New web app can make Valve's Steam Controller drift across your desk like an RC car - web app drives the gamepad using its rumble motors

A developer has created a Chromium browser-based tool that turns Valve's second-gen Steam Controller into a self-propelled RC car, steering it across a flat surface in real-time with no app or driver installed.

The page connects to the controller over WebHID, a browser standard for talking directly to USB and Bluetooth devices, and moves it by pulsing the gamepad's rumble motors. The Steam Controller first went on sale for $99 in early May and promptly sold out.

How It Works

The tool utilizes the controller's rumble motors, which, at the right frequency, cause the entire chassis to vibrate and creep across the surface in a chosen direction. The browser handles "steering" by varying the pulses sent to each gamepad stick, so leaning the output toward one motor turns the controller as it crawls. It's the same type of vibration-driven locomotion that powers cheap "bristlebot" toys.

As for connecting to the Steam Controller, WebHID grants low-level hardware access from the webpage once the user approves the controller via the browser's device picker, so the entire setup runs inside a single tab with nothing to download. WebHID is only supported in Chromium browsers, such as Chrome and Edge, and not Safari or Firefox.

Caveats and Recommendations

Naturally, the site comes with some small print that explains that the service is offered "as-is" with no warranty, and warns that driving the controller across the ground scrapes it and wears it down over time. It recommends flat, smooth surfaces that keep the gamepad moving and reduce abrasion.

Community Tinkering and Context

The community has been hard at work tinkering with the second-gen controller since its May launch. Valve released the Steam Controller's CAD files under a Creative Commons license shortly after launch, explicitly inviting users to design their own accessories. The gamepad pairs dual trackpads, gyro controls, and grip buttons, a mix of inputs Valve walked through in its developer interview with Tom's Hardware, and that range of hardware has drawn a wave of experiments since units reached buyers.

The repurposed rumble motors here have also been a sore spot for the controller. The firmware quirks caused the rumble to behave erratically or cut out entirely in some games, a problem Valve has been working to patch.

Demand and Availability

Demand has stayed high enough that resellers listed units above $300 after the launch stock sold out, and Valve has since opened a reservation system to push back against scalping bots. In a June 18 update, Valve said that "initial demand exceeded our expectations," but that it has "no plans to stop making Steam Controller." Those now joining the reservation queue will be given one of three timeframes - September 2026, December 2026, or 2027 - for when they can expect to receive an order email with an option to purchase.

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Luke James is a freelance writer and journalist. Although his background is in legal, he has a personal interest in all things tech, especially hardware and microelectronics, and anything regulatory.