable buttons, though, not like the Steam Deck, there are solely two on the rear — the opposite two are on the entrance instantly under the D-pad and on the best thumbstick.
It definitely appears to be like acquainted in case you squint
Whereas it appears lengthy overdue for Valve to as soon as once more have a branded go-to gamepad for Steam and docked Steam Deck use, we’ll have to attend to see if or when it turns into extra extensively obtainable. Hori’s choice to begin gross sales in its residence nation is sensible, however it could additionally communicate to the rise of PC gaming in Japan, with handhelds being such a well-liked selection there that Valve spun up a partnership with a completely completely different firm for Steam Deck distribution (together with in-store availability).
On the whole, gamepad utilization in Steam is on the rise — as Valve’s just-released statistics present. These numbers additionally include a abstract of latest controller optimizations Valve has not too long ago applied in Steam. Maybe that is setting the desk for a large swath of licensed Steam controllers from a wide range of producers like we see on Xbox consoles — with extra wi-fi choices, I hope. One factor I do know is I’m now dying to do that Wi-fi Horipad.