Valve is working on adding Joy-Con controller functionality for the Nintendo Switch to Steam. Joy-Cons will be supported separately or as a matched pair in the latest Steam beta, similar to how they can be used in Switch titles. If you want to test the functionality, you can sign up for the Steam beta – Valve offers detailed instructions on the Steam website — but keep your fingers crossed that your Joy-Cons aren’t drifting.
Valve is also strengthening its compatibility for Nintendo’s classic controllers, which it sells to Switch Online customers, but the firm did not say how in the beta patch notes. That capability, which allows you to utilize Switch-specific NES, SNES, N64, and Sega Genesis controllers on Steam, was added to the public version of the client only last week.
You also have other alternatives if you wish to utilize a non-Nintendo controller with Steam. Valve introduced compatibility for Sony’s DualSense controller soon after the PS5’s arrival in 2020, while Steam’s support for Xbox controllers was enhanced in early 2021.
