protonscr

Double input on the steam UI and in some games with Nintendo Pro Controller on the latest steam client's version

steamopen Steam clientDistro Family: ArchGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11509 · opened 2024-11-24 by hikagura99 · updated 2025-07-29 · 3 comments · github
Hhikagura99 2024-11-24 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1732151988
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: yes, but the problem arose since the latest stable one as well. I switched to beta to see if there was a fix already
  • Have you checked for system updates?: yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: AMD

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

When using a nintendo switch pro controller (a cabled Horipad S in my case), in some games and in the steam UI double input is detected. Remapping it with the steam input tool does nothing, and the same goes with turning steam input off. The double input is conflicting with the actual input (which is correctly detected from the system), for example the ABXY buttons are detected as a dpad in the second input, the L and B buttons are read as start and select etc. No /dev/evdevX nor new /dev/hidrawX appear when opening steam.
In some games though this is not the case, i.e. Death Stranding Director's Cut.
It all worked as intended until 3 days ago.
Idk if it's important, but I'm on plasma 6.2.3 and I'm running on the linux zen 6.12.1-zen1-1-zen kernel

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Connect the Switch Pro Controller
  2. Open steam
  3. Open a game
Hhikagura99 2024-11-26 github

Sorry if i'm being of any bother, but may I have an estimate of when will it be fixed?
Thank you

Steam generates double/phantom input when HID driver is in use

Issue transferred from https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/11565.
@hikagura99 posted on 2024-12-12T17:56:44:

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1733944536
  • Distribution: Arch Linux
  • Opted into Steam client beta? Yes, but the issue persists on the stable as well
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: AMD

This post is a follow up to #11509, i found some more info:

  • The issue appears only when udev rules for the kernel to load controllers on my system as HID devices are triggered;
  • The issue arises with all kind of controllers, both cabled and wireless, both first party and third party (Hori Horipad S, Dualshock 4, Fineblue PS3 controller, Joycons), and not only with the Hori one contrary to what I mentioned in the previous report;
  • The issue arises with all steam games, and not only with some games contrary to what I mentioned in the previous report;
  • The system and the local (non steam) games opened outside of steam work flawlessly when the controller is loaded through HID, and the opposite is true when HID is unloaded. This does not change even when a global SDL config environmental variable is called at boot and/or at launch.

All of this showed up around a month ago. I tried changing kernels just to make sure (hopped from zen to vanilla), but the issue is still there.
There's little to no info or reports on the internet, so it might actually be just a problem of mine and I'm quite literally lost, so if you'd want to ask any questions or experiments I could try I'm pretty much eager to try whatever.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Have a file for your controller of choice with udev rules to load it via HID, e.g.
    # Hori HORIPAD S; USB
    KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0f0d", ATTRS{idProduct}=="00c1", MODE="0660", TAG+="uaccess" ;
  2. If not present already, run udevadm control --reload-rules && udevadm trigger and reboot
  3. Launch any steam or non-steam game and see results;
  4. Try the opposite (you might want to remap the controller in steam first).
Ffoolishprogrammer 2025-07-29 github

I encounter the same problem on my side. Recent steam update cause my controller behave erratically. On controller test, it shown the right input, but when focused on another window while controller test still open, it swap joystick and dpad. Also in game cause the button completely act in unexpected way, especially if steam input enabled. On ff12, my Y button act like B button, and if i keep pressing Y, sometimes it act as Y button. And if I disable steam input, it act like on the controller test when unfocused, movement that supposed to be using left stick, I have to use dpad. It works fine until the recent updates.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9e3f47be-8c36-44ef-b84a-00cfc0dec814

on 00:45, the test is start unfocused controller test start with triggering joystick then dpad but the response is swapped, and later when focused on controller test, it shown the correct response on controller test.

EErFuyl 2025-07-29 github

I found a workaround in this issue. But it's kinda annoying to use in every single game

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/8132#issuecomment-1786265365

Upstream links