How to use the Steam Controller (2026) with non Steam games and Xbox Game Pass titles on Windows

The new Steam Controller is designed to work through Steam using Steam Input since Steam Input acts as a translation layer between the controller and the game, allowing advanced features like touchpads, gyro aiming, and remapping. But, games installed through the Xbox app as part of Xbox Game Pass operate in a restricted environment on Windows. Which means these games are almost always set up in a way that prevents external applications from interacting with them at a system level. Causing the new Steam controller not to work in a ton of non Steam games. That said, there are a few potential solutions getting around for some games.

How to use the Steam Controller (2026) with non Steam games and Xbox Game Pass titles on Windows

At this point in time (release) the new Steam controller will not work with Game Pass Games and the Xbox app for the following reasons:

• Steam cannot attach its input layer to these games
• The controller does not get recognized through Steam Input
• Advanced controller features do not activate
• In some cases, the controller does not work at all

This is not a hardware failure or a Steam Controller limitation in isolation. It is a compatibility issue between Steam Input and Microsoft’s game distribution and security model. Why it's bad news for Game Pass content there there are workaround for other platforms like GOG, and some other launchers.

Add non Steam games to Steam

For a lot of other PC games, the easiest solution is to add the games to Steam then launch them from steam. When launched through Steam, Steam Input becomes active and the controller works as expected. Though some of the controllers features will only work in supported games.

• Open Steam
• Go to Games
• Select Add a non Steam game to my library

• Find the game executable and add it

This works well for:

• GOG games
• Standalone PC games
• Older Windows titles

Use Steam Input configurations

Once the game is launched through Steam:

• Steam Input can emulate Xbox controller inputs
• Keyboard and mouse bindings can be assigned
• Community controller layouts can be used

This often allows full functionality even in games without native controller support.

Use standard controller mode

If advanced features are not required:

• The controller can be set to behave like a standard gamepad
• This improves compatibility but disables advanced Steam Controller features

Major Steam Controller Limitations

There are important limitations that cannot currently be bypassed, though I'm sure there will be plenty of bypasses available before too long.

• Xbox Game Pass games often cannot be added to Steam due to Windows permissions and packaging restrictions
• Steam Input cannot attach to these titles
• Some advanced controller features such as touchpad customization, gyro layers, and per game profiles may not function outside Steam Input
• Certain Microsoft Store games are fully sandboxed, preventing external input tools from interacting with them
• Workarounds may break after system or game updates

In short, the controller works best inside the Steam ecosystem and degrades outside it.

Speculated Future Fixes from Steam and Microsoft?

There is a realistic possibility that this will improve over time.

On the Steam side:

• Valve could expand Steam Input to better interface with Windows Store and Game Pass titles
• Improved virtual controller emulation could reduce dependency on direct game access

On the Microsoft side:

• Microsoft could expose a more open input layer for Game Pass games
• The Xbox app could allow third party input systems to hook into running games more cleanly
• Standardized controller APIs could be improved for Windows gaming

If these changes happen, most compatibility issues would disappear without user intervention. However, this requires cooperation between platforms and changes at the operating system level, so it is not guaranteed or immediate.

Modders will Save us as usual...

As always it's the gaming and modding community that will come together to solve most of these problems. They always do. Just give it a little bit of time and there's no reasons all of these issues can't be solved with some sort of community based workaround.