I think it’s most likely that more people are playing genres like platformers and fighting games that are designed for controllers on PC than before.
I wouldn’t call those genres particularly popular atm
I hate controllers. I use them only on games that suggest they are important. I don’t tend to like those games.
Big picture mode is great.
I’m glad this was mentioned here already. Big Picture mode in Steam is really something that I think might also contribute in increased popularity of controllers on PC. Back in the day it was really a struggle to get your already existing controller working on the PC (with Xbox it was easier after 360, PS needed extra stuff) but nowadays all one has to do is to pop into Big Picture mode and “it just works” given you’ve paired your controller with PC. This is with perspective over 15 years, I guess the support has been quite good multiple years already.
If I need precise aiming, then it’s keyboard and mouse. If not, then I’ll go with a controller just so I can lean back and enjoy things.
That 15% is the Steam Deck users with Steam input always on and required.
It’s maddening that I can’t get PC glyphs to show on Doom Eternal.
Yeah, this sounds more like a win for handheld PCs than some sudden shift across gamers. The Steam Deck has done well enough to spawn a sea of copycats, it’s not surprising that it’s making a statistical impact now too.
I love gaming with controller on single player games, aiming with guns kinda suck but otherwise it’s much better experience. and driving is so neat. but yeah steam controller support plays a major role in my controller usage
Games need to support it well with remapping and better UI and ways to control that make sense.
Fr. I can’t play Bayonetta cause they want me to dodge with one of the buttons on top (can’t remember if it’s r1 or r2) and holy shit I can’t do it. It’s either A or B otherwise I literally nvr get the timing right even once
I must be going the opposite route. After playing console for so long I’m starting to notice I can’t use a controller as well as I used to. Been debating on dusting off the keyboard and mouse and using it on my Playstation until I can get a new pc.
I’m not sure what it is… but I guarantee if I played online other people would wonder if I was a bot or something because I my hands feel weird on a controller all of a sudden.
Really depends on the games.
Yeah, most 3rd person games I like to play with a controller, first person not so much.
For me, it’s linked with the amount of “local multiplayer” titles on Steam. There was fucking nothing! Ok, we could play nes or sega games, but it was strange to not have a lot of modern games. Thankfully, it’s slowly changing
Other than soulslikes I pretty much always prefer mouse+KB. Playing bg3 with a controller briefly during a co-op run was just way worse, for example.
BG3 has an entirely different interface when using controller. I’m not a fan of the radial menus, but it’s not really an issue with the controller.
BG3 is completely playable with a controller though. Yes, kbm is better here, but I’ve played 2 entire campaigns on my deck and it was fine. The radials can be kind of annoying but you can customize them so it’s not so bad. You can tell Larian put a lot of work into making a good controller experience, while Solasta: Crown of the Magister (for example) promised controller support but it plays like ass with one.
As others have said, it really depends on the game. But I would say >90% of my PC gaming is done with a controller. I’ve just become so adapted to them, that the keyboard and mouse just feels foreign now. Even with FPS, most of the time I use a controller. I’m aware of the advantages of using a mouse obviously, but again I’m just conditioned to it now.
If you can aim assist snap as fast as someone can flick, it’s fine. A lot of games account for this and it pisses off the “m+kb is the only good peripheral” crowd every time despite their constant insistance that controller is worse for everything. Even OG overwatch had competitive controller pros (e.g. Malik); map knowledge, good awareness and positioning, control of resource locations (or power weapon spawns in older fps) have always been skills that contribute to wins as much as aiming well, regardless of peripheral. The best peripheral is the one you’re most comfortable competing with.
Or if you only play single player FPS games so you don’t have to care what anyone thinks
As long as we’re not talking games that have a ton of extra stuff going on like milsims or ultrakill, yeah I really do think controller is fine.
Wow, I’m surprised at the downvotes! You’re not wrong.
Fortunately, votes don’t mean anything here
Usage triples <-> 15 % increase
Pick one. Triple is 300 % increase. Article says 15 % is the proportion using them, not the increase.
Thanks for bring this up, now I’ve fixed from “15% increase to " increase to 15% from 5%”. Should be more clear
Yeah, this is just an issue with the Lemmy post’s title. The article is clear that 15% are using controllers now, up from 5% in 2018.
I’ve been using controllers on PC since the Sidewinder days, I’m glad to see support for most controllers be basically perfect on Linux and pretty decent on Windows. MacOS still has a way to go with anything that isn’t made by Sony, but it’s not exactly a gaming platform.
We are just getting old and our backs hurt too much, ok?
