The new Steam Controller has a critical compatibility problem on Windows: it does not work natively with games launched through the Xbox app or PC Game Pass without third-party software, according to reports from the gaming community. While Valve’s controller performs flawlessly inside the Steam ecosystem, the moment you try to play a Game Pass title, the advanced features—gyro controls, trackpad input, and custom configurations—simply vanish.
Key Takeaways
- Steam Controller lacks native Windows drivers outside the Steam ecosystem, breaking Xbox app compatibility.
- Advanced features like gyro and trackpad controls do not function in Game Pass games without workarounds.
- GlosSI, a free community-made tool, can restore full functionality for Xbox app titles.
- Basic XInput support works outside Steam, but premium features require third-party intervention.
- Adding Game Pass games to Steam via UWP hook is an alternative solution for full feature access.
Why the Steam Controller Fails on Xbox App Games
The root cause is architectural: the Steam Controller operates through Steam Input, Valve’s custom input layer that sits between the controller hardware and games. This system works perfectly for titles launched within Steam, but the Xbox app creates a locked-down environment that prevents Steam Input from intercepting controller signals normally. Microsoft’s app boundaries isolate input handling in a way that blocks Valve’s software from functioning as intended.
This is not a new problem. The original Steam Controller faced nearly identical compatibility issues when it launched, and the community eventually built workarounds. History appears to be repeating itself. The controller does provide basic XInput support outside Steam—meaning buttons and analog sticks register in most games—but this baseline functionality strips away everything that makes the Steam Controller special: the precision of gyro aiming, the flexibility of the trackpads, and the ability to remap inputs on the fly.
The Community Workaround: GlosSI
The practical solution already exists, thanks to fan developers. GlosSI, a free tool created by the community, tricks the Xbox app into behaving like Steam from an input perspective. By wrapping Game Pass games in GlosSI, users can restore system-wide input handling and regain access to all the Steam Controller’s advanced features. The tool essentially acts as a bridge between the locked-down Xbox app environment and the controller’s full capability set.
Early reports suggest that a quick update to GlosSI could make this fix permanent and seamless for most users. This is the same pattern that solved the original Steam Controller’s compatibility crisis: the hardware works, but Windows and third-party apps need software intermediaries to unlock its potential. The difference now is that PC Game Pass has become a major distribution platform, making this limitation far more visible and frustrating for mainstream players.
Alternative Workaround: Adding Games to Steam
For users who prefer not to rely on third-party tools, there is another path: adding Game Pass games directly to Steam using a UWP hook. This approach treats the Game Pass title as if it were a native Steam game, allowing Steam Input to manage the controller natively. The downside is extra setup steps and the need to maintain the UWP integration, but it does deliver full feature access without external software dependencies.
This workaround highlights an uncomfortable truth: if you want the complete Steam Controller experience on Windows, you may need to buy the game on Steam instead of relying on the Game Pass version. For players who subscribe to Game Pass for its value proposition—access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee—this creates a friction point that undermines the controller’s appeal.
How This Compares to the Original Steam Controller
The new Steam Controller is technically superior to its predecessor in almost every way, yet it has inherited the same ecosystem fragmentation problem. The original controller worked flawlessly in Steam but struggled everywhere else. Valve did not solve this at the hardware or driver level; they simply built such a compelling input solution that the Steam community rallied around it and created fixes. The new controller is repeating this cycle, which suggests Valve views third-party software compatibility as acceptable rather than a priority to address natively.
This stands in sharp contrast to how Xbox controllers integrate smoothly across Windows, the Xbox app, and Game Pass. Microsoft’s first-party controller enjoys native driver support across its entire ecosystem. The Steam Controller, despite being a premium input device, remains tethered to Steam for full functionality—a limitation that feels increasingly outdated as Game Pass grows as a gaming platform.
Will Valve Fix This Natively?
There is no indication that Valve plans to release native Windows drivers for the Steam Controller outside the Steam ecosystem. The company’s strategy appears to be letting the community solve compatibility problems through tools like GlosSI rather than investing engineering effort into universal driver support. This approach has worked before, but it places the burden on users to discover and install third-party software just to use a premium controller on legitimate gaming platforms.
For Valve, the incentive structure is clear: every player who uses the Steam Controller is likely playing games through Steam, which benefits the company’s storefront directly. Game Pass represents a rival distribution channel, and there is little commercial motivation to make the Steam Controller work smoothly with Microsoft’s service.
Does the Steam Controller work at all on Windows without workarounds?
Yes, the Steam Controller provides basic XInput support on Windows outside of Steam, meaning buttons and analog sticks function in most games. However, advanced features like gyro controls and trackpad input do not work without third-party software or adding the game to Steam via a UWP hook.
Is GlosSI safe to use with the Steam Controller?
GlosSI is a community-made tool that is free and widely used by PC gamers to solve input compatibility issues. It acts as a compatibility layer between the Xbox app and the Steam Controller. Users should download it from trusted sources, but the tool itself is not a security risk.
Should I buy games on Steam instead of Game Pass if I want to use the Steam Controller?
If you want access to the Steam Controller’s full feature set—gyro, trackpad, and custom remapping—then yes, buying on Steam is the simplest path. However, GlosSI or the UWP hook workaround can restore full functionality for Game Pass versions without requiring a purchase, though both require extra setup steps.
The new Steam Controller is an excellent input device, but its reliance on Steam Input creates real friction for PC Game Pass players. Until Valve releases native Windows drivers or Microsoft updates the Xbox app to support third-party input layers natively, users will need to choose between convenience and features. For a premium controller in 2025, that should not be an acceptable trade-off.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Windows Central
