Using a Steam Controller

Setup guide

A Valve Steam Controller can drive in Vsimulator — but not on its own. Unlike an Xbox or PlayStation gamepad, the Steam Controller only makes sense through Steam Input, which translates it into a normal Xbox controller that your browser understands. Once that's on, the simulator sees a standard Xbox pad and it works with no extra setup on our end.

Why the extra step?

The Steam Controller has two trackpads, one thumbstick, and gyro instead of the usual two sticks. It isn't a “standard” gamepad on its own, so a browser can't map it sensibly. Steam does that translation for it — presenting a virtual Xbox controller to everything else on your computer, including Vsimulator. This applies to the original 2015 Steam Controller (the discontinued one) as well as newer Valve controllers.

Step by step

1. Install and open Steam, then connect the controller. Use its USB cable, the wireless USB dongle, or Bluetooth (on updated firmware). Open Steam → Settings → Controller and confirm the controller is listed and detected.
2. Turn on Steam Input for your browser. Pick one:
   • Easiest — desktop layout: in Steam → Settings → Controller, enable Steam Input for the desktop (in Big Picture mode this is Settings → Controller → Desktop Configuration). This applies everywhere, including your browser.
   • Or add your browser as a game: Games → Add a Non-Steam Game, choose your browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.), then launch the browser from Steam so Steam Input applies to it.
3. Choose the “Gamepad” template. In the controller layout for the desktop (or your browser), select the Gamepad template. This maps the trackpad/stick to an Xbox controller's sticks and the A B X Y / bumper buttons to their standard positions. You can fine-tune later (e.g. right trackpad → right stick).
4. Open Vsimulator's controller settings. Go to Settings → Controls → Controller. It should now show an “Xbox 360 Controller” with Standard mapping. Drive normally — and rebind any button in that panel if you'd like.

Troubleshooting

“No controller detected” in Vsimulator

Steam isn't running, or Steam Input isn't enabled for the desktop/your browser. Without Steam the Steam Controller runs in its built-in “desktop” mode — the right trackpad is a mouse and some buttons are keyboard keys — so it never appears as a gamepad. Start Steam and enable Steam Input, then reload.

It shows as a “Steam Controller” with non-standard mapping

That means the raw controller is reaching the browser without Steam's Xbox emulation. Enable Steam Input and pick the Gamepad template so Steam presents it as an Xbox pad. (If you'd rather use it as-is, you can still map the sticks by hand in the calibration section of the controller settings.)

Buttons work but the robot won't drive

Your Steam layout is sending the trackpads to the mouse instead of a stick. Switch that layout to the Gamepad template, or bind the left trackpad/stick to “Left Joystick”.

Further reading

For a deep dive on configuring the Steam Controller itself, the community Steam Controller 101 guide is a good reference. For the best plug-and-play experience in Vsimulator, an Xbox or PlayStation controller needs none of this setup.