New Decky Plugin Turns Steam Deck Into Universal Bluetooth Controller

A new Decky plugin allows Steam Deck owners to use their handheld as a universal Bluetooth controller for other devices, including Mac and Windows PCs.

Steam Deck owners can now turn their handheld into a universal Bluetooth controller for other devices. This new capability expands the utility of the hardware beyond gaming, allowing it to pair with computers or other platforms. The change matters because it transforms the Steam Deck into a secondary input device for daily workflows.

Community tool expands handheld utility beyond gaming

The feature arrives via a new Decky plugin called 'Deck as Controller'. Decky serves as the primary plugin framework for the Steam Deck, enabling community-developed tools to extend system functionality. This specific plugin allows the handheld to emulate standard Bluetooth controllers.

The plugin supports three different controller types for compatibility with various target devices. It automatically turns off the Steam Deck's screen upon connection to save battery life. Installation requires the Decky Plugin Framework and can be completed manually or through Decky's developer mode.

Developer jmedina21 hosts the plugin on GitHub rather than the official Decky store. The developer primarily tested the tool on Mac and Apple devices during development. The author confirmed that the plugin also functions correctly on Windows PCs.

This release follows previous community efforts to expand Steam Deck capabilities, such as the last Steam Deck update that introduced mod management tools. Users interested in this functionality must install the plugin manually from the developer's GitHub repository.

Source: SteamDeckHQ