TECH NEWS – TommyB took to YouTube to show his vision for a next-generation Steam Controller, a product that Valve no longer manufactures.

While the original Steam Controller is no longer produced, its influence is still present in the Steam Deck‘s design and Valve’s robust gamepad support. As Valve has yet to announce a successor, TommyB took the initiative and created the Steam Controller 2—built for fans of dual touchpads.

He reshaped the Steam Deck controls and replaced the screen with 3D-printed connectors in various forms. Like the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, the controller splits into two. One of the most impressive aspects is TommyB’s custom-designed trackpad, featuring a capacitive chip originally meant for R&D purposes, integrated into a layout that perfectly fits Steam Deck specs. According to TommyB, buying a Steam Deck trackpad isn’t possible, and even if it were, integration would be unclear.

All components used were either bought or 3D printed: an ExtremeRate Steam Deck OLED shell cut to fit, custom 3D-printed connectors, replacement buttons and sensors from iFixit, gulikit Hall Effect analog sticks, an Adafruit dev board, and batteries for both sides of the controller.

TommyB also wrote a custom firmware for the controller and published it on GitHub for anyone interested in building their own Steam Controller 2. The prototype may look unusual, but it is fully functional. Future improvements include replacing the Adafruit board with a cheaper, custom-built version and refining the controller’s ergonomics. The varying angles and combinations of connectors sparked new design ideas for him.

The video below proves that fan-made solutions can sometimes rival factory-made designs.

Source: PCGamer