sd-drivers

sd-drivers is a handy tool from Valve that really opens up the world of gaming on their new handheld console. With this portable device, gamers can enjoy lots of their favorite titles from Steam without breaking the bank. What’s cool is that Valve decided to use Linux as the operating system. This choice gives them full control over how the hardware and software work together, which means better performance for your games.

Compatibility with Your Favorite Games

Even though Valve has worked hard to make sure many games run smoothly through something called Proton, some players might still find that their go-to games aren’t fully supported yet. If you’re one of those gamers, you might be tempted to try Windows instead. But hold on! You may need sd-drivers to help with that.

The Steam Deck Controls

The Steam Deck comes equipped with buttons, joysticks, and D-pads that mimic Xbox controller inputs by default. This setup is pretty neat but can be a bit limiting if you're trying to play certain titles like Valorant without Steam running. In these cases, the trackpads might not work properly.

A Bypass for Better Game Control

This is where sd-drivers steps in! It helps you skip the Xbox input emulation layer entirely, translating your Steam Deck's raw controls into keyboard and mouse commands. This means no more input clashes when playing games that support full controller functionality.

Customize Your Inputs Easily

Once you’ve downloaded sd-drivers, you can easily preview and tweak your keyboard and mouse settings for different games. Just dive into the app’s “configs” folder and edit the files to set up your controls just right. This way, you'll take full advantage of all those input options and make it easier to play mouse-centric games if joystick aiming isn’t your thing.

Maximize Your Gaming Experience

If you're looking to get creative with using both trackpads during gameplay—especially in First-Person Shooters or point-and-click adventures—then sd-drivers could be just what you need! It's one of the few ways outside of Valve’s own desktop client settings to get around those Xbox controller limitations.