Enthusiast creates DIY "OpenPuck" for Steam Controller 2 to natively emulate Xbox, Switch, & PS controllers

Following the release of Valve's Steam Controller 2, the lack of native XInput support has been a long-standing issue for users. Recently, enthusiast Safijari developed an open-source DIY project call... Read original →

Though a DIY effort, OpenPuck exposes Valve’s strategic gap in input protocol ecosystems. Technically, Nordic’s NRF52480—leveraging dual-mode Bluetooth/2.4GHz—is being repurposed by the community, pressuring MCU vendors to open SDKs and fueling custom controller SoC designs. Compliance-wise, bypassing Steam Input to natively emit XInput/DualShock protocols may force Valve to tighten firmware signing or DRM, raising software maintenance costs. Competitively, Sony and Microsoft could harden controller authentication to block clones, while NVIDIA might integrate such open-source emulation into GeForce NOW for seamless cross-platform play. Over the next 12–24 months, these grassroots innovations will accelerate the shift toward 'protocol-agnostic' gamepads, eroding platform lock-in and pushing controllers toward universal compute peripherals.