Valve announced a new icon will be present on certain games on Steam to convey support for certain gamepads. This icon will be present in addition to the generic gamepad icon that currently shows games have gamepad support in general. The new icon will show on games that have specific support for Dualshock 4 and Dualsense controllers, which are the official controllers of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, respectively.
These controllers are unique when compared to most X-Input controllers, as the two Sony-branded models have full Gyro support and a large touchpad, while the DualSense controller has haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. However, this icon does not separate between games that support Dualsense features and games that support both controllers.
Image Credit: Valve
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Enhanced Controller Support
- Valve's new gamepad icons on Steam highlight games that have specific support for Dualshock 4 and Dualsense controllers, signaling a trend towards enhanced controller compatibility in gaming.
- Distinctive Controller Features
- The addition of a new icon for games with Dualsense controller support on Steam reflects a growing trend of highlighting unique features, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, offered by different controllers.
- Emphasizing Controller Compatibility
- Valve's new icon system on Steam underscores the industry's emphasis on providing clear indications of controller compatibility, catering to the diverse range of gamepads available to players.
Where This Applies
- Gaming
- The gaming industry can capitalize on the opportunity to develop games that fully harness the capabilities of Dualshock 4 and Dualsense controllers, expanding the immersive gaming experience.
- Controller Manufacturing
- With the increased emphasis on controller compatibility, the controller manufacturing industry can explore innovations that provide enhanced functionality and unique features to cater to gamer preferences.
- Ecommerce
- eCommerce platforms catering to gaming enthusiasts can leverage the new gamepad icons as a selling point, promoting games with enhanced controller support and unique features, thus increasing sales.
