Steam Controller 2 Sparks War Between Valve Loyalists and Skeptics on /g/

A /g/ thread about the new Steam Controller's release reviews devolved into familiar infighting over Valve's ecosystem lock-in, Linux support, and whether the $100 price tag justifies the hardware.

Users on /g/ descended into predictable chaos this week following the release of reviews for Valve’s new Steam Controller, with the discussion splitting sharply between die-hard Valve defenders and those convinced the company is becoming indistinguishable from the tech giants it once opposed.

The OP posted links to early reviews, and the thread quickly crystallized around a central complaint: the controller requires Steam software to function properly, a design choice that struck many as unnecessarily restrictive. “Can’t use it unless Steam is running,” one user griped, framing the requirement as evidence of “steam software dependence” and “proprietary software required to do custom keymap.”

Valve apologists fired back aggressively. One respondent argued that the complaint was fundamentally a Windows issue, claiming “The Steam Controller works natively through SDL (the userspace controller driver on Linux); all the people complaining are buying hardware on an unsupported OS.” Another user accused skeptics of hypocrisy, noting that Windows gamers have “fully accepted that they’ll install literally any malware if it’s bundled with a game.”

A commenter summarized what they saw as Valve’s indefensible monopoly on Linux gaming: “Best VR experience without finicking and third party shit ware is on the index. Best game support on linux is on steam. Best store, workshop content and support is on steam.” They alleged that Valve had essentially become “EA, Microsoft and Apple combined.”

Pricing drew sustained fire. One user claimed the $100 asking price couldn’t be justified given the absence of dual-stage triggers, a “cheap” plastic build, and a proprietary charging puck without a stand. “Maybe $70,” they wrote. Others countered that the hardware’s 30-hour battery life, gyro support, and repairable internals made it competitive.

The discussion devolved into meta-complaints about tech reviewers, with users accusing outlets like Linus Tech Tips of coddling Valve due to fear of the fanbase. One commenter wrote: “The LTT review is funny they obviously don’t like it but are too scared to say anything negative because of the valve fanboys.”

Throughout, the thread’s dominant tension remained unresolved: whether Valve’s ecosystem integration is a feature or a shackle.