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SPECIFICTION
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Steam Input

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Spec score 7.4 #11 of 19 in Game DRM Software

What it is

Steam Input is a controller configurator built into the Steam client. It processes supported device input according to a player's settings before passing it to a game or application. Supported controllers include Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Pro, PlayStation 3, and DirectInput gamepads. Players can create multiple per-game configurations and share them online, with settings available through the Steam desktop client or Big Picture mode. For games using the Steam Input API, Native mode supplies named actions and lets games check which physical controls are assigned. For games without API support, Legacy mode maps controller input to keyboard, mouse, or gamepad input. That can cause glitches in games that expect mouse and gamepad activity to remain separate, and on-screen control glyphs may not match the assigned inputs. Developers can use the action-based API to define game actions and action sets. Steam Input is free; Steamworks is a free suite of tools for developers making games or software on Steam.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Steam Input is the umbrella term for the software, hardware, and configuration utilities Steam uses to interface with games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Intended users
The documentation describes Steam Input guidance for players configuring controllers and developers adding controller support to games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
API
The Steam Input API is an action-based API that supports Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Pro, and Steam Controllers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Support
The Steamworks documentation links to Steam Support for contacting support.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Headquarters
Bellevue, Washington, USARead 23 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Founded
1996Read 23 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Built-in configurator
The Steam Input Configurator is built into the Steam client and translates input from a device according to the player's settings before passing it to a game or application.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Community configurations
Players can publish controller configurations publicly, and developers can designate configurations as official for their games.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Configuration guidance
Steam no longer recommends Steam Workshop for managing official configurations in new titles and recommends bundling Action Manifest Files with game depots.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Configuration modes
Input source modes include mouse, joystick, scroll wheel, touch menu, mouse region, and radial menu modes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Controller support
The configurator supports major controllers including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Pro, PlayStation 3, and DirectInput gamepads.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Custom mappings
Players can create multiple customized controller configurations for a game and share them online.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Customization
Steam Input's developer guidance says games should allow players to customize controls and mix mouse, keyboard, and gamepad input simultaneously.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Developer integration
The Steam Input API lets developers communicate directly with the Steam Input Configurator in Native mode; the API is not required for Legacy mode.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Free tools suite
Steamworks is described as a free suite of tools available to developers for games or software on Steam.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Game actions
Developers can define in-game actions and action sets so players bind controller inputs to game actions instead of keys or buttons.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Input types
Recognized physical input examples include buttons, joysticks, D-pads, triggers, trackballs, trackpads, and gyroscopes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Legacy bindings
For games without native Steam Input API support, players can bind controller inputs to keyboard, mouse, or gamepad inputs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Legacy mode
Legacy mode maps physical inputs to other inputs for games that have not implemented the Steam Input API.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Legacy mode limitation
Legacy configurations can cause glitches in games that assume gamepad and mouse controls will not be active at the same time, and their on-screen controller glyphs may not match the configured inputs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Maker location
Valve says it makes its products collaboratively in Bellevue, Washington.Read 30 Sep 2026 · valvesoftware.com
Native mode
In Native mode, games receive named actions from the configurator and can query which physical controls are bound to those actions to display suitable on-screen glyphs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Player setup
Players can access controller settings through the Steam desktop client or Big Picture mode.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com
Supported devices
Steam Input covers the Steam Controller and third-party devices supported by the system.Read 30 Sep 2026 · partner.steamgames.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Built into the Steam client.
  • Supports major controller families.
  • Players can create and share per-game configurations.
  • Native mode provides named actions to supported games.
  • Free to use.

Limits

  • Legacy mappings can cause control conflicts.
  • Legacy mode glyphs may not match configured inputs.
  • Native mode requires game integration with the API.

Who it suits

Steam Input suits players configuring supported controllers and developers adding controller support to games. Developers can use its API for Native mode; Legacy mappings are available for games without API support.

Verdict

Steam Input offers both game-aware action mapping and Legacy input translation, with player configuration and sharing. The Legacy mode caveats matter for games that expect mouse and gamepad inputs to remain separate.

Where Specifiction places it

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