What is the Switch Layout for Steam Controllers?

The Nintendo Switch controller layout on Steam is a configuration that allows players to use their Switch Pro Controller with Steam games, with the option to switch between the Nintendo Button Layout (clockwise X, A, B, Y from the top) or the Xbox controller button layout (clockwise Y, B, A, X). To activate the Nintendo control system, simply click on the Controller option from the list, select Use Nintendo Button Layout, and this will activate the slider for the Nintendo control system by swapping the A and B buttons with the X and Y buttons.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Can you change Steam Controller layout?: Yes, you can change the Steam controller layout by selecting Steam and then Settings, followed by Controller, where you can change the general controller settings and configure three different global configurations.
2. Does Steam recognize Switch Controllers?: Yes, the Steam client officially supports the Switch Pro Controller, allowing you to use it with all your PC games and remap its buttons as needed.

Steam Deck

3. How do I manage controller layout on Steam Deck?: You can manage the controller layout on Steam Deck by selecting Edit Layout from the Controller Settings menu, choosing the physical controls on your Steam Deck from the left sidebar, and assigning commands to those controls from the right-hand menu.
4. How do I get controller layouts on Steam Deck?: The easiest way to get controller layouts on Steam Deck is to press the controller icon on a game’s landing page or enter Steam Input in-game by pressing the Steam button and then navigating to the game’s controller layout.

Compatibility and Performance

5. Can Switch players play with Steam players?: Yes, cross-platform play is supported between Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), although PlayStation versions do not currently support cross-play.
6. What is the difference between Steam Deck and Switch?: The Steam Deck has much faster performance due to its custom AMD processors and RDNA2-based graphics, giving it a huge advantage in terms of gaming performance compared to the Switch.

Customization

7. Can you use the Steam Deck as a normal controller?: Yes, you can use the Steam Deck as a controller for your PC through Steam Remote Play, which allows you to stream gameplay from one PC to another, including from your main PC to your Steam Deck.
8. Can I change the color of my Steam controller?: Yes, you can change the color of your Steam controller by selecting PS4 Configuration Support, giving your controller a name, and toggling the rumble feature on or off.

Troubleshooting

9. Why is Steam detecting 2 controllers?: If your computer goes to sleep with the Steam Controller plugged in, you may see multiple Steam Controllers being detected; try unplugging the USB wireless dongle or micro USB cable, waiting a moment, and then plugging it back in.
10. Does the Steam Deck get controller drift?: Unfortunately, yes, stick drift is a rare but confirmed issue for the Steam Deck, similar to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons.

Availability and Support

11. Does Steam still sell Steam controllers?: No, the Steam Controller is a discontinued game controller developed by Valve, although you may still find it available for purchase from third-party sellers.
12. Is Steam Deck discontinued?: No, the Steam Deck is not discontinued, but Valve did quietly pull back on its Steam Machine series of gaming computers using Linux-derived SteamOS in 2018.

Future Developments

13. Will there be a Steam Deck 2?: According to Griffais, a Steam Deck successor is not expected to release until at least 2025, putting it on a similar timeline to the Switch 2.
14. What controller is best for Steam?: The Microsoft Xbox Core Controller is highly recommended due to its shared A/B/X/Y button layout with the Steam Deck, or the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller for its customizable extra buttons.

Technical Details

15. Where are Steam controller layouts saved?: Steam controller layouts are saved in Steamuserdatauserid241100remotecontrollerconfigappid, while default configs and templates are stored in Steamcontrollerbase, and steamdesktop.vdf can be modified to change default behavior outside of Big Picture Mode.