Valve teams up with HORI to create the Steam controller’s successor.
Japanese gamepad manufacturer HORI is working with Valve to create a new official Steam controller. The HORIPAD for Steam will become available in Japan later this year with plenty of features designed specifically for Steam Input.
After the discontinuation of the original beloved Steam controller nearly five years ago, the new HORIPAD for Steam has many gamers excited about its arrival.
Controller use on Steam
Steam recently published an article sharing updates on their Steam Input and general controller support on the platform. In it, they state that controller use has tripled since 2018, increasing from ~5% up to 15%. Of those 15% of users, 59% are using Xbox controllers, 26% are using PlayStation controllers, and 10% are on Steam Decks. HORI's Steam controller has the potential to take a piece of that market share for itself.
Key features of HORI's new Steam controller
HORI's Steam controller will be a great input device for any game on PC. However, it's only through using it on Steam that users can unlock its full functionality. Key features include:
- Four expansion buttons: Functions can be assigned to them via Steam Input or the dedicated app.
- Gyro: Players can direct the camera movement during games by tilting the controller. (Available only in Steam mode)
- Rapid fire: Automatically fires continuous inputs of a button when held down. Can be set up via Steam Input or the dedicated app.
- Bluetooth or wired: HORI's Steam controller supports both wired and wireless connections. The included Bluetooth adapter has a range of approximately 10 meters, while the included cable measures approximately 3 meters.
- Stick touch sensor: Customization is possible, such as having the gyro function activate only when touching the joystick. (Available only in Steam mode)
- Steam button: Bring up Steam from the background and launch Big Picture mode. Easily launch the Steam menu even while playing a game. (Available only in Steam mode)
- Quick access button: Access a simple settings menu from anywhere, even during the game. (Available only in Steam mode)
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Customize things to make your perfect controller
The HORIPAD has no shortage of options for customization, whether you're using it with Steam Input or Xinput. The controller's settings can be tuned to your liking through Steam or a dedicated app by HORI.
The dedicated app allows users in Xinput mode to assign actions to buttosn, adjust gyro function settings, set up rapid fire, tune joystick settings, and more.
Steam Input unlocks even more functionality. Through Steam, users can assign action to buttons, adjust gyro function settings, set up rapid fire, choose stick touch sensor settings, and more.
Get HORI's new Steam controller this Halloween
HORI's Steam controller is set to ship in Japan on October 31 of this year. It is currently available for purchase on HORI's website for 7,980 yen (approximately $50 USD) and comes in four colors: midnight black, shiny white, neon yellow, and luminous violet.
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