The DualShock 4 makes for a lovely PC gaming controller, but it doesn’t usually get the support it deserves, especially the touch pad and gyroscopic features. An update coming to Steam’s controller API will have PS4 controller configurability baked right in.
What input for the PS4 controller looks like through the Steam API. Imagine via Lars Doucet.
The news comes from the Steam Dev Days event, from a Steam controller talk given by Valve’s Jeff Bellinghausen and Lars Doucet of Level Up Labs, the full transcript of which can be found over at Gamasutra (via PC Gamer). While the core focus of the talk was about the function of the Steam controller, towards the tail end the pair mentioned an effort to integrate support for more peripherals into the Steam Controller API (application program interface).
The PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 gets in first due to its ability to mirror many functions of Steam’s unique controller design. From the transcript:
Believe it or not, when you use the PS4 Controller through the Steam API, it’s exactly the same as a Steam Controller. You make the exact same API calls, you only get actions, not inputs, and the Steam API takes care of everything.
Now, why start with the PS4 controller? Well, not only is it a really nice, high quality controller, but it’s also got a gyro and a touchpad, so it’s got a lot of overlapping functionality with the Steam Controller. Also, existing native support for the PS4 controller on the PC is a bit weak; in this case Steam itself is communicating directly with the device so everything that’s nice and reliable.
The upcoming update will make it easy for developers to integrate support for Sony’s controller into their games, meaning players won’t have to fuss with third-party programs to get their settings just right.
Valve plans to add support for additional third-party controllers to the API in the future.
Between this integration and Sony’s own wireless dongle, could we see the DualShock supplant the Xbox controller as the go-to PC game pad?
Comments
11 responses to “Valve Is Adding Native DualShock 4 Support To Steam”
Well that’s a massive hug to PS4 players.
I think I am in a very small minority. I own both XBone and PS4. I prefer the PS4 controller but I’m primarily a PC gamer… so this is all good news to me!
Me too but I’m not sure if I prefer the DS4 over the Elite controller I got last week. That thing is so nice.
I’m yet to try one, but I may just keep that in mind.
Unfortunately that doesnt fix the problem of Xbox button prompts 🙁
True, that function comes from developers.
Batman Arkham Knight is one that already has this support, while running third party software it has DS4 prompts.
Actually it now supports it natively. So no third party software needed. The same with Witcher 3, which was a happy surprise because I love the DS4 🙂
Yeah I was talking past tense. I think batman would have supported the DS4 natively when it released, had I not have required the xbox controllers API for the third party software. Which I needed to use the DS4 for anything else.
I really like previous Playstation controllers and really want to like the PS4 controller too, I did for a time but unfortunately the PS4 controller causes incredible hand pain for me, eventually causing me to stop playing completely for a few days until my hand stops hurting.
it’s awful and I don’t know why it happens but it’s completely specific to the PS4 controller, i’ve never felt this sort of pain from anything else.
I have heard of a lot of others having this problem but I’ve also heard a lot of people haven’t.
it’s a real pain right now since Rise of the Tomb Raider just came out on PS4 and the Overwatch Halloween event just started and it’s so good but I have to stop for a few days to maybe even a week which is torture for someone who enjoys games as much as I do and especially since Overwatch’s event is limited time.
Does anyone else here have a similar problem? with either a gaming controller or something else entirely.
either way, this support from valve is really awesome =D i’m glad this is the case as it will be a big help
It is a shame that this is happening to you, I had a similar problem with using the DS4 controller when I first got my PS4 to play uncharted. I had been using the Xbox Elite before that and no matter how much I played with the DS4, I ended up with hand pains as well.
The solution, I grabbed a chronus max plus, which lets you play with any controller on any console. I have been playing with my Xbox Elite on my PS4 for months without issues now and I believe you can do DS3 on PS4 with it too. Hope that helps!
When? When? I want this now