I have 3 of their controllers. All excellent hardware-wise but a bit shit when it comes to their software. Don't think you'll even be able to do this firmware update on Linux. Curious to see how well the Steam Input support works in any case, especially whether it includes gyro.
this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2025
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Well at least it's "just" software issues, software can always be fixed, but hardware issues are usually only fixable by needing to buy a new version lol
A good example: their SN30 Pro has a bad bluetooth chip in it that makes Xinput support really laggy (I don't know the specifics). It's been years now, and had a few firmware updates, but there's still been no fix. It works great for everything else though, so I still keep it around.
Just a warning for anyone thinking of buying one after reading this...
Agreed, I hope they add some more linux support with their software in the future.
I have one of the pro's from a few years ago and I am just finding out now that they have software. Thanks, i will look later.
Interestingly - I have 4 (two Pro 2's, an SN30 Pro, and one of the Ultimate C variants) and have used them all on my Steam Deck before. The past couple of years at family gatherings I've hooked up my Deck to a big screen and allowed the kids to play Mario Party and such.
So I'm kind of confused about what is being added now. Their post says more details to come so I guess I'll see?
Should be the ability to freely remap their controls using the Steam Input interface. They've always worked on Deck as regular XInput devices.
There was a post from Valve a while back, you can now remap the back pedals via Steam, so they're now recognized as a different input button instead of having to use their software to mapping it to one of the existing buttons. At least that's my understanding, I don't own any 8bitdo, and this was the reason I never bought one, so that might change in the near future.
Do they have an Xbox pro like controller with gyro? I've been waiting for Xbox to get off their ass
The 8bitdo Ultimate 2 is pretty close to an XBox controller and it has a gyro. The problem is that while the gyro works great on Switch, it's severely limited on PC, as it can only emulate the right stick with very few settings. The Steam Input update could potentially fix that, but I haven't tested it yet.
The Gamesir Supernova has gyro, and it is very similar to an XBox controller.
Boo, it looks like none of them so far have the back levers that the pro controller has. Sadly I really like those.
Will have to think how much I want gyro
The Supernova has two back buttons, not sure if that's what you mean by levers.
Xbox pro had 4 metal levers on the back that are mapped to the bumpers by default.
Probably I don't need them 😅
Like others have noted, the firmware updating doesn't work on Linux. This is why I like Gulikit King Kong Pro controllers. Their settings are adjusted on a firmware bases by pressing different buttons together on the controller. OS agnostic. Also their firmware updates only require dragging and dropping a file into the controller when connected over USB. It works totally fine on Linux.
Their settings are adjusted on a firmware bases by pressing different buttons together on the controller.
That's also the case on newer 8bitdo controllers to be fair. You don't have to use the software often but when you do, it's indeed a pain.
Good to know. I'll start to give them another serious look
How to update the Firmware update? I assume on Windows via Wire and with proprietary software?
Yes, proprietary software on Windows or Android. It gets even more "fun" though, as you need to use different software for different controllers. The "8bitdo Firmware updater" works for controller like the Pro 2, but if for example you have the Ultimate 2 you need the "8Bitdo Ultimate Software 2" instead. That thing will also crash if you have any other 8bitdo device plugged in. So yeah.
Oof.
I had no idea there were existing compatibility issues to be honest. If anything I've had better luck using my 8BitDo controllers with the Steam Deck versus my Windows machines. My SNES30 (yes, SNES30, not SN30) always had issues co-existing with other controllers on Windows, but it's never been a problem on the Steam Deck.
Yeah I don't understand this. The post ends with
Full compatibility details coming soon.
What does "compatibility" mean? I have a bunch of their controllers, of different models, paired to different operating systems, and they all work great.
Full compatibility means native steam input support, which means that gyro + back buttons work together. No need to emulate a specific console controller and lose out on either gyro or back button support.
Does this include being able to remap the back buttons individually via steam input now?
I hope they update some of the original Ultimate 1 controllers for support. I love 8bitdo controllers, but I'm not going to buy a controller over it, and I constantly have had issues with my SN30 Pro buttons sticking.
No mention on if this means you can independently map the undeeside paddles or not... I'm going to guess not. I'll probably still wait to see how steam controller 2 reviews before getting any new controllers. I have some left but they have taken the used by all the guests beating and are held together with glue, shitty soldering, and 3d prints.
Gyro in Switch mode and the paddles at the same time pls.
I don't have this controller but the Vader 4 pro was updated in the same update, and supports every single extra button + gyro at the same time, provided dinput mode is set.
I’ve been very happy with an 8bitdo ultimate using the 2.4 ghz dongle. Only complaint is I can’t modify any mappings on Linux and have to bust out an old windows laptop for it. Otherwise, it’s worked perfectly every time across a few Linux systems including a steam deck.
You can map anything to anything using SteamInput...
The back paddles aren’t mapped to anything by default and there’s nothing Steam can do to help there. There are also some vibration levels you can’t set elsewhere and having a hardware switch for different profiles is nice.
The back paddles also can only be mapped to other buttons that are on the controller so I need different profiles for different games. I usually map them to l3 and r3 but sometimes its nice to have them as b and y instead without having to mess with steam input.
Oh well it seems like might be because they're not registered as additional buttons... That sounds like it might be a hardware level thing.
Can anyone who owns an 8bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless confirm if the back paddles and L4/R4 buttons are now remapable on Steam?
I wish they had a more dual sense-y ps-style controller, the closest they have is a retro looking one..
Their controllers look great, but I wish they had a super simple 8-bit Nintendo controller for PC. No turbo buttons or other extra buttons. Something that my young kid could use.
I haven't tried them, but Nintendo put out a set of joy-cons a while back that are literally just two NES controllers. And since you can use joy-cons with Steam, I'm thinking maybe you can use those.
I'm not sure if they still make them though so you might need to get them used or something.
Edit: These guys: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-entertainment-system-controllers/
Ohh, thank you! I didn't find these in my search. Only cheap chinesium.
Brought back my Bluetooth ultimate it used to work then it didn't now it's back. Hopefully they don't have an aneurysm and do it again
I've been using one of these on PC with Bazzite for awhile now with zero issues. I guess I could test it out on my steam deck but I keep ps3 controllers synced to it separately to prevent confusion.
I've got a bunch of 8bitdo 2C Ultimate controllers, that have both 2.4ghz and Bluetooth, hall effect joysticks, and they cost me 25$ on Amazon.