Steam Deck Beta Adds Xbox Firmware Warnings and Mutes the Reader
Valve's latest Steam Deck beta adds a warning for outdated Xbox controller firmware and remaps the screen reader mute button to avoid input conflicts.
In the latest update to the Steam Deck Client Beta, the company is patching how outdated controller firmware connects via bluetooth.
The Xbox Connection
According to the patch notes released on December 16, the Steam Deck will now actively detect when a user attempts to pair an Xbox controller running older firmware versions. Previously, these controllers might simply fail to connect properly without explanation. Now, the system will notify the player that the firmware is the culprit.
The solution involves leaving the Steam ecosystem briefly. Valve states that to fix these connectivity issues, users must connect the controller to a Windows PC and update the firmware via the Xbox Accessories App. It is a gentle reminder that while the Deck is a standalone device, it still occasionally needs a Windows chaperone for third-party hardware maintenance.
Accessibility Tweaks
The update also addresses a button mapping conflict in the accessibility settings. The Screen Reader's "Stop Talking" button has been moved to the X button. This change ensures that external gamepads can still open the Quick Access Menu using the Guide button plus their equivalent of the A button. Before this change, the input overlap likely caused some frustration for users relying on screen readers while docked.
Rounding out the update, Valve has added the ability to report suspicious or harassing group chat messages directly within the client. These features are currently available in the Preview/Beta channel, so expect them to trickle down to the stable branch once the community has thoroughly stress-tested them.
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