Steam Controller Gets New Features in Update

Valve today released a new update for the Steam beta client that, among other things, introduces new features for the Steam Controller. One of these is the ability to create multiple configurations and then switch automatically (via Kotaku). You can see the full Steam beta patch notes below.

Today's update also fixes the Steam Controller horizontal invert setting not working when using a mouse joystick and clears out a problem related to some games not applying the right controller settings.

For more on the Steam Controller, check out the unboxing video above and this story that covers everything you need to know about it.

There are also some new SteamVR-specific changes included with the update. Instructions for how to opt in to the Steam beta program on Windows PCs and Mac can be found here.

Steam Beta March 11 Patch Notes:

Friends

• Emoticons show up now in Big Picture

Steam Controller

• Added user definable action sets for legacy games.
• Users can now add additional action sets with their own sets of bindings. Action sets can be added/deleted/named as appropriate and selected via a binding. Note that unlike mode-shifts, action sets completely replace all currently active bindings, and can have their own mode shifts and so forth.
• Added New Controller Action binding types which will expand in the future with bindings that are not specific to the game, but rather higher level, as noted below.
• Added Change Action Set Binding - sets the action set to the next or a specified action set when used.
• Added Show Keyboard Binding - shows the on-screen keyboard
• Added Take Screenshot Binding - takes a screenshot
• Removed hard coded desktop keyboard shortcut (stick click) and replaced it with controller action binding in the default desktop configuration.
• Fixed some cases of non-steam games not applying controller settings. Ensure that "Allow Launchers" option is off for this to take effect.
• Fixed controllers not turning off on Suspend power mode in Desktop mode which could cause zombie controllers to be seen over wireless
• Fixed Horizontal Invert setting not working on Mouse Joystick

SteamVR

• Automatically launch SteamVR after it finishes updating
• Added the SteamVR tool in the SteamVR section in the Library view
• Added SteamVR to the jump list options
• Improved scrolling when using the touchpads in the Steam interface while in your HMD

VR Keyboard

• Fixes for URL entry in big picture