Steam Sees Controller Usage Rise and Launches Game Recording Beta
– 2 min read
Since 2018, the use of controllers for games on Steam has tripled. Valve is talking about an average of 15 percent daily controller usage. In addition, the beta for the integrated video recording and sharing feature has been launched.
More and more people playing PC games on Steam are using a controller to play. Since 2018, average daily controller usage has tripled from approximately five per cent to up to 15 per cent. Approximately 42 per cent of these controller sessions use Steam Input. "Steam Input is a service allowing Steam users to play any controller-supported game with the device of their choice. Steam Input will translates the user's input into something the game understands through either Gamepad Emulation, Mouse and Keyboard Emulation, or Steam Input API," says the Steamworks Documentation.
59 per cent of controller input sessions are played with Xbox controllers, 26 per cent with PlayStation controllers, and ten per cent with Steam decks. Regarding the support of PlayStation controllers, Valve writes: "We worked with Sony to improve support for PS controllers including DualSense Edge, and can now automatically support future 3rd party licensed PlayStation gamepads." The company writes about Xbox controller support: "We shipped a driver for Windows allowing us to better support Xbox One controllers, including the rear buttons on the Xbox Elite Controllers."
When Steam Input is implemented in a game, players can use any one of over 300 supported controllers to play, according to Valve Software. "We also recently added support for the new Horipad for Steam (available in Japan later this summer), and worked with Hori's team to make their controller work well with Steam Input," says the platform operator.
In addition, the game recording beta has been launched. Steam Game Recording captures the gameplay of games played through the Steam client. It won't capture video from the desktop or other programs, but it's possible to include audio from other programs, such as voice chats. It supports background or on-demand recording. Valve Software: "The Steam Timeline appears whenever you're actively recording. Timeline-enhanced games generate event markers as relevant game events happen. Steam achievements and screenshots automatically create markers as well. (...) Games may choose to support event markers on the Steam Timeline. As we start the beta, the following games have implemented timeline markers: Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2." Videos can be exported (*.mp4) and shared via Steam or with a temporary link.
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