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I wish the Steam Controller used AA batteries (lemmy.world)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
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Based on the description on their site, the controller includes a built-in battery: "8.39 Wh Li-ion battery​, 35+ hours of gameplay... "

That was disappointing for me. Specially condidering the Steam Frame's controllers make use of AA batteries: "​One replaceable AA battery per controller, ​ 40hr battery life​"

AA Batteries might not be as convenient to use, but being able to replace them is a great advantage. All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3' Dualshock 3s.

The official docking station could be used to recharge (rechargables) AA batteries so the functionality could remain the same.

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[+] -7 points 10 months ago (12 children)

No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you're playing on.

You do if you want it to connect to the thing you're playing on.

Unless you're ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I'm guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.

You can't tell me playing with a Bluetooth controller doesn't actually hurt you. The constant latency is excruciating.

Then again, I use it for mostly real time- based games.

If you're playing something like Balatro it probably doesn't matter. But for almost everything else it sure does.

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  • [–] 5 points 10 months ago (4 children)

    I use Bluetooth on TrackMania with no issues, and that's a pretty fast game. Top 500 in the country for this week's shorts as well so it's clearly not my limiting factor.

    Maybe for a twitch shooter it'd be an issue but that's kbm anyway

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  • [–] 0 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    For one, as far as I know that's a single player game. Anyone with other players around means constant slight readjustments, and having everything you do held back (even if only a tenth of a second- I don't know the actual number, that's a ballpark guesstimate) really adds up.

    For almost every game it doesn't matter a whole lot. But when it does, it really matters. Bluetooth headphones pad the audio a smidge too, to the point of rather play without sound instead of late audio. It causes constant sending guessing, and if you're using both your leaky playing in a game state that's already past (although when online you always are anyway but cutting as much out as possible is miles better).

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago

    Trackmania requires the same precision as other racing games (I also used controller for Forza horizon and motorsport).

    Bluetooth audio is a different issue, where my bt speaker adds like 400ms which.. is not suitable for anything where accurate sound matters. Even my bt headset that is meant to be good is uhh.. flawed. But noise is far more obvious than a controller being a tiny bit out.

    My controller I can't tell the difference.

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  • [–] 0 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    So... is it an obsession to want to be at least <100? Asking for myself. Send help :D

    I get consistently better results on steamdeck vs PC due to lower controller latency.

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  • [–] 5 points 10 months ago

    A couple of things, first no, I don't feel the latency of a Bluetooth controller. But also the steam controller will be able to pair to multiple devices, in one of the interviews one of the engineers said "The steam Machine has its own antena, but each controller comes with its own puck, we expect the common use case to be to plug that to your PC and use the steam controller in both devices"

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago* (3 children)

    I have to say, this situation has improved enough that I've had no problem using BT controller connection.

    We're talking about games like Elden Ring, Enter the Gungeon, MGS:Snake Eater Delta.. and reaction time definitely matters for those games. One controller even came with a 2.4ghz 1000hz dongle, and it seems the new controller will probably have an option like that if the GabeGear has the hardware built into it: "Steam Controller's wireless adapter is built right into Steam Machine for direct pairing."

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (2 children)

    I realize that. But that's just for that machine, but I'm speaking for arbitrary devices.

    The protocol hasn't gotten faster in the last few years that I know of.

    I've used several with different devices, but most of my direct comparison experience is with an Xbox series X controller paired to the Deck via BT and by dongle, and it's very noticeably more laggy with Bluetooth. I've only occasionally tried others, but every Bluetooth-connected controller I've ever used definitely has a noticeable delay.

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago* (1 child)

    But the controller comes with the high speed wireless puck. That puck works on anything. I don’t see the problem.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago*

    My point (the part I quoted in my original reply) was that you would need the puck plugged into the device you're playing on, assuming you don't want to deal with the delay.

    So if that's not a problem for you, then that doesn't apply, but I assume most people will want the fast connection.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (1 child)

    You do if you want it to connect to the thing you're playing on.

    Unless you're ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I'm guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.

    Okay, but I think that that kind of misses the broader context. This only came up as a hypothetical for how one could discharge a controller. If you're playing on a wired connection, then the console is charging thr controller and the issue never comes up in the first place.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago

    No, this came up from talking about how it (the puck) doesn't have to be connected to the device you're playing on. Which outside of Bluetooth or using a steam machine, you would have to have it connected.

    Directly wired hasn't come up at all until you just mentioned it.

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