Starting from October, Steam users will be able to see which games are compatible with Sony’s DualSense and DualShock controllers. This is a new feature that Valve announced for developers and players this week.
Why is this feature important?
According to Valve, PlayStation controllers are becoming more popular among Steam users. The company said that 27 percent of controller sessions on Steam are now using Sony’s gamepads, up from 11 percent in 2018. This means that more than a quarter of Steam players prefer to use PlayStation controllers over Xbox or other devices.
However, not all games on Steam have native support for PlayStation controllers. Some games may only show Xbox button prompts, or not recognize the controller at all. This can be confusing and frustrating for players who want to enjoy their games with their preferred controller.
To solve this problem, Valve has added a new questionnaire in Steamworks, its game creation tools for developers. The questionnaire allows developers to specify whether their games offer full or partial support for Xbox, DualShock and DualSense controllers. This information will then be displayed on the store page and the desktop client of each game.
How will this feature work?
Valve said that the new feature will go live in Steam’s store and desktop app starting in early October. Players will be able to see a badge on the game’s store page that indicates the level of PlayStation controller support. For example, a game may have full support for DualSense, partial support for DualShock 4, or no support for either.
The feature will also show the usage level of each PlayStation controller, which means how many players are using that controller for that game. This can help players find out which games are more popular with PlayStation controller users, and which games may have better integration with the controller’s features.
Additionally, the feature will make it easier for players to find games that support their controller device well. Valve said that it will update some browser pages to allow players to filter games by controller type. Moreover, the desktop client will indicate which games in the player’s library have PlayStation controller support, and which games require a controller to play.
What are the benefits of PlayStation controllers?
PlayStation controllers have some unique features that Xbox controllers do not have. For example, the DualSense controller for PS5 has adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, which can create more immersive and realistic sensations in games. The DualShock 4 controller for PS4 has a touchpad and a light bar, which can be used for different functions in games.
Some games on Steam already take advantage of these features, such as Death Stranding, Horizon Zero Dawn, and GhostRunner. However, many games do not have native support for PlayStation controllers, and rely on Valve’s controller configurator to emulate Xbox inputs. This means that some features may not work properly, or not work at all.
By displaying PlayStation controller support for games, Valve hopes to encourage more developers to add native support for Sony’s gamepads. This can improve the user experience and satisfaction for PlayStation controller users on Steam.
