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Valve put out a small and sweet update for Steam Deck OS (SteamOS) 3.4 Preview, which adds in support for the 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless controller dongle.

While it already worked in the Bluetooth mode, it didn't without a load of tinkering with the dedicated low-latency dongle. Nice to see Valve move quickly to support third-party pads like this. Must admit my own temptation to pick one up has increased. Seems like a nice controller, especially nice with the back paddles too.

Other additions in the update include rumble support to the built-in hid-steam controller driver and they fixed a USB crash when using certain controllers such as the Hori Fighting Stick α.

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21 comments
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therourke Dec 4, 2022
It works now with the 2.4ghz dongle. But still doesn't register the back paddles. Any solution to this?
t3g Dec 4, 2022
Has anyone tried the 2.4ghz dongle with Ubuntu 22.04 or something with a newer 6.x kernel like Pop OS, Arch, or Fedora?
BrandonGiesing Dec 4, 2022
Quoting: tamodoloI must say that this misleading type of non cientific review deceaved me greatly.

This literally isn't a review? It's a news post saying Valve added support for this controller, where does it say it's a review and how is it misleading?
Lofty Dec 4, 2022
have a sn30 pro 2 controller. not impressed tbh. The buttons sort of click as they are released and pressed, feels cheap compared with an original xbox controller. The games on steam don't always pick up the controller even when fiddling with the different modes, some games are really picky about getting an 'exact' xbox360 controller it seems and those ones won't work.
Never managed to get the gyro to work without losing some other functionality.

i have an 8bit do M30 for retro games and by the wire at least it is much better. I wouldn't know how much latency BT added although i expect reading above quite a lot. But i almost always use an extended USB wire to play anyway.
ElectricPrism Dec 4, 2022
Quoting: emphyGentle reminder that fwupd supports 8bitdo's controllers. Not sure how it would be handled on the steam deck and other systems, but in ubuntu that means you can update their firmware with a simple click, directly from the software centre.

Updating firmware is very much recommended for older 8bitdo controllers, since that solves most problems with disconnecting and unusually high lag over bt.

Come to think of it ive never updated my DS4 from stock. I never had a PS4 so it never happened. I wonder if I can use fwupd with DS4? The input lag has been so terrible over Bluetooth they've (4) been nearly useless to me.
drlamb Dec 4, 2022
Quoting: t3gHas anyone tried the 2.4ghz dongle with Ubuntu 22.04 or something with a newer 6.x kernel like Pop OS, Arch, or Fedora?

Yes, after flashing the beta firmware update it works in dinput/switch mode. That being said I'm still returning mine. The 2.4Ghz is nice but I cannot deal with the plastic on plastic joystick grinding I experienced on the ultimate in less than a week of use. The gulikit king kong 2 pro also has hall effect sensors AND has a metal ring around the joysticks and after using it I can't go back.
Liam Dawe Dec 5, 2022
Quoting: drlamb
Quoting: t3gHas anyone tried the 2.4ghz dongle with Ubuntu 22.04 or something with a newer 6.x kernel like Pop OS, Arch, or Fedora?

Yes, after flashing the beta firmware update it works in dinput/switch mode. That being said I'm still returning mine. The 2.4Ghz is nice but I cannot deal with the plastic on plastic joystick grinding I experienced on the ultimate in less than a week of use. The gulikit king kong 2 pro also has hall effect sensors AND has a metal ring around the joysticks and after using it I can't go back.
Hmm? Plastic on Plastic is almost every major controller out there though, I’ve never seen it as a problem?
drlamb Dec 6, 2022
Quoting: Liam DawePlastic on Plastic is almost every major controller out there though, I’ve never seen it as a problem?

Correct, and it's not a problem on most controllers but on some the plastic becomes rough and rotating the joystick around is no longer smooth. This grinding sensation during joystick movement is noticeable and very distracting (most commonly the left joystick in the "up" direction). Unfortunately happened to my Steam Deck and now the 8BitDo Ultimate. I'm willing to file down the joysticks on my steam deck as I'm replacing them with the Gulikit sensors anyway but I'm not willing to do so on a brand new $80 controller when better alternatives exist.

Other reports:




Last edited by drlamb on 6 December 2022 at 8:19 pm UTC
Liam Dawe Dec 6, 2022
How hard are you guys pushing your pads? 😂 In all my years of gaming, I've never once had this issue.
drlamb Dec 6, 2022
Quoting: Liam DaweHow hard are you guys pushing your pads? 😂 In all my years of gaming, I've never once had this issue.

Trust me, I used to think people were abusing their Decks when those posts started appearing. It had never happened to me until this year and only with the two "controllers" mentioned. I've never had it happen on a first party Xbox or Playstation controller.

I'm blaming Elden Ring 😂 but I still take better care of my Deck than I do myself so it's not a matter of abuse.


Last edited by drlamb on 6 December 2022 at 11:11 pm UTC
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