Does Deadlock have controller support?

Deadlock is a PC game exclusively, though that doesn’t mean people don’t want to play using other input devices. Whether you’re sporting an Xbox controller, a DualSense gamepad, or even a Switch Pro controller, you might want to see what the game is like with your preferred input.

However, at first glance, it seems like the game doesn’t support it. Here’s whether Deadlock has controller support.

Can you play Deadlock with a controller?

While the in-game settings and your attempts to use a controller may lead you to believe otherwise, it is possible to play Deadlock with a controller. You just need to jump through a quick hoop to do so. To enable controller support, head to Deadlock in your Steam Library and right-click it, selecting Properties from the new drop-down. This will bring up a new window, through which you want to select Controller and click “Use default settings”. Change this to “Enable Steam Input”, then exit this window and launch the game. From here, any controller you use should function.

However, this comes with a big caveat. While controllers do work in Deadlock, they can be a little difficult to use, along with some buttons not being mapped. For example, when I was testing out my Xbox controller I had no way of opening the pause menu without pressing Escape. It was also difficult to get a decent sensitivity, so trying to aim with any character was a challenge. Still, if you’re determined to play with a controller, maybe you can make it work.

Will Deadlock get proper controller support in the future?

As for whether Deadlock will get official controller support, Valve has yet to comment on the matter. However, there’s a strong likelihood it will. Seeing as Valve will likely want one of their games to perform well on the Steam Deck, there’s a good chance they’ll put some time in to refine it and add more important features such as aim assist. When or if Valve adds official controller support, we’ll update this article accordingly.