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You will need to update your udev rules for the Steam Controller

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Valve have changed the USB/Bluetooth communication the Steam Controller uses, so on Linux you will need to update your udev rules.

Note: This is for the Beta client, but works on the stable client too. Even if you're on the stable client, it's likely a good idea to do it now ready for the next stable release on the Steam client.

See their announcement here, which links to this guide of issues.

Funnily enough, Valve didn't even list the actual file you need to update, so here it is:
/lib/udev/rules.d/99-steam-controller-perms.rules

You can open it easily doing this in terminal (on Ubuntu for example):
sudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/99-steam-controller-perms.rules

Edit it to look like this (make sure you edit the group name like it says!):
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; make sure you replace 'pgriffais' with a group that the user that runs Steam belongs to
KERNEL=="uinput", MODE="0660", GROUP="pgriffais", OPTIONS+="static_node=uinput"

# DualShock 4 wired
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="05c4", MODE="0666"
# DualShock 4 wireless adapter
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0ba0", MODE="0666"
# DualShock 4 slim wired
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="09cc", MODE="0666"

# Valve HID devices over USB hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="28de", MODE="0666"

# Valve HID devices over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*28DE:*", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:05C4*", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 Slim over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:09CC*", MODE="0666"


I tried reloading udev rules after, but it didn't seem to work. A reboot with the new rules in place and it works once again.

Valve still haven't fixed the issue of the Steam Controller not working in wireless unless Steam is open though, bug reported here on September 1st. Not everyone seems to have that issue though.

Thanks to Furball in our Telegram group chat for pointing it out. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Hardware, HOWTO, Steam
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42 comments
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Mal Dec 23, 2016
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Pfff... You bunch of antarctic trolls. XD Fix the damn 6 in the gamepad emulation line before someone else goes crazy like me trying to understand what is wrong.
Ryblade Dec 23, 2016
I'm going crazy trying to understand what you just said.
Mal Dec 25, 2016
  • Supporter
- MODE="0660"
+ MODE="0666"
slaapliedje Dec 29, 2016
Quoting: ArdjeHeads up for those of you with a steam machine
Before upgrading the steam beta, forcefully upgrade your system.
If you don't, you need a mouse to get out of the mess, and the intended use-case for a steam machine does not include a mouse. The steam controller is *dead*/useless until steamos is updated (with the new udev rules).
Fortunately all steam machines are lacking CEC support in hardware, so my steam machine only lasted 1 hour on my TV, before migrating it back to my room and replacing it with a steam link.
(Why... Why say it is a console if you don't support CEC :-( ).
It's now connected to my KVM switch like a bunch of other stuff ;-).

I was trying to figure out what drives CEC information. For example, the PS4 works fine with it, I don't think the Link actually does anything special with it, (though if I have the ps4 on, my receiver will switch to the link when it is powered on.) I should dig into this more, seems it should be a simple software thing.
Ardje Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: slaapliedjeI was trying to figure out what drives CEC information. For example, the PS4 works fine with it, I don't think the Link actually does anything special with it, (though if I have the ps4 on, my receiver will switch to the link when it is powered on.) I should dig into this more, seems it should be a simple software thing.
The SoC in the link has full CEC support. It's up to the OS/application to do something with it. CEC has largely been ignored by the linux community until a few months ago when finally kernel infra support arrived for CEC.

But any generic PC with HDMI interface usually has nothing tied to the CEC line (so support impossible), and some even go so far to tie the CEC line to ground, which is an even bigger no-no. There has been one documented case of a toshiba notebook having a working CEC interface.
There are special cables that have the CEC line cut to connect generic bad PC's to a CEC setup.
CEC is like a bus where every device is electrically connected to the same wire. If one device short-circuits the line, the CEC bus is dead.
slaapliedje Jan 8, 2017
I love both of my steam controllers, they seem to be the ones that fit my hands the best, and so are extremely comfortable to me. Though I always wonder why the rumble is still marked as experimental.
Ardje Jan 9, 2017
Quoting: slaapliedjeI love both of my steam controllers, they seem to be the ones that fit my hands the best, and so are extremely comfortable to me. Though I always wonder why the rumble is still marked as experimental.
I've used controllers before, and due to that I was very hesitant against controllers. I sometimes use my ps2 controller on android though, to play gta.
But the steam controller really is something different. It has both analog movement and mouse precision. As a matter of fact: although I have a roccat kone+ gaming mouse with a 30x30 roccat mouse pad, aiming using gyro on the steam controller is even better.
So yes, every game I use I try to start off using the steam controller.
I have 3 of them :-). Got the third with my steam machine as I needed my pc for something else, or turned off due to energy usage.
slaapliedje Jan 9, 2017
I really need to try the gyro out some more. I tried it a tiny bit in Fallout 4 when I had three screen set up, but it was.. odd. I kind of stopped playing Fallout 4 anyhow, since I hate booting into Windows.

I have a roccat Tyon, which is awesome. I noticed the whole 'gaming mouse pad' but... are they actually useful?
m2mg2 Jan 19, 2017
I don't know if it is due this or something in Rocket League, but the analog stick and most of the buttons on my steam controller don't work in Rocket League anymore. I have the settings recommended here and rebooted but still nothing. I've just been playing with an old logitech controller. Running Fedora 24.


Last edited by m2mg2 on 19 January 2017 at 1:21 am UTC
Eike Jan 19, 2017
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(Should have checked which article this is... X) )


Last edited by Eike on 19 January 2017 at 8:44 am UTC
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