The Steam Box, Xbox One, and PS4 game controllers are all marvels of invention and evolution, but chances are unless you have a lot of money on hand, there can be only one. In previous battles right here on The Inquisitr , the Steam Box game controller beat both of the next-gen console controllers one on one due to its hackable button system, but it’s time to end the battle once and for all and put the Steam Box, Xbox One, and PS4 game controllers in the ring all together for the death match.
First off, the number of buttons available for the controllers in question leaves the Steam OS game controller well ahead with 16 in all. Of course, in the middle of a game this could be confusing, but remember that the next-gen controllers have about the same number. However, instead of being stuck with which button does what, the Steam Box game controller lets you hack it and switch the buttons until you find a configuration you like, unlike the Xbox One and DualShock 4 controllers which may have four presets at most to choose from.
The ergonomics of the controllers tends to leave the Steam Box game controller behind, except for the fact that the bulky handles seem made to “force” the hands toward the middle where all of the important functions are, giving the thumbs and other fingers easier access to everything in general.
The touch pad is the one function that leaves the Xbox One controller out in the cold. With that said, the DualShock 4 version is smaller, giving less surface space to play around, and doesn’t give you any options for functionality other than what the developer decides to give you.
The absence of joysticks and a directional pad is what separates the Steam Box game controller from the rest and may alienate most long-time gamers, but we all get used to new controllers after a while, as we did with the first Xbox and the Dreamcast.
For pure functionality, the Steam Box game controller beats both the Xbox One and DualShock 4 controllers, even if the ergonomics will seem weird at first. What do you think?