r/SteamController • u/zinarayr • 2d ago
Discussion Buttons
Hello, is it possible to add more buttons on the controller? And what would that require, im mostly talking about the software side of things, ty!
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u/coatlakuma 1d ago
I'd like to add to other answer that the trackpads are essentially nine buttons that can be bound to separate actions if needed, which allows you to increase the number of actions without any intervention
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/steam_controller/touch_menus
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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1d ago
With trackpads can have 4 buttons each. A layer switch can make that another 4 each. The controller already has enough input. Why would you want to add more.
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u/zinarayr 1d ago
Thats good tip but still i want some buttons in a more comoftable place for me
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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1d ago
Then explain how will you be able to program them. You won't be able to use the extra buttons in steam input.
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u/zinarayr 1d ago
i was hoping you guys know, i guess ill sold them into something else
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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1d ago
Most people won't know on how to do this. You could ask in r/SteamControllerMods for some ideas. Just don't get your hopes up.
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u/GimpyGeek Steam Controller (Windows) 1d ago
If you're talking about touch menus there's multiple variants you could actually put 16 binds on each layer. Well I'm assuming it's the same as the old SC anyway, which had that many.
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u/Xx_Zero97_xX Steam Controller (2026) 1d ago
No I'm talking about changing the trackpad into a button pad. A radial menu has 6 or 9 i believe, while the touch menu has 16.
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u/GimpyGeek Steam Controller (Windows) 1d ago
Ahh in that case then yes. But yeah lot of input potential on those suckers!
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u/AlbertoVermicelli 1d ago
Are you talking about adding actual, real, physical buttons that work to the controller? Because that's an insane amount of work. It would require writing new firmware for the microcontroller inside the controller (and presumably replacing the motherboard and firmware as well as I doubt it just has available points to add extra buttons to) , writing firmware for your own custom dongle (if you want wireless), and either create your own equivalent of Steam Input or modify Steam to accept a new type of controller ("Just" using the SDL3 protocol wouldn't do much as there aren't really any programs that support SDL3 and can make use of more buttons than the Steam Controller has already).
The "simple" thing to do would be to add dummy microswitches to the trigger so you can simulate dual stage triggers by taking advantage of Steam Input's Full Pull implementation.