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Steam Controller On Ubuntu, A Tweak You Need To Do

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Since some people did get in an early order (not me, doh!), you will need to do a quick fix to get it to register properly.

I am unsure if this is needed for other distributions, but it needs it on Ubuntu currently:

Edit this file (example of my preferred way to edit):
sudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/99-steam-controller-perms.rules

And pop this in it:
Quote# This rule is needed for basic functionality of the controller in
# Steam and keyboard/mouse emulation
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="28de", MODE="0666"

# This rule is necessary for gamepad emulation
KERNEL=="uinput", MODE="0660", GROUP="YOURUSERNAME", OPTIONS+="static_node=uinput"


I thought it would probably be worth sharing until it's fixed officially, and for my own peace of mind to know exactly how to sort it when I receive mine if it's not fixed officially by next months full release.

Taken from here.

I spoke to Alan Pope, one of the lovely Ubuntu people on twitter and he confirmed they are working on the issue officially. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check 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. Find me on Mastodon.
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32 comments
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elgatil Oct 16, 2015
I got mine a few hours ago. The controller feels great though I agree with the Ars Technica article when they say the face buttons are an afterthought, they are small and awkwardly place. I am running fedora 22 and with the controller I am able to emulate mouse on the system, I never thought web browsing with a controller would that comfortable.

I was loving the controller till I run into some issues: apparently my steam controller cannot load gamepad profiles (keyboard+mouse profiles work just fin) so I cannot play any game which requires a gamepad (ahh, bitter irony :P ). Searching around it looks like I am not the only one with this issue and it happens in all platforms. Have you guys experienced something similar? Do you know of any workaround?

I am running Steam beta client and I sent a bug report about this (they ask me nicely to troubleshoot for them :) )

Share your issues and thoughts!
Mountain Man Oct 16, 2015
I thought this was an "early bird" release. It wasn't made entirely clear at the time that this is essentially "early access" for hardware. I'm not complaining because it's always fun to have a new toy to play with, and I'm confident Valve will get things sorted out, but I they could have curtailed a lot of the grumbling if they had been more clear about exactly what we were in for.


Last edited by Mountain Man on 16 October 2015 at 6:16 pm UTC
clel Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: linuxgamerBTW:Anyone photographed the "secret message" yet?

What secret message?
MayeulC Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: elgatilI got mine a few hours ago. The controller feels great though I agree with the Ars Technica article when they say the face buttons are an afterthought, they are small and awkwardly place. I am running fedora 22 and with the controller I am able to emulate mouse on the system, I never thought web browsing with a controller would that comfortable.

I was loving the controller till I run into some issues: apparently my steam controller cannot load gamepad profiles (keyboard+mouse profiles work just fin) so I cannot play any game which requires a gamepad (ahh, bitter irony :P ). Searching around it looks like I am not the only one with this issue and it happens in all platforms. Have you guys experienced something similar? Do you know of any workaround?

I am running Steam beta client and I sent a bug report about this (they ask me nicely to troubleshoot for them :) )

Share your issues and thoughts!

My first guess would be that you are unable to write the firmware update to the device, which is required (AFAIK) when changing mode. Didn't the chmod 666 trick work for you ?

I think I will wait a bit until the issues get ironed out, and the crowd gets more enthusiastic about it, though this first batch will likely be collector one day :)
(Or end up like the old, fat xbox controllers :P )
Sn3ipen Oct 16, 2015
I want a Steam Controller so badly, but unfortunately i live in Scandinavia and we are not part of the pre-order. :/

My age old PS3 controllers are in desperate need for retirement and i have been putting of replacing them in anticipation of the Steam controller. I will buy two the first chance i get. Apparently someone is making big bucks on this on eBay. Look at the prices some of these are demanding!


Last edited by Sn3ipen on 16 October 2015 at 6:43 pm UTC
jordicoma Oct 16, 2015
I need a deep review in linux. How is in comparation of sisaxis (ps3 controller) or gamecube controller (for me the best controller I tried)?

Why It has to have batteries? It runs well without it (plugged in usb)? Has it motors (vibration motor)? Motion sensors? How does it feel in general. It's an strategy game or point and click playable?
How long does de batteries last?

When Rocket League will be available to linux? (If it's the "steam os" controller the free games should be playable with steam os).

Thanks.
Keyrock Oct 16, 2015
It's surprisingly good as a mouse on the desktop. It's not as good as my trackball, but it's shockingly competent. The haptic feedback is really good. It's subtle and... it's hard to describe, but it feels "right".


Last edited by Keyrock on 16 October 2015 at 8:25 pm UTC
Olling Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: elgatilI got mine a few hours ago. The controller feels great though I agree with the Ars Technica article when they say the face buttons are an afterthought, they are small and awkwardly place. I am running fedora 22 and with the controller I am able to emulate mouse on the system, I never thought web browsing with a controller would that comfortable.

I was loving the controller till I run into some issues: apparently my steam controller cannot load gamepad profiles (keyboard+mouse profiles work just fin) so I cannot play any game which requires a gamepad (ahh, bitter irony :P ). Searching around it looks like I am not the only one with this issue and it happens in all platforms. Have you guys experienced something similar? Do you know of any workaround?

I am running Steam beta client and I sent a bug report about this (they ask me nicely to troubleshoot for them :) )

Share your issues and thoughts!

I just got mine to work in games as a gamepad - Permissions on /dev/input will make it work in Big Picture Mode. Permissions on /dev/uinput will make it work in games. Please make sure that the permission is set on uinput - "chmod 0660" was not enough for me.

Quoting: Sn3ipenI want a Steam Controller so badly, but unfortunately i live in Scandinavia and we are not part of the pre-order. :/

My age old PS3 controllers are in desperate need for retirement and i have been putting of replacing them in anticipation of the Steam controller. I will buy two the first chance i get. Apparently someone is making big bucks on this on eBay. Look at the prices some of these are demanding!

I live in Denmark and I got mine today? So i do not think that Scandinavia as a whole is excluded from the pre-order?
Mountain Man Oct 16, 2015
Be sure to opt in to the Steam client beta. I went to add this entry to my Kubuntu install and noticed that it was already there.
ricki42 Oct 17, 2015
Has anyone tried playing Mark of the Ninja with the steam controller? Doesn't work for me. Guess I'll keep playing with the Logitech for now.
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