Oct 18, 2015 - You can use it like a standard controller with your left thumb on the. Steam Controller (left), DualShock 4 (top), Xbox One Controller (right).
You can use a PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 controller, but they're not plug and play and overall people tend to go for a Logitech 710 or 770 because there's less hassle. Connecting with a USB registers it as a Generic USB Controller. To get more from it, you'll have to configure it with additional software, in most cases. There are several methods to accomplish this.
The two main methods are with SCP or MotionJoy (not both). MotionJoy is depreciated in most cases and the software is usually found on sites users report gave them a virus or malware. Additionally, MotionJoy requires a Bluetooth adapter for the DS3 to work. Outlined on this, downloading makes the DS3 controller work in Steam and Windows. The SCP download page has the following instructions: SCP Pre-Instal 1.) Update your 360 controller drivers if you haven't done so.
2.) Make sure you have Microsoft.NET 4.0 and Visual C 2013 installed New Install Connect your Dongle and controller via USB and let Windows install its default drivers. Unpack the archive. Create a directory where you want the Service to run from. Recommend - 'C: ScpServer'. Create from an elevated command prompt if you have UAC enabled.
The directory should not be created anywhere off your User directory (eg on your Desktop, or in your Downloads directory), it should also not be on a Network drive. Copy the contents of the ScpServer bin to the directory you created. Run ScpDriver.exe. Windows XP/Vista - check the Force Install option. Win 7/8/8.1/10 leave it unchecked.
Click Install. Users in the Steam Forum are reporting this still works with Windows 10 because it's wrapped as an XB controller.
AS AN ASIDE PS4 controllers are supported in Windows 10 and Steam is adding native support. Sony already sells a wireless PC adapter (and despite Xbox One controllers being plug and play, the wireless adapter is also sold my Microsoft for their brand). Many Steam Games developers already include mappings for PS4 controllers using the ABXY button configuration because all controllers in Steam use the same API (icon change is up to the developer), so if you're looking to use a PlayStation Controller, you will have much better support using the DS4 over the DS3, especially in today's platform market.
Important: A third-party driver must be used to enable the Xbox 360 controller on a Mac. The driver available from can be used. Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Left 4 Dead have their own built-in configuration for the XBOX 360 controller. To use this configuration, simply open the console and type exec 360controller then press enter. For more information on enabling and using the console, please see the article.
These games use special joystick interface configurations that may interfere with the usability of the keyboard and mouse - if you wish to undo these configuration changes, there is a second configuration file you may run by opening the console and typing exec undo360controller then pressing enter. If you wish to customize the configuration, or use one of these configurations with Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, you will need to create your own copy in a text editor (such as Notepad) modifying the default settings below and save it as something different (such as joystick.cfg), then place it in the cfg folder inside the game's directory, which uses the following basic structure: Steam steamapps cfg. Windows PCs: Steam is located in C: Program Files by default. Mac OS X: /Steam/ is located in /Library/Application Support/ by default. The configuration file's contents are offered below for use in Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One, or for customization purposes; game-specific configurations are noted and should be left out when using in a different game. Please see the article for customization information.