Yes. Valve says you can use a Steam Deck as a controller for a PC through Steam Remote Play. The PC runs the game; the Deck connects to it and sends control input. This documented method is for Steam Remote Play, not proof that the Deck works as a universal Bluetooth gamepad.
How using the Steam Deck as a controller works
Remote Play streams a game’s video and audio from a gaming PC to another device, while sending input from that device back to the PC. Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ says, “Yes, you can connect your Steam Deck to a PC via Remote Play and use it as a controller.” Valve’s Steamworks Steam Deck FAQ similarly says Remote Play can treat the Deck as a controller and recognize its controls.
In practice, the game remains running on the host PC, and the Deck supplies input over the Remote Play connection. Valve describes Steam Link as the route for connecting a supported destination device to a computer running Steam. Its Steam Remote Play page explains the video, audio, and input flow.
What you need
- A PC running Steam with the game you want to play.
- A Remote Play connection between that PC and the Steam Deck.
- The Deck’s built-in controls, which Valve says the PC recognizes through this method.
Valve’s guidance confirms the feature, but does not provide a detailed current, click-by-click setup sequence for using the Deck only as a controller.
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- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Remote Play versus a separate controller
| Consideration | Steam Deck through Remote Play | Separate physical controller |
|---|---|---|
| Host PC running Steam | Required for Valve’s documented method. | Not established by the cited Valve guidance. |
| Game stream on the Deck | Remote Play sends game video and audio to the Deck. | Not established by the cited Valve guidance. |
| Compatibility | Valve documents the Deck’s controls being recognized through Remote Play. | Depends on the controller and setup; not established here. |
| Latency, battery impact, and convenience | Not established by the cited sources. | Not established by the cited sources. |
If you already have a Steam Deck and a PC running Steam, Valve’s documented route does not require buying another controller. The cited guidance does not establish whether the Deck can pair as a Bluetooth gamepad with arbitrary devices, so do not assume this Remote Play feature provides universal Bluetooth controller support.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Valve’s Steam Input figures do—and do not—show
In its June 26, 2024 Steam Input update, Valve reported that controller use accounted for about 5% of Steam sessions in 2018 and up to 15% by the time of that update. Valve also said about 42% of Steam controller sessions used Steam Input, which enabled use of more than 300 supported controllers. These are figures Valve reported in that 2024 update, not current live measurements; they provide context about Steam controller support but do not establish broader Bluetooth compatibility for the Deck.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
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