I have a love-hate relationship with controllers, and the Steam Controller is no exception. While my preference of peripherals leans more towards the more conservative choices, i.e keyboard and mouse for most things and specialized controllers for specific games (think a fight stick, DK bongos, or a steering wheel,) the Steam Controller did actually surprise me. I use it rarely nowadays, mostly sticking to my Hyperkin Duke, but it was nice for the few games I played while using it.

Pros:

-Probably one of the best controllers for non-game application.

-Works considerably well laid back, more casual games

-Weighty. One of my heavier controllers. It's a lot heavier than my Hyperkin Duke, which has been my go-to for Forza, BeamNG.drive and so on

-The dual track-pads aren't as bad as you'd think

-Lots of room for configuration + user-created configs

Cons:

-While weighty, it feels very cheap. When compared to the Hyperkin Duke, an Xbox 360 controller, an Xbox One controller, a Gamecube controller, Dualshock, or anything in between, there is a noticeable lower build quality. The build quality is not the worst I've seen, that being the newer Nintendo Switch Gamecube Pro-Controllers. Their plastic is cheap and it feels brittle, but the Steam Controller feels a tad bit more durable.

-Lack of practical application as a general game controller. Excels at certain games, i.e City Skylines, but is bad at others.

-Optional wireless dongle is incredibly small and prone to get lost if you don't keep it plugged in or with all of your tech gizmos

Things to note:

This controller does have a higher learning curve than your standard controller, as its maneuverability can be taxing for some when initially learning how to use the controller. The dual track-pads do take time to learn, and properly configuring your controller for each game is a must. The controller supports wired and wireless use.

I do highly recommend you pick up a Steam Controller on the caveat that you get it when it is on sale as I do not think its industry standard 50 USD value is worth what you receive. This is a highly situational controller, but is still a rather decent purchase if you're willing to learn how to use it. It'll arrive to you in a sleek black box, proudly wearing the Steam logo, with blue-ish interior.

[h1] One of the oddest controllers you'll ever use. [/h1] [b] I have a love-hate relationship with controllers, and the Steam Controller is no exception. While my preference of peripherals leans more towards the more conservative choices, i.e keyboard and mouse for most things and specialized controllers for specific games (think a fight stick, DK bongos, or a steering wheel,) the Steam Controller did actually surprise me. I use it rarely nowadays, mostly sticking to my Hyperkin Duke, but it was nice for the few games I played while using it.[/b] [b]Pros:[/b] -Probably one of the best controllers for non-game application. -Works considerably well laid back, more casual games -Weighty. One of my heavier controllers. It's a lot heavier than my Hyperkin Duke, which has been my go-to for Forza, BeamNG.drive and so on -The dual track-pads aren't as bad as you'd think -Lots of room for configuration + user-created configs [b]Cons:[/b] -While weighty, it feels very cheap. When compared to the Hyperkin Duke, an Xbox 360 controller, an Xbox One controller, a Gamecube controller, Dualshock, or anything in between, there is a noticeable lower build quality. The build quality is not the worst I've seen, that being the newer Nintendo Switch Gamecube Pro-Controllers. Their plastic is cheap and it feels brittle, but the Steam Controller feels a tad bit more durable. -Lack of practical application as a general game controller. Excels at certain games, i.e City Skylines, but is bad at others. -Optional wireless dongle is incredibly small and prone to get lost if you don't keep it plugged in or with all of your tech gizmos [b]Things to note:[/b] This controller does have a higher learning curve than your standard controller, as its [b]maneuverability[/b] can be taxing for some when initially learning how to use the controller. The dual track-pads do take time to learn, and properly configuring your controller for each game is a must. The controller supports wired and wireless use. [h1]All that being said...[/h1] I do highly recommend you pick up a Steam Controller on the caveat that you get it when it is [b]on sale[/b] as I do not think its industry standard 50 USD value is worth what you receive. This is a highly situational controller, but is still a rather decent purchase if you're willing to learn how to use it. It'll arrive to you in a sleek black box, proudly wearing the Steam logo, with blue-ish interior.