There have always been some PC gamers who prefer to experience their favorite titles using the platform’s classic mouse and keyboard, while others play using a controller. The latter, according to a new report from Valve, has grown to 15% of all Steam players, which represents a considerable increase compared to the 5% recorded in 2018.
The company also states in the report that “the controller landscape has changed,” with 59% of Steam gamers opting for Xbox controllers, according to their data, though the report does not specify which generation they belong to. The classic Xbox 360 controller, due to its simplicity, low cost, and compatibility with Windows that allows you to plug it in and start using it right away, surely represents a significant portion of that number.
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However, the controllers in the Xbox Series To improve the gaming experience with Xbox controllers, the company behind Steam mentions the launch of a specific controller for Windows that optimizes support, including the back buttons of the Elite controls.
As for other brands, PlayStation is in second place with 26% of users. The Steam Deck, classified as a control for this analysis, represents an additional 10%. “We have worked with Sony to improve support for PS controllers, including the DualSense Edge, and can now also offer automatic compatibility with future third-party licensed controllers,” Valve notes.
The remaining 5% are made up of controls from various brands, from independent manufacturers to Nintendo. It should be noted that Steam Input, the platform’s control configuration tool, officially supports more than 300 different controllers, including the Japanese HORIPAD designed specifically for Steam.
Gabe Newell doesn’t use the classic WASD keyboard layout for gaming, opting for a new alternative, the ESDF keys “distract your hand from the home keys”
For years, the standard in the gaming world has been the use of WASD keys for navigation and movement in PC games. This setting has become deeply ingrained in gaming culture, being the preference of most gamers and the default option in many titles, despite this, some gamers are defying this established norm and opting for a less conventional alternative: the ESDF keys.
This change is not only gaining popularity, but it is also generating passionate debates about the advantages and disadvantages of this new setup. The surprise increases further when prominent figures in the industry, such as Gabe Newell, the co-founder and CEO of Valve Corporation, the company behind the Steam gaming platform, also adopt this new setup in their own gaming experiences.
