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[kingfey]

Only around 10% of Steam gaming sessions are played with a controller

Keyboard and mouse remains the PC gamer's favorite way to play.

www.pcgamer.com

Valve has released a bunch of interesting info in its Steam Year in Review 2021, including controller usage statistics. According to Valve, there are currently 48 million controllers "registered by Steam users," and they're used in over 10% of all gaming sessions. I wonder how many of those are Steam controllers?

Back in February, a Steamworks update added a new controller usage stats page where developers can see a detailed breakdown of how often players are using controllers in their games, and what kinds of controllers they're using. The data includes gamepads, flight sticks, racing pedals, and even dance pads. Basically, anything that plugs into your PC and can be used to play a game (like a banana) but isn't a mouse and keyboard is counted as a controller.

It wasn't surprising to read that, back in 2021, over 70% of fighting and sports games were played with a controller (or a fight stick), while that number falls to below 1% for RTS games. Only 7-8% of players use a controller for first-person shooters. 3rd person action/adventure games like Elden Ring saw a near 50/50 split between controller and keyboard and mouse usage, which is surprising, as the genre often puts controllers first. Elden Ring's mouse and keyboard support isn't the best, for example.

Valve offered examples of how using this data could help a dev improve controller support for their games. Suppose you notice that PlayStation controller usage falls below the global average (24%); you might want to check if the correct PS button prompts are displaying in its game instead of an Xbox controller.

Steam's year in review also noted that players logged over 21% more playtime in 2021 than 2020. The active daily users sit around 69 million, with a concurrent count of 27.4 million. Steam also delivered over 32.9 exabytes of data, which is a lot of games downloaded in 2021.

 

[ParaSeoul]

steam hardware survey

 

[Haint]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

 

[AndrewRyan]

I'm in the 10% and only use kb/m for RTS games. I wish publishers on PC offered controller-only online matches.

 

[existensmaximum]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

This 100%. Personally I wouldn't play any third person game with KB/M either, but for shooters I can at least understand it to some degree.

 

[rofif]

Of course because you have to buy it.
For me, controller is more comfortable for my posture and for my hands.
So what you aim slower? Aiming up headshot is just a means to a gameplay. If it's most of the gameplay, then there are other issues

 

[BennyBlanco]

Really burying the lede of 69M daily users.

 

[nkarafo]

I'm one of those people.

Gamepad lets you sit comfortably in any posture you want, on your couch or bed, and you only have to use your fingers. It's so relaxing.

With a KB/Mouse you are stuck on a desk with a certain posture and you have to use the motors of your wrists and some of your arm.

 

[Elder Legend]

I use controller for stuff like Elden Ring, Racing Games and Fighting. For FPS and RTS on PC KBM all the way. But I game more on my Xbox Series X and PS5, but was raised on PC so for me it's only the genre that decides what I use for controlling.

 

[Shai-Tan]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

before I got an Xbox controller I played Devil May Cry 4 with kb/m and it wasn't that bad. however, I remember DMC Devil May Cry having really off kb/m controls because you had to hold shoulder buttons to switch stances and that mapped to holding shift or something on kb/m.

 

[Dream-Knife]

I play most games with a controller actually. I only play FPS with M&K except for Halo MCC.

I don't play RTS or MMOs though.

 

[Diddy X]

I avoid kb/m unless strictly necessary as in RTS games.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

All depends on a game.

I can't imagine playing Doom using a controller the same way I can't imagine playing Forza Horizon using mouse and keyboard.

It's good to have options!

 

[Braag]

I play first person games, strategy games and certain RPGs (Dragon Age, Diablo) with kb/m, everything else with a controller.

 

[Pejo]

This has got to be skewed by shit like CS:GO and DOTA and stuff. They should have excluded free games.

 

[Schmick]

My friend plays Rocket League with keyboard and mouse. Madness.

 

[DrSerigala]

All depends on a game.

I can't imagine playing Doom using a controller the same way I can't imagine playing Forza Horizon using mouse and keyboard.

It's good to have options!

I know youtuber that play forza with mouse and keyboard and play better than most of controller player

 

[MidGenRefresh]

I know youtuber that play forza with mouse and keyboard and play better than most of controller player

There's probably a YouTuber playing Forza using Guitar Hero controller and doing it better than most controller players. So what? It's stupid.

 

[OZ9000]

I play every single title on my PC using a controller.

It's much more comfortable and easier for me - with one notable exception - Doom Eternal. I would probably have a slightly easier time if my controller had back paddles but I am not going to pay $150 for a shitty Elite controller.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

no doubt. Spent all money on PC parts but save by not dropping £50+ on a decent game pad. That was me back in 2011 and just made do with K&M for most of my games even GTA IV was being played on K&M.

 

[Protocol7]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

This!
I remember watching people play God of War and realizing they were playing with a KB/M... I was shocked... litterally...

 

[RoboFu]

I'm a weirdo then. I will never play with m/kb . Ever. Never!! You can't make me!!

 

[SeraphJan]

Yup, that's the reason a lot of good console games ported to steam receiving mixed review just because of bad K/M implementation

 

[GymWolf]

 

[Hezekiah]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

I've done it from time-to-time, but after ten years with a gaming PC I finally bought a controller in 2020. Best of both worlds.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

There are people on Steam unironically playing JRPGs with keyboard. PC gamers are weird.

I switched to PC but I'll always be a console gamer at heart.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

Prefer controller for everything on PC.

Tried KB+M once, hated it. On top of that, I don't really play the main genres that need/benefit from KB+M (first person shooters, strategy games, point and click adventures, etc).

 

[rodrigolfp]

while that number falls to below 1% for RTS games. Only 7-8% of players use a controller for first-person shooters.

Lunatics and masochists.

 

[Midn1ght]

I play 90% with Controller (Xbox Series X, PS5 and Steam Controller).

KB/M for CSGO, Halo Infinite and DayZ.

 

[rodrigolfp]

This!
I remember watching people play God of War and realizing they were playing with a KB/M... I was shocked... litterally...

It's actually very good. Godlike axe aiming with pathetic aim assist for the baddies turned off.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Most if not all my PC gaming is done via controller

 

[JCK75]

I would only use controller if I'm running emulation or a racing game, but that's if I'm being too lazy to break out my wheel+pedals.

 

[Hezekiah]

I'm one of those people.

Gamepad lets you sit comfortably in any posture you want, on your couch or bed, and you only have to use your fingers. It's so relaxing.

With a KB/Mouse you are stuck on a desk with a certain posture and you have to use the motors of your wrists and some of your arm.

Get a wrist rest.

 

[kingfey]

There are people on Steam unironically playing JRPGs with keyboard. PC gamers are weird.

I switched to PC but I'll always be a console gamer at heart.

Jrpg is great with K/M. It makes the game go fast. Since turn based games react faster to mouse, compared to controllers.

 

[adamsapple]

That's a shockingly low number TBH.

 

[GametimeUK]

I use controller most of the time, but it's entirely dependent on what game I'm playing.

 

[nkarafo]

Get a wrist rest.

That doesn't solve the problem of having to use the wrists in both hands. My keyboard hand gets more tired actually.

It also doesn't solve the problem of having to be stuck on a desk.

Lunatics and masochists.

Modern FPS games (and source ports of older ones) usually have pretty good controller support, with the right sensitivity, dead zone, acceleration, response, etc. It's no different than playing an FPS on a console.

Some older ones are more of a pain to play such way (i found Half-Life 2 to be hard to play).

I also don't play multiplayer twitch shooters, so i don't care.

 

[Bonfires Down]

I use DS4+gyro whenever possible. A keyboard is just not a fun gaming device.

 

[Holammer]

Right tool for the right job.
The stats heavily favor m+kb simply because the most played games on Steam are ideal for it. Elden Ring is the only one in the current top10 that's better with pad.
Some may prefer souls games with m+kb, but they are stark raving mad. Possibly dangerous to kids and small animals.

If fighting games were a little bit more mainstream and pulling a huge concurrent crowd, numbers would look different.

 

[Fbh]

I played Doom Eternal on PC with a controller

 

[Hari Seldon]

That makes sense since console games are simply not as popular on PC as PC games.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I play almost all games on controller now. But I don't play RTS or MMORPGs.

 

[Guilty_AI]

People playing third person non-shooters with a KB/M are weird as fuck. In terms of comical ridiculousness, it's almost on the level of hacking Wii Balance Board or Guitar Hero Guitar support into regular games.

i play Sekiro with a M&K

 

[SF Kosmo]

I was a M&K stalwart for a long time, but even I'm over it by now. If I'm not playing a competitive FPS, or like an RTS or MMO, I am using an Xbox controller.

 

[Graciaus]

I play from my couch. I always use a controller unless it is impossible. I don't play online games anymore don't care about precise aiming.

 

[Tg89]

the most played games on steam generally aren't controller friendly so this makes sense.

No one is playing counter strike or Dota with a controller.

 

[JimboJones]

Almost never use mouse and keyboard.

 

[Xdrive05]

I play from my couch. I always use a controller unless it is impossible. I don't play online games anymore don't care about precise aiming.

This is the way. Unless you're playing a twitch shooter or RTS, then you're dealing with KB&M on a couch which is not awesome.

I'm using an office borrowed Dell keyboard and mouse for Windows navigation and a long ass USB splitter. Almost tempted to get a dedicated wireless kb&m just for TV use convenience. We could use a thread for comfy couch PC gaming tips.

 

[EverydayBeast]

It's their style of play.

 

[OverHeat]

I'm using a scuf controller!