This 100%. Personally I'm happy with the build quality on my Elite 2, but I hate that it requires Windows 10+ to update the firmware. And it really needs a trackpad.

I’d be surprised if they weren’t making exactly that. It’d also give devs an easier way to test controlling with a deck without having to buy one

Give me the Steam Deck layout sans screen and I'll buy several.

This, they should include gyro too ideally if that doesn't go without saying

It’s wild to me that somehow the elite controllers are worst than their cheaper brothers. I’ve owned both series. Both sucked hard.

if it ends up being like the steam deck layout, they'll probably just fuse the touch screens into one larger one in the center of the controller, towards the bottom. At that point, it would probably just be pretty similar to the playstation controller, but with slightly more questionable ergonomics, or maybe a more usable touchscreen.

Yes to all this. I picked up my original Steam Controller the other day and forgot just how crazy loud that thing is.

I'd base all expectations on Steam Deck not Controller v1. You can already see the lessons learned in the deck.

The clicky-ness of the touchpad, paddles, shoulder buttons etc. is one of the things if absolutely love about the OG Steam Controller

Why were you using haptic vibrations on touchpads? I switched them off the moment I discovered I can, they are really annoying

• Native support for games - have it use the Xbox or PlayStation profile
• Don't require that abysmal Big Picture mode for remapping, custom layouts, etc.

On mine (ca. 2016) all the rubber has degraded to a slimy goo.

I really liked it but it doesn't work as a controller on Android devices so it went for long periods of no use.

My Xbox Series X|S controllers however all have stick drift even though they're much newer

Mine had slid off the footrest I had stupidly placed it on overnight and I didn't notice that so I sat down and jerked my computer chair forward, one wheel right into the controller. It's crazy how much it broke, one side cracked, including the PCB and both the bumber and trigger on that side got badly deformed.

RIP friend, you were the best.

Same here. I'm more worried about losing the USB Dongle.

Or release a SteamOS image so I can install it on my gaming rig.

That's a Steam Machine. The idea didn't take off because it's just a pre-built PC (and because they trusted other companies to do it for them). It's a highly competitive market with very low margins.

When they announced the Deck they did recommend one particular small box as a development machine as it matched the Deck's performance very closely. You might try looking for that. Although by now there are probably more powerful ones available for the same price.

I would commit some unspeakable acts if it meant Valve released a revised Steam Machine

You have it - it’s the Steam Deck.

Duuuude