Valve's new Steam Controller lacks native XInput support, but you can still emulate it as long as Steam is running in the background. An enthusiast named Safijari has just engineered a more seamless solution, creating his own DIY "OpenPuck" that lets the Steam Controller emulate other gamepads on the fly. It can emulate Xbox, PlayStation, and even Nintendo layouts, and do so away from your PC.

OpenPuck serves as open-source firmware for a microcontroller, allowing you to easily flash and convert that dev board into a DIY Steam Controller puck. The firmware intercepts raw data from the Steam Controller and translates it on-device, enabling fully-fledged, real-time emulation without the need for Steam Input.

There are other options out there, but the creator used a Pro Micro NRF52480 from Amazon that has the appropriate Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz radios. Once primed in DFU mode, all you need to do is plug the board into your computer via USB-C, drag and drop the Arduino sketch onto it, and the microcontroller turns into an OpenPuck right away. You can 3D print a case to make the assembly look more polished, too.

The sketch is available on the project's GitHub page. Once you've flashed your controller, head to the configurator to manage the puck. It's a simple website that uses the WebUSB API to manage the controller, allowing you to switch between the different modes, which include Switch Pro, Xbox, DualSense (PS5), and DualShock 4 (PS4). The project description claims the puck only has a 1ms latency.

The Switch mode works natively on a Switch console with gyro and haptics support, but you can also emulate a Hori Pad that disables those extra features. The PlayStation modes only work on PC, but there's a special DualShock 3 mode that can work natively on a PlayStation 3 console as well, with gyro and haptics (Sixaxis). Of course, the default Steam Controller mode is also there.

You can switch between some of these different controller modes by pressing all four back buttons together and hitting either A, B, X, or Y, but the PlayStation modes require you to use the web configurator. Once everything is set up, however, the Steam Controller runs just like an official Switch, Xbox, or PlayStation controller without Steam even being open in the background.

There's even a bonus "ReversePuck" sub-project that allows a Steam Deck to act as an external controller, supporting all of the Steam Controller's features (except grip). If you flash a second NRF52840 Pro Micro and plug it into a Steam Deck, you can stream the Steam Deck's built-in controls across the room over 2.4GHz to your OpenPuck-equipped PC, giving you access to essentially another Steam Controller.

Peripheral maker 8Bitdo makes some seriously good controllers, and for very respectable prices in comparison to the competition. You can currently pick up their popular Pro 2 Wireless Controller for just $37.19, a saving of $22.80 (38%) from its $59.99 list price. You do, however, have to be an Amazon Prime member to get this discount. Not only is this an all-time low price for this controller, but it also comes with a convenient travel case to help protect the controller when you take it on the go. Perfect for pairing with a Nintendo Switch when traveling or going on holiday.

● Check out this deal on Amazon

One of the reasons you can pick up the 8Bitdo Pro 2 wireless on the cheap is that there is a newer version of the controller available from 8Bitdo - the Pro 3. Don't let that put you off, though. The Pro 2 features stick-drift-free hall-effect joysticks for accurate gaming and up to 20 hours of continuous play over Bluetooth. There are also many other great features, such as 6-axis gyro, somatosensory, and motion control functions, 4-way mode switching between devices, and amazing compatibility with various devices. Upgrade to the latest firmware, and you can use the controller with the Nintendo Switch 2. It's also great for the Steam Deck and is easily recognized when using Steam on the PC.

You can also use 8Bitdo's Ultimate Software to fully configure your Pro 2 controller to your personal tastes. Adjust the level of rumble your controller generates, create macros for your favorite games, adjust trigger sensitivity, alter joystick zones, and fully map every button on the controller.

The controller comes paired with a protective travel case and a USB-C cable for charging and to also continue playing should the battery run dry. Don't forget, you have to be an Amazon Prime member to get this deal.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

You can also join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

A PC gamer might think that a keyboard is the weapon of choice for their gameplay needs, but a good gamepad can make all the difference. Most modern PC games now give you the choice to switch between inputs, so if you're lacking in controller options, you'll want to take advantage of this offer on the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition game controller, down to $64.99 right now.

● Check out this deal at Amazon

That's a new record low price for this controller on Amazon, according to the data crunching at Camelcamelcamel, although we have spotted it a touch cheaper on Woot on occasion. That said, this deal makes it $40 cheaper than it was just a few weeks ago.

You're getting everything you'd want and expect in a top-spec modern controller in the Razer Wolverine V3. It has stick drift-resistant next-gen TMR thumbsticks, ultra-precise triggers with customizable actuation points, four mouse-click back buttons, two claw grip bumpers, and an eight-way floating D-pad. This is a wired controller, although a wireless version is available, with an 8,000Hz polling rate. For gaming, that means ultra-fast input speeds that help to almost completely eliminate input lag.

Razer have iterated on this design with improvements over the original and V2 models. The USB-C cable is detachable, and there are some other quality-of-life improvements, including extra paddles on the underside, as well as a change from rubber grip to textured plastic to make it easier to clean. The Wolverine V3 is fully customizable, with Razer's software allowing you to set up your own custom presets and layouts, as well as set your preferred sensitivity levels.

If you've seen an Xbox controller, you won't be blown away by the Razer Wolverine's layout or design, but don't be fooled. It looks a lot like Microsoft's own, but that's about it. The tech under the hood of this controller is supercharged compared to the OG Xbox gamepad, with the TMR thumbsticks being one area to note.

TMR, or Tunneling Magnetoresistance thumbsticks, help you to eliminate stick drift, a common problem on controllers. The sticks used here rely on magnetics to help determine directional input and are a step up in design compared to the (now common) Hall Effect options used in rivals, including earlier Wolverine models. There are no contacts getting dirty or breaking down, ensuring better longevity for your sticks compared to a standard controller.

The $64.99 sale price for this Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition controller is a steal right now from a brand that gamers trust. Take advantage of this record low price while you can, because this is a deal that has the potential to sell out quickly.

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Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

An aerospace worker and programmer created a GitHub-hosted program that lets your Steam Controller automatically walk back towards its charging puck as soon as you place it down on your desk. The web app, called the Auto-Charge Vision Tracker, uses a camera and computer vision to determine where your controller is, then it uses its powerful built-in motors to make it creep towards its docking station to top itself up when you’re not using it. The great thing about this web app is that you don’t need to install anything on your PC to use it. Just go to the website, connect your Steam Controller, ensure your camera is directly overhead your desk, click the puck, the front, and the back of your controller, and you should be good to go.

This is an interesting use case for the Steam Controller’s haptic motors, which are primarily designed to give feedback to gamers. Although this app, which you can run in the background on your browser, is designed to make recharging your controller more comfortable, you do need a flat surface without any obstructions to ensure that the Steam Controller can reach the charging puck. Aside from that, the vibration and movement on the desk tends to cause abrasion on the controller’s surface, meaning you’ll soon find flat spots appearing on the surface that contact your desk. Ray Foss, the maker of the GitHub repo, said that adding rubber feet should help prevent this and might also give the controller better acceleration and handling.

Another programmer has created something similar before — a web app that uses the controller’s rumble motor to let it slip and slide on your desk. But what makes this project different is that instead of manually “driving” your Steam Controller, it uses computer vision to automatically guide the controller back towards the charging puck, making it look like a robot vacuum.

These apps have limited usability — after all, the Steam Controller would still be unable to hop from the coffee desk in your living room to the TV console where your charging puck and Steam Machine are likely sitting. Nevertheless, it shows Valve’s commitment to making it easy for gamers to use their devices the way they want to. The company even released the CAD files for the Steam Controller and Puck back in May 2026, just a few days after the controller became widely available. But if you want to give this curiosity a try, you can easily do so by going to the Auto-Charge Vision Tracker website. The program’s files are also readily available on GitHub if you want to play around with the program and make your own version.

If you ask any PC gamer, the keyboard and mouse are probably their favorite input devices for their unbeatable precision. However, certain genres, such as racing, sports, and fighting games, are just more enjoyable with a controller. SCUF has a very diverse portfolio of controllers for both PC and console gamers, so if you need a new controller this Prime Day, you should really give them a look.

SCUF is offering up to 26% off some of the company's most acclaimed controllers from the Envision and Valor Pro lineups, designed for PC and Xbox, respectively. There's a product controller for every preference and every budget. For PC and Xbox gamers who are more budget-conscious, the Envision V2 and Valor Wired are great controllers that don't cost an arm and a leg. However, if you're shopping for a more premium controller, the Envision Pro V2 or Valor Pro Wireless will make any PC and Xbox gamer very happy.

These exclusive Prime Day offers are available in all regions, kicking off on June 23 at 12:00 AM EST and running until June 28 at 11:59 PM EST. So, you have almost an entire week to score big savings on some of the best gaming gear on the market. Don’t worry if none of our highlighted picks catch your eye. SCUF is running a big sale, so there's bound to be something for everyone.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

A developer has created a Chromium browser-based tool that turns Valve's second-gen Steam Controller into a self-propelled RC car, steering it across a flat surface in real-time with no app or driver installed. The page connects to the controller over WebHID, a browser standard for talking directly to USB and Bluetooth devices, and moves it by pulsing the gamepad's rumble motors. The Steam Controller first went on sale for $99 in early May and promptly sold out.

The tool utilizes the controller’s rumble motors, which, at the right frequency, cause the entire chassis to vibrate and creep across the surface in a chosen direction. The browser handles “steering” by varying the pulses sent to each gamepad stick, so leaning the output toward one motor turns the controller as it crawls. It’s the same type of vibration-driven locomotion that powers cheap “bristlebot” toys.

As for connecting to the Steam Controller, WebHID grants low-level hardware access from the webpage once the user approves the controller via the browser’s device picker, so the entire setup runs inside a single tab with nothing to download. WebHID is only supported in Chromium browsers, such as Chrome and Edge, and not Safari or Firefox.

Naturally, the site comes with some small print that explains that the service is offered “as-is” with no warranty, and warns that driving the controller across the ground scrapes it and wears it down over time. It recommends flat, smooth surfaces that keep the gamepad moving and reduce abrasion.

The community has been hard at work tinkering with the second-gen controller since its May launch. Valve released the Steam Controller’s CAD files under a Creative Commons license shortly after launch, explicitly inviting users to design their own accessories. The gamepad pairs dual trackpads, gyro controls, and grip buttons, a mix of inputs Valve walked through in its developer interview with Tom's Hardware, and that range of hardware has drawn a wave of experiments since units reached buyers.

The repurposed rumble motors here have also been a sore spot for the controller. The firmware quirks caused the rumble to behave erratically or cut out entirely in some games, a problem Valve has been working to patch. Demand has stayed high enough that resellers listed units above $300 after the launch stock sold out, and Valve has since opened a reservation system to push back against scalping bots.

In a June 18 update, Valve said that “initial demand exceeded our expectations,” but that it has “no plans to stop making Steam Controller.” Those now joining the reservation queue will be given one of three timeframes — September 2026, December 2026, or 2027 — for when they can expect to receive an order email with an option to purchase.