8BitDo Ultimate 2 is getting full Steam Input support for more buttons

By Liam Dawe - 30 Apr 2025 at 8:59 am UTC

One of my gripes with my original 8BitDo Ultimate 2.4G Controller is that Steam Input cannot see the additional buttons on the back, but it seems that with the latest firmware updates to the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 that 8BitDo are solving the situation.

The problem with the original is that they're not full hardware buttons, so they cannot be mapped normally and need the software from 8BitDo. So that's something that seemingly cannot be solved but for their newer hardware that doesn't seem to be a problem.

As noted on the Steam forum in a post talking about the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2, a user noted improvements in a later firmware update for it:

Bumping this again. With a recent beta firmware for the Ultimate 2 all of its back buttons, rumble and Gyro is now detected in steam. The only thing stopping it from working fully is the steam input UI being updated to support it. You can technically mess with a layout on a different controller (like the steam deck controller) and export that as a template to configure gyro settings but that's less than ideal.

A Valve developer replied to note:

Yes, the UI support is planned but not ready to ship yet

Nice! Hopefully we'll see this expanded Steam Input support for more 8Bitdo hardware and other controllers in future.

When this lands, I might actually have to upgrade to the 8BitDo Ultimate 2.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.

Tags: Hardware, Misc, Steam, Upcoming

12 Likes

About the author - Liam Dawe

I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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9 comments

hardpenguin 10 hours ago

That is amazing! And it is not that expensive so I might get that one.

0 Likes

jordicoma 10 hours ago

So summarizing, you need the controller, a way to update it (probably you need windows for it) and a future version of steam.
Anyone knows if there is a third party config tool/driver that exposes the buttons like a normal controller /dev/js0 /dev/events?

2 Likes

Eri 10 hours ago

Only for Ultimate 2? Ultimate 2.4G is not the same, right? :(

0 Likes

Cat_fan 9 hours ago

This makes it a viable alternative to the Gamesir Super Nova in Dual Shock 4 mode (where the Gyro is usable on Steam while keeping analog triggers), with even an advantage for the back buttons. (The Gamesir SN is also a "back buttons can only mapped to other physical button. But you can do it without the Gamesir software.)

0 Likes

Stella 9 hours ago

Supporter Plus

It is great to see something other than the first-party controllers get Steam Input support! Makes them instantly more viable for Steam Deck. While I would not buy this particular one (stick placement is wrong and tbh I'm still 100% satisfied with my Dualsense) I'm excited for what the future brings.

0 Likes

fmartingr 6 hours ago

I was wondering if this would work for the Ultimate as well, I don't see a reason to buy another controller and would love the extra buttons on the deck.

0 Likes

dmoonfire 6 hours ago

I love my Ultimate, mostly because it one of the few controllers that is almost large enough for my hands. This will be a no brainer to pick up the two.

... now if I could just find a controller about ten percent larger, my hands wouldn't ache as much. Playing games like Afterimage or Ori gets painful after a while.

1 Likes

tuubi 5 hours ago

Supporter Plus

@jordicoma

So summarizing, you need the controller, a way to update it (probably you need windows for it) and a future version of steam.

Officially you need either Windows or a Mac with their more recent controllers, yeah. But this might help you run the upgrade tool in Wine if you don't mind a bit of tinkering:

https://gist.github.com/archeYR/d687de5e484ce7b45d6a94415a04f3dc

4 Likes

Pyrate 4 hours ago

I upgraded my Ultimate 1 through a Windows VM multiple times now without issue.

1 Likes

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