Steam Deck update focuses on better control over joysticks and tracking pads

Steam Deck review
(Image credit: Valve)

The Steam Deck has a brand new system update, including joystick calibrations, network options, and more.

Valve announced the new Steam Deck software update via the Steam forums earlier today on March 31. Perhaps chiefly, the new update introduces the option to change the dead zones for both joysticks, adjust the haptic strength on both of the Steam Deck's tracking pads, and adjust settings for external controllers.

Additionally, the Steam Deck will also now remember passwords for known networks. Whenever you go to reconnect to a network that you were previously connected to, Valve's handheld console now won't ask you to re-enter the known password after this update, which is no doubt a helpful fix for players.

There'll also be less stuttering after this update, due to an issue when downloading images for your games library being remedied. There's also a fix for Google Chrome not installing properly in the non-games section of the Steam Deck, and there's now dual trackpad typing support for the onscreen keyboard.

In all, it's a pretty straightforward patch for the Steam Deck. Earlier this month, it was reported that FromSoftware's Elden Ring was struggling to run on the new hardware, as repeated stuttering thanks mainly to pre-compiled shaders led to a slew of downvotes on its Steam page. Just like the new update, Valve put out a fix for the issue shortly after, and now every Tarnished on the Steam Deck is roaming The Lands Between entirely stutter-free.

Check out our complete Steam Deck review to see if you need to get your hands on Valve's latest hardware.

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.