Steam just received yet another beta client update, with more fixes and updates for the DualSense controller. This update has corrected the issues with the LED colors not changing over Bluetooth and has added the ability for the DualSense to be used with Linux.
Steam Input
- Fixed LED color changes on PS5 controllers connected over Bluetooth
- Enabled enhanced functionality for PS5 controllers on Linux (may require steam-devices package update)
- Added experimental support for more than 4 Xbox controllers
- Improved support for games that use raw input for controllers
Orignal story below
It’s certainly been an interesting week for PC gaming and supporting the PS5 DualSense controller.
First, it was Steam who added basic DualSense support via a beta client. Shortly afterward, DS4Windows was updated that also provided DualSense support. Both implementations added LED, Trackpad, and Rumble support, but over via USB cable. Well, at least Steam did, but as of yesterday evening, the beta client was updated again. OK, technically, it was updated twice yesterday, but the result is that Steam now supports Rumble and Trackpad functions via Bluetooth.
Steam Client Beta Update – November 20th
Steam Input
- Fixed occasional dropped rumble with the PS5 DualSense controller
Steam Client Beta Update – November 19th
Steam Input
- Implemented rumble over Bluetooth for the PS5 controller
- Reduced rumble intensity for the PS5 controller
- Allow external audio based haptics while rumble is enabled on the PS5 DualSense controller
You can follow the rest of the Steam beta client updates by going here.
I’ve tested this out on the Steam client and several games, and yep, just as Valve claims, rumble works like a champ. That’s not all either, as Haptics is also in… sort of. I haven’t gotten this to work, and even then, we’d have to figure out what games support it, as it’s not implemented like it is on the PS5. At least not yet, it’s still in progress, but at least they’re working on it.
If you’ve already updated your Steam beta client and wireless rumble still isn’t working for you, make you check again. When I updated, I restarted Steam, I noticed and rumble via Bluetooth wasn’t working. I went back to the beta options, and there was another update I had to install. Oddly enough, Steam puts out updates, one at a time, instead of one incremental update. Be sure to verify you got all the updates.
Now Steam Input API has been updated, games that supported the DualShock 4 controller will now see the DualSense as well. So far, both Death Stranding and Yakuza Like a Dragon are playable with the correct button prompts.
As for DualSense LED color customization, that still only works via USB. So if you want to update your LED colors, you’ll have to plug the USB cable back in, adjust and then unplug it.
The DualSense controller is getting closer to being fully supported in Steam, and I love it.
