Sponsor: Thermal Grizzly Duronaut on Amazon - https://geni.us/tpgcPMwThe Valve Steam Controller has arrived. We're testing it for latency performance, wirele...
Valve was targeting the $40-$60 range originally with this controller. I don’t know what happened, given that the competitors are just a little bit over that.
Vader 4 pro was ~$45 last year, at least according to spam in my inbox and my order history. $67 today.
Vader 5 pro is $63 now, but I haven’t looked at reviews and I don’t need a controller, but on paper they made improvements
Gamesir G7 Pro is another solid option, $80, I don’t have one but they’re also supposed to be excellent.
Those options come with 2.4G dongles and bluetooth and a switch on the back to switch between them. Vader4 even has a nintendo switch choice, my wife is using it right now after burning through my original switch pro controller in stardew valley (no joke lol. She just started her second or third completionist run a few days ago.) They all use standard USB-C cables for a wired option too afaik.
The only thing unique about valve’s choice really seems to be the touchpads. Unless you can’t stop using them nonstop on the deck and have gotten away from normal joysticks, odds are you can spend half or way less on great quality controllers. I used to swear by xbox controllers until the elite 2 with shoulder bumper issues. If you hate xbox controllers and have to have a playstation style, there’s options for that too.
Best bang for your buck is still probably the 8bitdo ultimate 2c. It’s a fairly basic controller with a 2.4g dongle, bluetooth and two extra buttons. You can find them on sale for for $22 at times or sometimes less but full price is just 30.
There’s 31 TMR controllers here , and I am not very familiar with most of them but I would guess very few if any are $100 aside from the steam one. The 8bitdo ultimate wireless 2 has TMR and is $56 right now and has hall effect triggers with a switch to make them tactile (short throw triggers.)
No idea about the touch pads though. Not a common thing on controllers. If valve’s somehow becomes popular there will certainly be other options in short order.
Valve was targeting the $40-$60 range originally with this controller. I don’t know what happened, given that the competitors are just a little bit over that.
Vader 4 pro was ~$45 last year, at least according to spam in my inbox and my order history. $67 today.
Vader 5 pro is $63 now, but I haven’t looked at reviews and I don’t need a controller, but on paper they made improvements
8bitdo ultimate wireless 2 is $56 right now even.
Gamesir G7 Pro is another solid option, $80, I don’t have one but they’re also supposed to be excellent.
Those options come with 2.4G dongles and bluetooth and a switch on the back to switch between them. Vader4 even has a nintendo switch choice, my wife is using it right now after burning through my original switch pro controller in stardew valley (no joke lol. She just started her second or third completionist run a few days ago.) They all use standard USB-C cables for a wired option too afaik.
The only thing unique about valve’s choice really seems to be the touchpads. Unless you can’t stop using them nonstop on the deck and have gotten away from normal joysticks, odds are you can spend half or way less on great quality controllers. I used to swear by xbox controllers until the elite 2 with shoulder bumper issues. If you hate xbox controllers and have to have a playstation style, there’s options for that too.
Best bang for your buck is still probably the 8bitdo ultimate 2c. It’s a fairly basic controller with a 2.4g dongle, bluetooth and two extra buttons. You can find them on sale for for $22 at times or sometimes less but full price is just 30.
I think the valve has the large touch pads and TMR joysticks, which both add some (if not THAT much) cost.
I don’t think TMR sticks should be expensive, given you can get a controller with a pair of TNRs for $30. https://www.amazon.com/Machenike-Wireless-Controller-PC-Joystick＆Triggers-Gyroscope/dp/B0DSZXT8SR
There’s 31 TMR controllers here , and I am not very familiar with most of them but I would guess very few if any are $100 aside from the steam one. The 8bitdo ultimate wireless 2 has TMR and is $56 right now and has hall effect triggers with a switch to make them tactile (short throw triggers.)
No idea about the touch pads though. Not a common thing on controllers. If valve’s somehow becomes popular there will certainly be other options in short order.