We waited 10 years for THIS?? - HORIPAD Steam Controller
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Promos
Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code SHORTCIRCUIT and get 60% off an annual plan at incogni.com It's been 10 long years since Valve released the Steam Controller and they've finally released something new... kinda. Hori licensed the Steam logo and created a new integrated controller, but with missing features, questionable build quality, and frustrating limitations, you have to wonder why Valve wanted to be a part of this. Buy a Hori HORIPAD Steam Controller: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Want us to unbox something? Make a suggestion at lmg.gg ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 It's been awhile 0:24 Unboxing 0:50 Features and button feel/build quality impressions 5:17 Sponsor - Icogni 5:50 Setup and software woes 11:36 Gaming impressions 12:43 Pricing and Overall thoughts 13:50 Outro
We waited ten years for a successor to the Steam Controller, and this HORIPAD variant from HORI arrives as a licensed, mixed bag offering. The unboxing shows a notably light device at about 182 grams, with an overall Xbox-like layout, asymmetric sticks, and a handful of Steam-specific function buttons. Initial impressions focus on the build quality, where the plastic feel is surprisingly flimsy and the triggers and D-pad come across as underwhelming, while the paddles are mushy and the overall package gives a sense of budget construction. The controller ships with a Bluetooth dongle rather than a 2.4 GHz dongle and includes a long cable for wired X-input play, highlighting a critical design choice that the reviewer questions early on. The device also integrates a number of features such as a steam mode, X input mode, gyro support, and capacitive touch pads on the sticks for gyro on/off control, aiming to strongly lean into Steam ecosystem compatibility. As the review progresses, setup is described as non-trivial due to Windows Bluetooth pairing quirks and the lack of an immediate plug-and-play experience unlike other wireless controllers. The reviewer tests the controller through Steam Big Picture Mode, explaining how the Steam button and other controls function, including how to navigate menus and access quick settings, with some skepticism about the overall software experience. In conclusion, despite some clever ideas like gyro support and a flexible input mode, the HORIPAD Steam Controller falls short on feel, precision, and value for money, with many features and experiences feeling incomplete or improperly executed, leading to a cautious verdict that it is not a strong overall recommendation. The sponsor segment interrupts the flow briefly to promote Incogni, emphasizing data privacy benefits and a discount, before returning to a final summary that reiterates the controller’s limitations and suggests looking at other options, such as a Flux or Vader 4 controller, for a better overall balance of cost, build quality, and features.
Topics · Technology · Hardware · Gaming · Reviews
Questions answered
- Is the HORIPAD Steam Controller a direct official successor to Valve's Steam Controller?
- No, it is not an official Steam Controller successor. It is a HORI licensed product that borrows the Steam logo and aims to integrate with Steam, but it is a third party device with its own design choices and limitations.
- Does the HORIPAD support rumble and how are the triggers designed?
- The device does not include rumble, and the triggers are described as short-travel with a digital to analog toggle that may not provide satisfying analog feel, which impacts precision in certain games.
- Is the HORIPAD worth buying at its price point given its issues?
- Based on the review, the controller is not recommended for most buyers due to build quality, latency considerations, and incomplete feature execution, though gyro and Steam compatibility are highlighted as positives for a limited use case.