[BlueTemplar]

On PC, or on Windows ?

This is something to watch : we'll see how much Valve actually cares about Linux (and libre software/hardware in general) compared to just using it to get rid of Windows : will they make their new controller API SteamOS exclusive ?

(How well do Steam Link and Steam Controller work without Steam ?)

[ThatPlayer]

I'd say on PC because it's easier to name the modern controller protocols that aren't Xinput: Nintendo, Sony, and Steam. Except for Steam, the first two aren't targeting PCs. Basically every other controller targeting PC from the old Logitech F710 to the Flydigi Apex 4 will be using XInput to communicate with the computer. Even the Hori Steam Controller has an alternative XInput mode despite being the only current standalone Steam Controller.

Steam Link the streaming application does require the Steam. Steam Link the discontinued hardware was able to run local applications without Steam.

The Steam Controller defaults to a keyboard and mouse mode until it receives a signal from Steam. So even on Linux, the Steam controller required Steam to function as a controller until the protocol was reverse engineered. Can read about it in the driver comment header, and the Valve copyright that didn't get added until they contributed support for the Deck controller in these drivers : https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/hid/hi...

[BlueTemplar]

Thanks for the information.

(I recently started again regularly using both the hardware Steam Link and the original Steam Controller - funnily enough, for a non-Steam game - I'll have to check out what people have hacked over the years...)

[Vilian]

They didn't made proton exclusive why would they do it with input