Turns out PC gamers ARE stupid (kidding)

Lots and lots of Steam users use a controller. Most often a 360 pad

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/09/valve-reveals-just-how-many-pc-gamers-plug-in-gamepads-and-which-kinds/

One important note: this doesn't really mean they are used much. In fact, they aren't. I have an X1 controller at hand for racing and platforming. Otherwise I use M&K for everything else. I'm not alone, because it appears to be a secondary stat for many people:

"Another chart suggests that a majority of these connected controllers don't receive regular use, however. According to Valve, only 20 percent of Steam's Xbox One users connected that pad to a Steam game in the past month. That's the highest-percentage ratio for controller use over a 30-day span"

I typically only use a gamepad unless I need to use a KB/M, which isn't all that often with the types of games I play. I'm in the Xbox One (Elite) chunk there.

the joy of PC gaming is you don't have to choose

I constantly switch between my DS4, 360 pad and kb+m depending on the game and whether i'm playing it on my TV sitting on the couch or at my desk on the monitor

I have 4 DS3s hooked up to my HTPC for Lovers In A Dangerous Space Time (all with one cheapo bluetooth adapter)

X1 and DS4 on my main rig for whatever games work better with controllers.

Well, duh, only morons use m/kb in this day and age to play games.

Me however:

• KB/M=first-person-shooters & RTS games only
• Xbox Elite Controller=everything else

Yes, I'm one of those PC gamers who still prefers using controller and that's the best thing about PC, you have options to choose from. When gamepad isn't present on a certain game, then I'm totally down with KB/M.

Makes sense, PC gaming doesn't get AAA developed games anymore, practically everything SP is porrted.

I use a controller regularly. It is all about using the right tool for the job. Each peripheral has its strengths and weaknesses. I have the option to choose the best input method for each game unlike the consoles.

@xantufrog: I thought you were gonna talk about "Woke" The Verge and their piss poor attempt at building a PC, and called all their critics "Misogynist GamerGater Pigs"

There are plenty of games I use pad with... including sfv which gets a spin every day even though I use k/m primarily.

Also a lot of hunter vets scooped up mhw recently and probably threw in a controller for that because its familiar. Despite k/m controls being pretty tight there.

I will also say that if you have a controller plugged in and launch mhw... it moves you to big picture mode automatically. I know I plug and unplug my pad daily to avoid this.

Point being... many variables and factors here.

I always use my Xbone controller for games like Sonic, batman and DMC.

So you play Turn Based RPGs or MMO's with a controller? Or you don't play those games?

PC gaming doesnt mean mouse/kb.

PC gaming = use whatever peripherals you want/best for the type of game you're playing.

On a related note, this is good for Xbox players...

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-gaining-mouse-and-keyboard-support/1100-6462040/

@FireEmblem_Man: lol, no I missed that wild ride

@with_teeth26: agreed

The only thing I use a gamepad for is fighting games everything else is mouse and keyboard I wish RDR2 would come out on PC with the console versions . I own a PS4 but I hate aiming with a gamepad I'm always fighting with the analog stick auto aim doesn't help that much I need the mouse for that precision aiming.

I used DS 3 on some of selected PC games, last time i used it on Yakuza 0 for the minigames.

It's not like I do a lot of competitive gaming, so I use a PS4 controller. It's great with PC. Especially in Steam's Big Picture mode.

Okay. Not every game plays best on a M+KB. Many play best with a gamepad.

The great thing about PC is you get to choose what you use, and you can use literally anything (I think both the XBO and PS4 gamepads are literally connect and play now, with self-installing drivers).

@foxhound_fox: yes. I know. I note that in my OP. Was being silly in the overall tone of the thread

@xantufrog: Silly? In System Wars? What's that?

the Steam controller is the real star. I also like Valve's BPM options for controllers.

I have an Xbox One controller for classic collections that need a D pad. I tried to use it in GTAV once and it sucked, went right back to M+KB.

I have an XBox One controller. I don't use it much, but it's still nice to have.

Right tool for the job and all that. Wouldnt dream of playing dragon quest 11 with K/M when I can lay in bed with my xbox controller. Same deal with hollow knight.

But for computer rpgs, strategy, or fps I wouldnt dream of using a controller. Tried it with divinity original sin 2 and it was awful.

Here's a video

I must be really stupid because I use like four controllers. I got my flightstick, my throttle, my steam controller, my xbox controller.

No, wait...really really stupid because I also strap this funny looking video screen to my head and wave my hands around with two more controllers.

I toned down my PC gaming from years past when I'd have a set of driving wheels/pedals, flight stick/rudder pedals, gamepad, and keyboard/mouse.

Nowadays, I just have the keyboard/mouse, Logitech joystick with twist handle (for flight sims, mech games), and a wired 360 controller (rarely used). The last time I used the 360 controller was with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light years ago.

@FireEmblem_Man: Yea in this day & age with so many youtube channels already have PC building guide, if they're gonna put out a guide to building a PC, they'd better make damn sure they were doing it correctly. Apparently 13 people were involve in The Verge video...lol..seems like none of them had a clue about building a PC. :P

Ever since Steam got Switch controller support, that's what I've been using. It shits all over my 360 controller. Fucking love it.

I recommend this to all PC/Switch gamers out there.

I prefer controllers with certain games.

For me:

- First Person Shooters

- RTS

are always played with a mouse & keyboard

- Third Person Games

- Racing games

are always played with a controller

Of course there are exceptions, because Remedy games and other TPS I play with mouse & keyboard.

I love switching over to the control type that works best.

Rarely use a controller, just gives a shit experience.

Weird. I've used controllers for 25 years and they do just great. had many great experiences.

Well, if you're used to something better then you'll have a worse experience if you suddenly use something worse.

There's nothing wrong with using controllers though but I do understand what @Random_Matt is saying. If I play a game where aim matters with a controller, I just feel handicapped, it's just not as fun for me as using m/kb. Hell, playing VR shooters feels even more freeing and is even more accurate than the m/kb combo.

M&KB still dominates. The chart shows that only 20% of people that have an xbox one controller connected to their PC used it in the last month and only 9% of the people that have a PS4 controller connected used that in the last month. Whats more 45% of people surveyed have connected a 360 controller to their PC and only 13% have used it in the last month.

Personally I only ever use a controller in fighting, side scrolling platform and racing games .

Yeah I was basically like that until I just said **** it and bought an Xbox. Major reasons being I play only AAA mainstream bullshit 99% of the time.

My Xbox library is twice as big as my Steam one after a few years.

Although I might add, I did love the 360 pad so it does not surprise me that is the preferred pad on Steam. It took me awhile to get adjusted to the Xone pad.

i dont understand playing games with a controller.

I accept that people like it, I have tried, I dont, even more so if the game has a lot of different controls to it.

MMO hasn't been interesting to me for years. Depending on turn-based RPG games, I'll test out KB/M first and if that type of turn-based doesn't fit for me with KB/M, then I'll use controller. I do however will test a game with KB/M if it works well for me in most games but if not, it's Xbox Elite controller to the rescue.

my PC setup is kinda odd. I cant really use a mouse and keyboard for gaming with it as i basically dont have the room for a computer desk. its treated more like a console in that regard: hooked up to my telly and using wireless devices.

when using a KB+M normally i have them sitting on a plank of wood across my lap. this is fine for browsing or typing but playing something like doom....yeah they will fall off my lap.

so at the moment i use a 360 controller or a steam controller. im using the 360 controller a lot a the moment for F1 2017 and other racing games. the longer pull on the triggers is nice for controlling the go pedal.

the steam controller is for everything else. i tried the 360 controller with doom to see what it was like:.....nooo. not for me.

Never ever ysed a controller apart from the time when I use Joystick for flight sim games back in the day.

so how do you type on the internets or look up something in a wiki for a game you are playing?

I use controller most of the time unless I'm playing RTS, MMO or FPS. I did played Witcher 1 and 2 with KB/M but when I played W3, it was all controller.

They do make these: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAGMF7CZ3095&cm_re=couchmaster-_-9SIAGMF7CZ3095-_-Product

That’s weird. I only buy games on PC that are best or better with KB/M.

Like Doom and Civ etc.

I have ALWAYS hated playing with a keyboard unless I am playing some RTS type game Call me crazy, I prefer analog stick for movement and mouse for aiming in FPS games. Been doing this for a while in one way or another. For the last 6yrs, I have been using a PS3 Navi controller for my movement and a gaming mouse. I map the buttons needed across the two devices. I do this on my consoles at times as well.

Platformers/3rd person action games etc, I use my Elite controller, racing I use my Fantec wheel setup, flying I use my HOTAS.

Ahhh...choice.

I dont know how people do it.

WASD to me feels as natural as real walking.

I tried with controllers and I just cant, and never mind any game that requires any level inputs other than very basic.

in fact, even 7 days to die which is on console I cant imagine playing on console, that would be a disaster for me.

Now I see why you hate 3rd person action adventure games, fighting games or hack n slash games, you can't stand games that need precision or reflexes. lol