Phoronix article: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Steam-Machines-Frame-2026
Also listed here: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware
Valve has already sent support for the new Steam Controller upstream: https://www.phoronix.com/news/New-Steam-Controller-SDL
I give 0% of shit how it looks, all I care about it ease of use and performance. Track pads at your finger tips takes getting used to, but it’s a game changer for any game that isn’t classically easy to play with a controller.
If a game isn't easy to play with a controller then I'm probably just not going to play it with a controller to begin with honestly, track pads or no. If I have to mess with stuff in desktop mode on my steam deck then I use the pads but otherwise, I haven't really found them useful.
To each their own, but you don’t really need to mess with stuff.
For me, a game like fallout 3 or NV where I prefer fps style controls but don’t care enough to sit at my pc to play, the steam controllers track pads are perfect.
I do get it though, it takes practice.