Xbox Remains The Controller Of Choice For Steam Users

As of June 2024, 59% of users are playing with an Xbox controller, 26% are on PlayStation controllers and 10% are using Steam Deck controls (aka Steam Decks). Again, it's not really surprising Microsoft's controller is out in front, as the tech giant has given it native support across Windows operating systems (the platform Steam is primarily used on).

[TheNamelessOne]

I really like the series controller, but I'm still rocking the Steam controller for most titles. It's an interesting controller. Takes a bit of getting used to but, when you do, it just works so damn well for most games.

[Cacabunga]

Lol xbox finding comfort in this news

[rlow1]

Love the insecurity

[darthv72]

I use one to, when my steam deck is docked. Pretty interesting design choices there.

When I play steam on my desktop... I use a wired 360 controller

[BoneMagnus]

The 360 controller is still my all-time favorite.

[1Victor]

I read the headline and thought oh nice I wonder who wrote it CLICK purexbox🤦🏿
Btw I been told by “PCgamers” that they don’t use controllers because KB&M is superior 🤷🏿.
Congrats to Microsoft I guess at least they’re beating Sony somewhere 🤣

[peppeaccardo]

DS4 all the way

[Einhander1972]

This article has major skew in how, they (purexbox.com) are presenting information provided by Valve to show how Microsoft's control is actually decreasing.

Keep in mind that at one point xbox controller was 90%+. For example before the DS4, PlayStation controllers represented less than 1% of users on Steam. So, a more interesting chart would be to show how Microsoft's lock on controllers on PC has been broken by other devices. Next year at this time maybe they'll be down to 50%

[S2Killinit]

Also should be noted that the Dualsense features are not available on PC. (As far as Im aware)

[Einhander1972]

Yes they are, PlayStation PC games and many other games support it.

[Tacoboto]

Deathloop, back in 2021, had DualSense features in the PC version.
They're only available with a wired connection to PC and Sony does a good job of including them in every PS Studios release. Third parties have been less consistent but some do include it with PC ports.

[Hotpot]

Also everytime I play with my handheld PC (Rog Ally) or 3rd party controller (such as from 8bitdo), the steam apps recognized it as Xbox controller. So the numbers of actual Xbox controller is definitely lower than the article stated.

[Rude-ro]

Xbox is the only controller registered by license on steam.

Ie if you plug a PlayStation controller in, you get Xbox prompts.

[Einhander1972]

That is not true at all, these days the majority of games have PlayStation prompts.

Any game made in Unity or UE or any of the most common engines will enable PlayStation support.

I'm surprised people still think this, heck Steam itself posted these statistics, purexbox is just reporting what they said.

Edit: Ya know Steam had it's own controller and they certainly registered it...

[Obscure_Observer]

Xbox controllers are simple awesome.

[purple101]

https://www.google.com/sear...

They’re smaller than last gen
The rumble hasn’t changed (it’s only in the triggers and feels like 1000 wasps buzzing in a tin can)

I have big hands, many other adults do too, by making them fit smaller hands they are now making them worse for adult sized hands

Build quality has reduced since 360 when they were made of a more solid plastic.

To say they are awesome is incorrect, if it were the only controller on the market, yes, but as we compare it against dualsense, it falls flat, very flat

[Stevonidas]

In the time it took you to type that response, your dualsense battery went to zero.

[Einhander1972]

Stevonidas

The if you buy a PS5 controller today it will have a 16 hour battery.

PlayStation even put out a release discussing this and I can confirm that my Cobalt Blue lasts 16 hours.

[BeHunted]

@Stevonidas

The Dualsense battery life will reduce overtime. The more Dualsense features you use on a game, the faster the battery drains.

That's why I prefer rechargeable batteries that will last for over 30 hours.

[Einhander1972]

BeHunted

Rechargeable AAA batteries are measured in charges, the half life on many of those things is just a few months depending on how much you use them.

My DS4 launch controller still holds a 10-12 hour charge which was about 16 when it was new. My launch DS5 controller still lasts around 8 hours.

The cost of ownership is much higher on an xbox controller because of the batteries.

And the battery on DS4 and DS5 controllers is really easy to replace, the back comes off and the battery is right there.

[Reaper22_]

I have big hands too and it's fine. I'm 6ft 6 inches 240lbs. It still fits better in my hands than dual sense. There's no real comparison here. Xbox controller is just better.

[Zeref]

I have big hands. No issue. My thumbs bump into eachother on the PlayStation controllers.
Xbox controllers are just better.

[DivineHand125]

How can you complain about the Xbox controller's size and then praise the dual sense when they are almost the same size. The Dual sense is like maybe half an inch wider and it is hardly noticeable. Sometimes I even take up the Xbox controller to control the PlayStation by accident if I store it in the same place as the dual sense and it is only when I look down that I realize I have the wrong controller.

There is a major reason the Xbox controller and 3rd party look-alikes are the controllers of choice on PC and that is the wide support it has compared to the dual sense. I haven't used the dual sense on PC games but one of the most annoying things I experienced in the past is that when I use PlayStation controllers on PC, the button prompts on the screen were usually 1 to 10 instead of the PlayStation symbols. This is very distracting compared to the Xbox controller accurately showing the correct button prompts.

[Hypertension140]

@Obscure

The only reason why I use an Xbox controller for my PC is because it's compatible with most games. Otherwise I've would've used the dualsense and never looked back.

[phoenixwing]

This is the real truth. Xbox controllers have better compatibility due to Microsoft being the owner of Windows. If that weren't the case and compatibility was equal I would have hooked up the dualsense right away

[InUrFoxHole]

They really are.

[1Victor]

@obscured = w4: “Dualsense has been the biggest let down of this generation after raytracing.”
🤦🏿 again with this don’t forget to agree with yourself 🤣
Anyways it good to have choices 🤷🏿

[TheColbertinator]

Best controller since most games with controller support handle it good.

[Reaper22_]

The Xbox controller is just better. Always has been and will probably stay that way until sony decides to move those sticks. It's one of the reason I prefer to play on xbox. The sticks are placed just right and it feels better in your hand.

[S2Killinit]

Not at all. The dualsense is much better in every sense. And that is not even considering Dualsense’s features/tech.

[DivineHand125]

You can't compare the dual-sense battery with the Xbox controller. By adding large-capacity rechargeable batteries inside, you will get a battery life that is significantly longer than the dual sense. In addition to that, if the battery in the Xbox controller dies you can swap it out with a full battery in a few seconds while with a Dual Sense, you will need to own multiple controllers to maintain long gaming sessions.

[S2Killinit]

But you have a wire that you can connect to the PS5 and charge while You play… I dont get it, are you trying to argue that xbox controller having AA batteries is a positive???

[DivineHand125]

I don't game with a wire connected to my controllers. It is too much of a hazard if someone trips over it and it may drag something that shouldn't be dragged. I also stay at least 10 feet away from my TV, it would be too cumbersome to use a cord at that distance. That is why I own more than 1 dual sense controllers.

I also see that you are intentionally trying to downplay the Xbox controller by mentioning AA batteries when I clearly mentioned that large capacity rechargeable batteries can be used. I personally don't know anyone that uses AA batteries as most persons with wireless Xbox controllers are aware that those batteries exist.

You will not understand until you own an Xbox console for a period of time, but I personally prefer removable rechargeable batteries over built in ones.

[andy85]

Completely the opposite for me. My thumbs aren't in different places on my hands. It feels unnatural. I use one on my laptop simply for the fact it's far more compatible. And 'better'. It doesn't have one feature that is better tbh. It feels like I'm using a controller from 2013...which tbh I am given it doesn't really have any new features over the Xbox One controller.

[P_Bomb]

My Xbox controllers feel like cheap plastic. The dpad is trash and the rumble is pretty bad too.

[DivineHand125]

That statement used to be true in the past but the dpad issue has been resolved with the series controller. It is not possible to comfortably play fighting games. Not sure what you mean by the rumble being bad because the Dual sense of the game doesn't support haptic feedback, the vibrations are inferior to the DS4 controller.

To this date, there has not been a game that supports the haptic feedback support we got from Astro's playroom.

[Evan_Beezy]

Yea I really don’t understand ppl that want their thumb stretched sideways just to push forward in most games. I’m convinced most ppl don’t even know what they feel is most comfortable even though it should be completely obvious your thumb pushing forward should be more angled to do so. This is exactly why I went through an entire phase looking for a split analog stick PlayStation controller just to find out Sony has removed the ability for any third parties to use their dual sense features smh. FML. Now I want PC but I concede overall 360 controller was the best

[Valkyrye]

Gotta be down real bad to be bragging about this. I own both and I use one or the other depending on what game I'm playing. Does steam count me as both or just one?

[Knightofelemia]

I use an Xbox controller when playing L4D2 I tried to keyboard and mouse it I just can't do it. I just went with the Xbox controller because one third party controller I used only lasted for 2 hrs then took a shit on me. The controller works good for me and what I use it for I don't game a lot on pc.

[andy85]

I use one personally on laptop but it's only because I have to because I don't like that DS4 PS thingy for PC. I'm guessing this is the reason for a long. The plug and play for XB controllers is great, just a shame about the actual controller

[InUrFoxHole]

Best form out

[rippermcrip]

Well they certainly aren't using it to play on Xbox.

[Lexreborn2]

I alternate controllers on the games support, a lot of games don’t support ps5 controllers so I use the Xbox instead if not. No real preference for me just options

[mkis007]

At least for me its only because it's more difficult to use the dualsense on pc. Not sure how much of this is on sony and how much is on the platform being owned by ms. I don't believe games on pc even have ps button overlays. Even without the enhanced features, I just like how dualsense feels.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

I mean, the PlayStation controller has a ton of features that don’t work on PC, so you’d be better off getting a $40 standard black Xbox controller.

[StoneTitan]

What features are those? I would guess its only the touchpad no? The rumble and the adaptive triggers work.

[VariantAEC]

Adaptive triggers do not work across the board in all PC games I'm not sure why all the sudden everyone is acting like they do just because all of PS ports on PC support them only.when the controller is wired up. Ask me how I know.

The touch pad not working on PC is a miss too, especially since it works on phones when DS4 or DualSense is connected via BT (probably when wired too, but I don't wire my controllers to my phone).

[PhillyDonJawn]

Best controller

[ZeekQuattro]

My go to controller for emulation on my computer.

[franwex]

Yeah. That’s what i predominantly use for pc games. It feels strange to play PlayStation games with it for sure.

I know I can use DualShocks for pc, but I don’t. Like most people I exclusively use them only for PlayStation.

[lelo2play]

Xbox controllers are normally the best for PC...
It just works.

[SaltDaddy]

🔥

[VariantAEC]

If DualSense was supported natively on an OS or per game basis on PC in basically all games the same way Xbox Controllers are. It would be my go to controller on PC. I already prefer DualSense to DS4 to play PS4 games and to play games on my phone, PC is the next frontier for PS controller dominance... again.

Supplemental text:
I don't really count those older Logitech controllers being much different than PS DualShock and DualSense Controllers and I'm actually kind of shocked PS didn't sue Logi for using such a similar controller design, but back when those gamepads were popular I wasn't gaming on PC much. When I returned to PC in a small way in 2009 or so. I used the Xbox 360 controllers due to widespread support and when I returned to PC gaming again in 2017 in a slightly bigger way I switched to the Xbox One gamepad again due to widespread support. Despite the DualShock 4 and DualSense having largely the same button configuration as the Xbox One Controller in the Windows Joypad app almost no games support DualShock 4 and it took quite a bit of time before PS5's DualSense received more robust OS level support. When PS started porting PS games to PC, PC gamers started realizing how impressive DualSense really is.

I have no experience with any of Valve's Controllers or Steam Deck though I initially pre-ordered a Steam Deck.

[gold_drake]

i wish those damn xbox controllers wouldnt be so damn loud tho lol everytime i move the stick is so distracting. even pressing the buttons.

[DivineHand125]

I agree with the annoying sounds they make. I think it is done intentionally because most controller reviews seem to grant extra points for clickyness.

[gold_drake]

really? my god ha.

i get it with keyboards but theres nothing more annoying than tjose sounds on a controller

[OneLove]

Of course. This will never change.

[Fonsecap]

I use between Ps5 and Xbox controllers, for Sony games and the ones who support dualsense (ex.cp2077) features I use dualsense, for the other games I use the Xbox series controller.

[Zeref]

I wonder where the hell the Elite Series 3 is? My Elite Series 2 is starting to get worn out after 3 years. I want a meaningful upgrade instead of just buying another one.

[Crows90]

Not the one on the pic though. The base Xbox controller is affordable and good enough. How many fps PC players use controller is what I'm wondering.

[babadivad]

It's the best controller design.

[Blad3runner00]

Not surprised.

Just from a simple ergonomic perspective, the Xbox controller is excellent.
Probably the only real weakness with Playstation is their controller (still fine to use), which has an outdated design, going back to the PS1 days, when the DPAd was still the primary control method (hence why it was in the primary location). Things have changed and the analog stick is now the primary control, yet Sony have not updated their controller to reflect this. (DPad is still in the primary location)