As noted in a community update post, Valve Corporation, the developer of Steam, has finally added Nintendo Switch Joy-Con support to their platform, allowing fans of the controller to play on their PC with their Joy-Cons in both single controller and two separate mini-gamepad configurations.
This support comes as part of the recently re-released and updated Steam Client Beta program, which also supports controllers from Sony, Microsoft, and others; however, unlike many controllers, and perhaps the biggest con of the Joy-Cons – there is no way to wire them to a PC and consequently, they must be connected via Bluetooth. This will require a user planning on using the Joy-Cons to have a PC with built-in Bluetooth or to purchase a USB Bluetooth adaptor.
Since their release 5 years ago, the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons have become a familiar sight in the gaming sphere, and are as recognisable as the PlayStation Dual Shock or the Wii Remote two generations prior. Just a week prior to this plan, Steam announced support for Nintendo Online classic controllers, including those for the NES, SNES and N64.
To use this new function, users need to go into the Steam Client Beta program; go to the top left corner, click “Steam,” then “Settings,” then the “Account” tab, then in the “Beta Participation” section, they must click “Change.” Finally, users need to click the dropdown menu and select “Steam Beta Update.” This will reset Steam and then users will be able to enjoy their favourite steam game with Joy-Cons.
Words by Luke Horwitz