It seems like ring finger paddle buttons are becoming a controller staple. I know of these, what are some others?
Clone an existing button only:
- 8BitDo Pro 2 (P1, P2)
- PS4/PS5 controller with remap kit from ExtremeRate (K1, K2, K3, K4)
Treated by Steam as an entirely new button:
- Steam Controller (L4, R4)
- Paired joy-cons (left SL, SR; right SL, SR)
- Steam Deck (L4, L5, R4, R5)
- Xbox Elite (P1, P2, P3, P4)
- Dualsense Edge (LB, RB)
I use a modded PS5 controller on PC. I’ve found for most purposes, clone-binding R4 to Cross/A and L4 to Square/X is good enough, as that allows me to crouch and jump while also running and turning with the thumbsticks. But it’d be really cool if I could remap these buttons steam-side, instead of needing to clone an existing button controller-side.
Back paddles really need to become standard on all pads. Between my Steam Deck and Elite Controller for the Xbox, I’ve become quite dependent on them.
I’m sure it sounds stupid but I’ve been playing less and less switch games because of this. If a game is on both switch & pc (mh rise, indies), in the past I’d usually go with switch because of the portability, but now with a steam deck or ROG ally I go with pc because portability + back paddles. The switch has those hori joycon with back paddles but unless they’ve changed something since they first came out, those back paddles could only be programmed to buttons that are on their respective halves of the joycon (left joycon back paddle cannot be mapped to right joycon face buttons) which is useless to me.
But yeah now whenever I use a gamepad without back paddles it feels restrictive, like I’m missing fingers or a limb.
It totally sounds stupid but somehow I’m guilty of it too. I’ve even rebought games on Steam that I have on Switch because of that and the fact that I know my Steam games will be future proof for new hardware
I understand the thought, but do you have plans to get rid of the switch?
Not really. I still prefer to play my Switch games on Switch over emulating them on my Steam Deck
Completely agree. It’s almost become default for me to remap the bumpers to the top back on my Steam Deck.
Yeah, that’s been my primary use, remapping the bumpers to the paddles, so much more comfortable to not have to move your fingers from the triggers.
Unfortunately, patent trolling means they won’t become mainstream. Companies have to pay to add paddles, so they won’t unless it’s part of a more expensive controller offering.
That’s ridiculous that you can own a patent on something as basic as “buttons on the opposite side than normal”.
I think a company sued valve over it hence why they abruptly put them all on sale for 5$ and never made any more. I believe valve ended up winning the lawsuit though hence bumpers on the steam deck