protonscr

Workaround: No Controller inputs while Remote Play from Linux PC to Steamdeck

steamopen StreamingGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11623 · opened 2025-01-02 by ChrisLuck · updated 2025-03-21 · 6 comments · github
CChrisLuck 2025-01-02 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version: 1733265492 on PC and Steamdeck
  • Distribution: Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: No
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes, even upgraded from 22.04 to 24.04

What I expect:

  • I start a game stream via remote play, Ubuntu PC as host, Steamdeck as client
  • Video, audio and controller inputs work

What did happen:

  • I start a game stream via remote play, Ubuntu PC as host, Steamdeck as client
  • Video and audio work
  • The game does not register any controller inputs from the Steamdeck client
  • The game does however register mouse (touchscreen) and keyboard (kb overlay) inputs from the client

Controller inputs work on every 20th start of a game though. This lead me to the conclusion that it is something timing related.

WORKAROUND:

  • Add a sleep 3 before the game launch via the steam launch options: sleep 3; %command%

The workaround is confirmed to work for all games that I tried:

  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Witcher 3
  • Brotato
  • Cult of the Lamb

One game is special since it works even without the workaround (probably because of the dx/opengl/mods dialog before the actual game launch which acts as the "sleep" workaround here):

  • Core Keeper

Logs

Here are two streaming_log.txt for debugging:
https://gist.github.com/ChrisLuck/d0a3f38ff9e7cec61b94a152afbd79d2

  • One of a failed game start (controller inputs from client not working)
  • One of a successful game start (controller inputs from client working)

The game "Brotato" was used for testing since it has a short startup time. The log of the successful start was created with the "sleep" workaround from above.

Possible duplicates

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/8812

JJajcus 2025-02-02 github

Indeed, the 'sleep 3' trick does help. It fixed The Long Dark for me.

Mmatty-r 2025-02-26 github

Tried this for the first time today when trying to launch Heroes of Hammerwatch II, controller didn't work - workaround didn't fix it either. Then I immediately tried Rogue: Genesia and that did work without any workaround needed.

CChrisLuck 2025-02-26 github

Are you using an external controller or direct steamdeck input?
I also noticed that this workaround does not help for external controllers. It only works for direct steamdeck input.

Mmatty-r 2025-02-26 github

Are you using an external controller or direct steamdeck input? I also noticed that this workaround does not help for external controllers. It only works for direct steamdeck input.

I was using the direct steamdeck input.

00chroma 2025-03-18 github

this workaround sadly didn't seem to work for me, running debian sid and the steam flatpak on wayland

Mmoontaincow 2025-03-21 github

Seems to work streaming to my steam deck. What a pain it's been. Thanks.

Upstream links