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PayPalValve released a new Steam Deck Beta update that includes a useful tweak to its Xbox controller detection.
There's a bit of a problem with modern Xbox controllers and Bluetooth, where they won't properly connect up with SteamOS / Linux unless they've gone through a firmware update. I've seen a lot of support requests about this issue over the years and so it's good to see Valve highlight it directly. While it's a Steam Deck Beta Client update, it should apply to other SteamOS devices too.
From the changelog:
GeneralAccessibility
- On the Bluetooth settings screen, we will now detect and notify the player when trying to pair/connect an Xbox controller with older firmware versions that cannot properly connect to Steam Deck. To fix these issues you must connect the controller to a Windows PC and update the firmware via the Xbox Accessories App.
Friends & Chat
- Moved the Screen Reader's "Stop Talking" button to X so that external gamepads can still open the Quick Access Menu with Guide button + their equivalent of A button
Remote Play
- Suspicious or harassing group chat messages can be reported directly in the chat window by selecting the message and pressing 'Options'. You can optionally block and/or unfriend the other user while submitting the report.
- Fixed being unable to move the mouse to another monitor when using touch controls on the Steam Link app.
Frustrating that you're forced into using Windows to do it though but thankfully there's a lot of controllers out there that Steam Input and so SteamOS support.
At some point Valve will have to start calling these Steam Deck Client updates something else, like SteamOS Client update or something similar, given that there's already other official devices with SteamOS (like the Legion Go S) and there's going to be more of their own devices soon with the Steam Frame and Steam Machine.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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.
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phil995511 a day ago
I had a weird problem the other day with Steam OS. I was in the privacy settings when Steam OS suddenly crashed, displaying a persistent green screen of death.
I shut down my machine for 10 seconds, then turned it back on. The SSD wasn't being recognized. I had to shut it down and turn it back on again for it to work.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of issue ?
This is the very first time I've had an SSD crash like this...
I shut down my machine for 10 seconds, then turned it back on. The SSD wasn't being recognized. I had to shut it down and turn it back on again for it to work.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of issue ?
This is the very first time I've had an SSD crash like this...
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Cyba.Cowboy 22 hours ago
The ability to only update under Windows is a deal-breaker for me, and has convinced me to never buy another XBOX controller... The last time it happened, I was lucky to have a work laptop that ran Windows that I take home - but I'm about to leave that job, and I probably won't have access to a Windows laptop outside of the workplace next time (most places in my industry use fixed computers that are locked-down). Absolutely ludicrous.
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Mountain Man 20 hours ago
Quoting: Cyba.CowboyThe ability to only update under Windows is a deal-breaker for me, and has convinced me to never buy another XBOX controller... The last time it happened, I was lucky to have a work laptop that ran Windows that I take home - but I'm about to leave that job, and I probably won't have access to a Windows laptop outside of the workplace next time (most places in my industry use fixed computers that are locked-down). Absolutely ludicrous.I mean, what do expect buying a Microsoft product? They have zero incentive to make it easily compatible with anything but Windows. I suppose you could always try running the firmware update via Wine or Proton, but I suspect that's not possible, assuming Microsoft offers a standalone update package.
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Linux_Rocks 16 hours ago
MRW we had to start updating controllers too:
In all seriousness, this is a useful feature. But I can go either way on the needing Windows to update them. It's a Microsoft product after all. However, so much for them "<3ing" Linux or "everything being an Xbox."
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In all seriousness, this is a useful feature. But I can go either way on the needing Windows to update them. It's a Microsoft product after all. However, so much for them "<3ing" Linux or "everything being an Xbox."
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thankfully steam controller 2 is around the corner, so i will be looking to that as my next controller.
wtf is firmware update in xbox controller? how and why it breaks any compatibility?
xbox controller should be a braindead simple device with design that has practically no changes for three decades, it is a dualshock 1 with dpad and left stick swapped. what firmware updates can it possible have?
i know what these updates do. they are made for the sole purpose of breaking compatibility with non-windows machines. although microsoft only shoot themselves in the foot with this decision.
at this point whatever they do just makes everyone hate them more.
wtf is firmware update in xbox controller? how and why it breaks any compatibility?
xbox controller should be a braindead simple device with design that has practically no changes for three decades, it is a dualshock 1 with dpad and left stick swapped. what firmware updates can it possible have?
i know what these updates do. they are made for the sole purpose of breaking compatibility with non-windows machines. although microsoft only shoot themselves in the foot with this decision.
at this point whatever they do just makes everyone hate them more.
1 Likes
Quoting: vic-baythankfully steam controller 2 is around the corner, so i will be looking to that as my next controller.I assure you that compatibility breaking frimware updates can have reasonable cause.
wtf is firmware update in xbox controller? how and why it breaks any compatibility?
xbox controller should be a braindead simple device with design that has practically no changes for three decades, it is a dualshock 1 with dpad and left stick swapped. what firmware updates can it possible have?
i know what these updates do. they are made for the sole purpose of breaking compatibility with non-windows machines. although microsoft only shoot themselves in the foot with this decision.
at this point whatever they do just makes everyone hate them more.
Things like EU cybersecurity laws, anti-cheat compatibility and cummulative memory corruption.
I do suspect you're right in this case though.
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phil995511 3 hours ago
Quoting: LoudTechieUnder Linux, there is FWUPD in command line and Gnome-Firmware in graphical version which allow you to update your various firmwares, provided that the manufacturer of your hardware supports it. This is particularly the case for Dell, Leonovo, etc.Quoting: vic-baythankfully steam controller 2 is around the corner, so i will be looking to that as my next controller.I assure you that compatibility breaking frimware updates can have reasonable cause.
wtf is firmware update in xbox controller? how and why it breaks any compatibility?
xbox controller should be a braindead simple device with design that has practically no changes for three decades, it is a dualshock 1 with dpad and left stick swapped. what firmware updates can it possible have?
i know what these updates do. they are made for the sole purpose of breaking compatibility with non-windows machines. although microsoft only shoot themselves in the foot with this decision.
at this point whatever they do just makes everyone hate them more.
Things like EU cybersecurity laws, anti-cheat compatibility and cummulative memory corruption.
I do suspect you're right in this case though.
Unfortunately, Microsoft makes very little effort on its own initiative to offer drivers or frimwares compatible with its hardware for Linux. ANd this has absolutely nothing to do with European laws, anti-cheating systems or anything else. It's just that Microsoft is refusing to do it for now ;-(
About 25-30 years ago, Microsoft filed a criminal complaint against Linux, falsely claiming that Linux was copying Microsoft's source code! They lost the case... They just wanted to undermine Linux by any means possible, even immoral and dishonest ones.
Since then, the hatchet seems to have been buried. While more than 50% of the servers used by Microsoft run on Linux, they remain hostile to the widespread adoption of this OS by the general public.
Today Linux is clearly the best choice for users in terms of free access, respect for privacy, stability, performance and durability of hardware support.
This situation is solely due to Windows 11 and its undesirable features : UEFI required, TPM 2.0, Online accounts have become almost mandatory (forcing you to provide your administrator password to Microsoft and their associates), Advertisements for their own products, Data collection without user consent and now they want to force us to use their AI in Windows 11 even though all security experts say there is a serious security problem with this type of functionality... ;-(
Last edited by phil995511 on 18 Dec 2025 at 2:45 pm UTC
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