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by nerdjon 43 days ago
I don't buy that argument completely, nothing would be stoping them from just not bundling the drivers with Steam and also not requiring that I launch games through steam (if that is true).

While we could argue about the state of Windows, Steam also did not have to engineer it this way and the requirement of launching through Steam feels deliberate.

From what I can find, as others have mentioned, the 8BitDo controllers don't require Steam to be running to work. I presume the PS5 controller likely also does not (I will test this later)
2 comments
retired 43 days ago
On both macOS and Windows I have used borrowed PS4 and 8BitDo controllers and I can confirm that you do not need a Sony/8BitDo user account or any of their software running in the background for the controller to work.
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nerdjon 43 days ago
I only tried one game, but I just tried plugging my PS5 controller into my PC and it worked without needing to install anything in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and Steam is not running so it isn't Steam Input handling it.

My PC may have installed something on its own, but I did not.

However I don't have an issue if there is a driver, the requirement of Steam running and apparently launching the game through steam is the issue here.

Edit:

I just realized I completely missed the not in your message:

> I can confirm that you do not need a Sony/8BitDo user account or any of their software running in the background for the controller to work.

so I guess my reply was not necessary, I need more coffee...

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arcfour 41 days ago
> I don't buy that argument completely

"I refuse to accept reality, you are wrong."

You don't have to launch games through steam and the controller works fine, just like a normal controller. However if you want to take full advantage of all of the controller's features and be able to remap buttons easily then you can use Steam Input which tries to unify the awful mess that is input device standards across platforms and games.

If you don't want to then there are other options to take full advantage of the features like sc-controller. However this is not as user friendly as using Steam Input.

It's generally a good idea to read and understand before freaking out and getting outraged and spreading FUD.

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