Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Steam customization support for Xbox One, Xbox 360 controllers is coming soon

By

xbox one game pass announced s review 15 1200x0
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Valve is rolling out official Steam Controller Configurator support for Xbox 360 and Xbox One gamepads, granting licensed Microsoft peripherals access to the application’s advanced mapping features.

Valve’s controller compatibility update, available now as part of Steam’s most recent beta branch, also introduces Configurator support for generic X-Input controllers. Beta participants report that many features previously reserved for Valve’s own Steam Controller can now be mapped to a variety of generic gamepads, joysticks, and other peripherals.

Recommended Videos

The upcoming launch of official Xbox 360 and Xbox One Controller Configurator support for Steam follows up on a recent update that added compatibility with the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 controllers. Previously, DualShock 4 controller users needed to rely on external input mapping software like JoyToKey in order to use Sony’s gamepad within select Steam applications.

Related

Now that Steam has introduced official support for PlayStation 4 controllers, players can map multiple button presses and input combinations to specific DualShock 4 buttons, triggers, and analog sticks, making the Steam interface and games accessible to a wider playerbase. Xbox One and Xbox 360 controller owners will soon be able to enjoy a similar range of benefits and expanded functionality.

While Xbox controller Configurator support is not yet available within Steam’s current public build, players can opt into the Steam beta client through the “Account” tab within Steam’s user settings. From there, Xbox controller users can click the “Change…” option within the “Beta participation” section and choose the “Steam Beta Update” option from the drop-down menu in order to secure beta client access.

Users who wish to configure generic X-input controllers will need to take a couple of extra steps in order to get Steam to recognize alternate input devices. After entering Big Picture Mode, generic input devices can be enabled under the “Controller Settings” tab in the settings menu. Users will then need to right-click individual game titles and navigate to the “Controller Configuration” menu under the “Manage Game” option to enable controller customization.

Valve has not yet issued a public launch date for its expanded Controller Configurator compatibility. Given that DualShock 4 controller support hit Steam’s public client roughly one month after its beta branch debut, however, Xbox 360 and Xbox One controller support will likely arrive within a similar timeframe.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Danny Cowan
Danny Cowan
Contributor
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
You don’t need an Xbox Series X to play Starfield. Here’s how
Key art for Starfield

Starfield is the highest-profile Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S game since Halo Infinite, but the game isn't locked to those two consoles. Thanks to cloud gaming and Microsoft's more open-ended mentality of making its games available on a wide variety of platforms, you don't have to own one of Microsoft's current-gen systems or have the Xbox app installed on your PC.
No, it's not on PS5 or Nintendo Switch, but if you want to play Starfield while it's at the center of the video game industry zeitgeist, here are some places where it's playable other than the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series X, and Xbox PC app.
Steam

The most obvious choice if you want to play Starfield elsewhere is to pick it up on Steam. While Microsoft does have a proprietary PC launcher of its own, Microsoft now consistently releases its own games through Valve's launcher. Bethesda joined Xbox Game Studios in 2021 and has a long history of making its games available on Steam as well, so it's not too surprising that Starfield is available on the platform.
Starfield already proving quite popular on the platform too, having peaked at 266,000 concurrent players, according to SteamDB at the time I'm writing this. If you're looking for a way to play Starfield natively on the hardware you own without using a Microsoft platform or service, this is your best option. It'll run on Steam Deck too, although that's not the only way to experience Starfield on the go.
Xbox Game Pass app on Android

Read more
Steam Deck 2? This leak suggests Valve is working on new hardware
Steam Deck sitting on a pink background.

An exciting piece of gossip just dropped, and it might have something to do with the Steam Deck -- or it could be something else entirely. We're talking about a mysterious new device made by Valve that has just received radio certification from the South Korea National Radio Research Agency. Code-named "RC-V1V-1030," the product is referred to as a "low-power wireless device." What's Valve up to now?

The problem is that it could be nearly anything. Aside from a Steam Deck 2, or perhaps even just a refresh to the existing console, Valve has expressed interest in making a new virtual reality (VR) gaming headset to follow up on the Valve Index. Even an updated Steam Controller fits the description. The only thing to be learned from the certification is that the device uses 5GHz Wi-Fi, which could apply to all three of those potential products.

Read more
Rebuild your own nostalgia with this detailed Xbox 360 toy set
xbox 360 mega building set replica

Although Microsoft is shutting down the Xbox 360 Store next year and definitely wants you to pick up its newest console for Starfield, it has still found a new way to appeal to the nostalgia of Xbox 360 players. It's doing so through the new Mega Showcase Microsoft Xbox 360 Collector Building Set, which will be available this October.

This set will be available starting on October 8 and will cost you $150 dollars; that said, you'll only be able to pick one up at Target. Mega makes Lego-like replica models of things for people to build, and this one is intricately designed to look like the launch version of Xbox 360. It's at 3:4 scale and made up of 1342 pieces. With it, players can build a version of the Xbox 360, a controller, and a case and disc for Halo 3. Even the packaging it comes in looks like the boxes Xbox 360 consoles came in at release. 
Once built, this model will actually have working lights and a disc drive, as well as a hard drive and side shell panels that are removable. It obviously won't be able to play actual Xbox 360 games, but it still looks like a faithful recreation of Microsoft's classic game console. This is far from the first time we've seen video games and their consoles branch over into the work of buildable toys, as Nintendo patterned with Lego to create various Mario sets as well as a replica NES.
The Mega Showcase Microsoft Xbox 360 Collector Building Set releases exclusively at Target on October 8.

Read more