this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2026

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Steam Hardware

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New web app can make Valve's Steam Controller drift across your desk like an RC car — web app drives the gamepad using its rumble motors (www.tomshardware.com)

submitted 4 months ago by Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz to c/steamdeck@sopuli.xyz

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[–] rem26_art@fedia.io 47 points 4 months ago (3 children)

now I need 2 steam controllers. One to drive around, and one to control the one driving around

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[–] Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz [S] 30 points 4 months ago (2 children)

You actually need 4, two to race each other, and two to control them.

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[–] rem26_art@fedia.io 21 points 4 months ago (1 child)

this is how Valve offsets the Steam sale discounts. They're a RC car company that also happens to sell video games to get you in the door.

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[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

You're going to have to wait until 2030 for that dream

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 34 points 4 months ago (13 children)

LOL this is hilarious! So we got so far:

play music: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=T0RHXColYXU
Wilhelm scream: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=Mc22cAIIP4g
remote control: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=g-8S8zk4dn8

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[–] Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz [S] 25 points 4 months ago (1 child)

You have to love all the enthusiasts coming together to find the best ways to not play games with their controllers.

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[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 12 points 4 months ago

Gamer with 2307 unplayed games in their Steam library:

"I'm bored... Let's see if my Steam Controller can bake cookies!

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[–] Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip 12 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Am I the only person for whom invidious takes like 12 years to load? I know lots of people use it so it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong... 😅

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[–] PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Same, any video longer than a few seconds like a full minute to start playing and then buffers constantly. 250Mbit internet.

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[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 months ago

It actively blocks me for having a VPN on

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago

Sometimes it takes longer to load. And there are times, when the site is outright broken. So no, you are probably not the only one. I might depend on the time and day you use and where you are located. I usually post both links, to YouTube directly and to Invidious. But didn't took the time to do so here, as I figured its not that important.

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago* (6 children)

idk why but i has yet to be able to get the Wihelm scream out of mine.

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago (5 children)

If it has been triggered once, then it enters into a "cooldown" period of seconds or minutes until it can scream again. But if you never go that in the first place, then maybe you do it too safe. Don't blame ya for that. My recommendation is to go to your bed, a large surface I assume, and then throw it at a distance of 1 meter away (onto the bed).

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago (4 children)

too safe

i am not the careful type xd. i have accidentally dropped it on hard floor, yet, nothing. maybe i have to be in game or something? idk

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago (3 children)

I think it needs a swing and fly for a bit before it gets triggered? Or yours just don't get scared as quickly, lol. BTW Steam HAS to be open and connected to the controller at the time you try this. Maybe that is the solution to "your problem :p"?

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

oh that could be it.

now i will have to try it again 🥲

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago (1 child)

Oh, I just noticed something. Just started Steam and tried it again and again, but it wouldn't scream. But Steam was running in the background. Turns out, Steam client has to be in focus on the screen too. At least that was the case for me. First try it screamed. Also quite impressive if you think about it, as there are no speakers.

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

yes, also someone reverse engineered the firmware and figured out the hidden commands that are used to do that, and made it available so you can use it to play anything you want: https://github.com/Pixel1011/SteamHapticsPlayer

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[–] kibiz0r@midwest.social 12 points 4 months ago (4 children)

So wait, the sequence in Pantheon where they move a phone by hacking its vibration motors isn’t that far-fetched?

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[–] Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz [S] 5 points 4 months ago (1 child)

The steam controller has 4 different "HD" vibration motors, I'm assuming a phone has a single motor. So while it is possible to move a device this way, it wouldn't work as well or be very controllable on a phone.

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[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 2 points 4 months ago*

Both iPhones and Pixel phones have shipped with LRAs (Linear Resonant Actuator) instead of rotating mass for quite a while now. An iPhone's taptic engine is basically the same technology.
I'm not sure how many phones have multiple, but I think it's common on gaming phones. That being said, I don't remember the phone in Pantheon having to steer, so one haptic motor might be enough if they got lucky.

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[–] rainbowbunny@slrpnk.net 3 points 4 months ago (1 child)

Wow I was about to comment this

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[–] kibiz0r@midwest.social 4 points 4 months ago

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[–] Wirlocke@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 4 months ago

Even Steam controllers can't escape controller drift 😔

[–] plutopos@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 months ago

Driving mine off the desk so I can hear the silly scream sound

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 7 points 4 months ago

"Hey, you guys wanna do IRL mario kart? I just got the set."

"But there'e 3 of us and it only came with mario and luigi."

"Don't worry guys, I got this."

puts Steam Controller on the starting line

[–] tiberius@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 months ago

There can only be one input device.

[–] Odo@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

Now we can all be Psycho Mantis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyxOAItutHA

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Finally!

[–] raman_klogius@ani.social 2 points 4 months ago

Wow, this would be great for mixing salads! 🤣

[–] ech@lemmy.ca 0 points 4 months ago* (5 children)

This would wear out the motors a lot, right? Not that people shouldn't do what they want with their stuff, I would just be worried about wear and tear.

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[–] daq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Why? Might wear out your desk, but motors should be fine.

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[–] ech@lemmy.ca 1 point 4 months ago (3 children)

Are rumble motors not physical machines that wear out with use? Or is there some new tech that I'm unaware of?

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[–] daq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)

They're brushless motors. That's like being worried about heat death of universe. They will easily outlive you regardless of use.

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[–] ech@lemmy.ca -3 points 4 months ago (1 child)

Average lifetime for consumer brushless motors seems to be ~10,000 hours, so far from "the heat death of the universe". Regardless, I'm not sure why you're being so dismissive and rude about it.

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[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 2 points 4 months ago

The motors are being used exactly as designed. There's no difference between this and playing a racing game that's constantly rumbling the controller.

The only wear and tear happening are the contact points with the table, which will slowly wear down the plastic and table surface.

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