When it comes to PC gaming, the mouse and keyboard combo remains the preferred input device. However, controller usage among players is on the rise on PC.
Digital video game storefront and launcher Steam recently released some data showing a significant increase in the use of controllers by PC gamers. Since 2018, the daily average controller use on the platform has increased by threefold, from approximately 5 percent to 15 percent of all sessions.
The data also indicates which game controllers are the most popular among PC gamers on Steam. The majority of these controller-based sessions, at 59 percent, are using Xbox controllers. PlayStation controllers are at a distant second at 26 percent. Ten percent of users are playing on their Steam Deck handhelds.
Of these controller sessions, Steam revealed that around 42 percent are making use of Steam Input, which is essentially a service that enables the use of multiple types of controllers even on games that do not officially support input beyond the typical mouse and keyboard. Steam Input currently supports more than 300 controllers across different brands and allows custom button bindings and community configurations for these controllers.
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With the increasing use of controllers for PC gaming, Steam has announced new features for Steam Input. Its TV-friendly Big Picture mode, for instance, underwent a complete redesign to bring the Steam Deck user experience to the big screen. A new, simplified controller configurator has been added for setting and managing bindings. Additional enhancements include improved gyro aiming, Flickstick functionality, and virtual menu support on the desktop client.
Support for PlayStation and Xbox controllers has also been enhanced, including better support for DualSense Edge and a new driver for Xbox One controllers to support rear buttons on Xbox Elite controllers.