Prompt to activate PS3 controller connected via usb in Big Picture

steamopen Feature RequestBig PicturereviewedGeneral controller / Steam Input

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#204 · opened 2012-12-21 by tclaesson · updated 2026-08-16 · 1 comments · github

Ttclaesson 2012-12-21 github

Playstation controllers generally work well in big picture mode. There are some opportunities to make the experience better:

In order to function, after the controller has been connected the user has to push the playstation-button. This is really hard to figure out. One solution would be to prompt the user that a ps3-controller has been detected and instruct her to push the button for it to work.
The buttons and axes are not mapped by default, please ship a default configuration.

Thanks for your great work!

Ttutacat 2026-08-16 github

The axes now have a mapping but that would be a separate issue.

Connecting the controller is actually not a bug, this is a hardware feature of the controller to allow you to charge it without connecting to the system as another controller, it also allows you to assign the players in order.

Nevertheless there is nothing your computer can do to tell the controller to connect if you don't press the PS button.

This issue should be closed.

Nothing extracted yet.