You can use Steam Frame Controllers to play non-VR Steam games: Steam Input translates their controls into gamepad-style or keyboard-and-mouse input. Start a supported game either on the headset or stream it from your PC, then use the controllers. Compatibility depends on the game and, for local play, the headset’s software and hardware.
Choose where the game will run
Steam Frame supports both standalone play and streaming from a PC. These are different ways to run a game, but Valve says the controllers use Steam Input for non-VR titles in either case. Valve describes the controllers as having the capabilities of standard console game controllers, plus touch states, grip buttons, capacitive finger tracking and 6-DOF spatial tracking. Those additional VR-oriented features do not prevent non-VR use. Valve’s Steamworks documentation explains their capabilities and input support; its Steam Frame overview describes standalone play and PC streaming.
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| Play method | Where the game runs | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Locally on Steam Frame | On the headset | Check the game’s Steam Frame standalone compatibility status. Hardware and software compatibility can affect whether it runs well. |
| Streamed from a PC | On your PC; the headset receives the stream | Use the PC’s capabilities to run the game. The Steam Frame standalone compatibility badge does not assess streamed games. |
Start a non-VR game and use the controllers
- Choose a supported non-VR Steam game to run locally on Steam Frame or stream from your PC.
- Start the game using the chosen play method.
- Use the Frame Controllers. Steam Input sends the game either generic gamepad input or keyboard-and-mouse input, depending on the game and its configured bindings.
Valve’s Steamworks documentation puts it this way: “When playing Non-VR titles locally or via streaming the Frame Controllers take full advantage of Steam Input.” The practical result is that gamepad support is a straightforward fit, while a game configured around keyboard and mouse can receive those mapped inputs instead.
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If buttons or movement do not behave as expected, check the game’s controller configuration and Steam Input bindings. The bindings determine whether the game receives gamepad-style or keyboard-and-mouse input; there is no single binding setup that applies to every title. This guide does not prescribe a menu path because the available evidence does not establish universal current menu labels or a universal binding-edit procedure.
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For developers, Valve recommends its Steam Input API to provide correct controller glyphs in a game. That is a development recommendation, not a setup step players need to perform.
Check compatibility before local play
For games installed and run on Steam Frame, consult Valve’s Steam Frame Standalone Compatibility Review Process. Local ratings can be Verified, Playable, Unsupported or Unknown. Playable may mean that manual configuration is needed; Unknown means the compatibility review has not been completed. A rating is not a promise that every player’s experience will be identical.
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- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
Valve’s process evaluates standalone games, not games streamed from a PC. Its review criteria include a minimum of 30 fps at 1280×720 for 2D titles during normal play; this is a certification threshold, not a performance guarantee for any particular game. The same criteria specify 72 fps at 1728×1728 for VR titles, but that VR threshold should not be read as a target or promise for non-VR play.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallSome Windows games may depend on Proton and FEX compatibility layers when run locally, and performance can vary. A game that runs acceptably on a PC may not behave the same way on the headset. An independent PC Gamer hands-on report described playing Hades 2 locally with the Frame Controllers; the report is an example, not a compatibility guarantee for other games.
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- Also functions as an XInput controller for Windows 11/10 (wired mode only)
- Compatible with Steam and Steam Deck
What you need—and what you do not
The Frame Controllers are the input devices covered here; Valve says they support non-VR content without requiring a separate controller. The available documentation does not establish that the Frame Controllers work outside Steam, or that they are sold separately in every region. Avoid assuming that a local compatibility badge says anything about streaming: it evaluates local execution only.
Quick Recap
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- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
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