Mechanism, the company behind the “gaming pillow” for the Steam Deck and a growing list of grips for handheld consoles and PCs, has already produced its first Steam controller accessory. Valve’s new controller will be available for purchase on May 4, and on the same day Mechanismus will begin selling the BaseGrip for the Steam Controller, an accessory that will let you attach the controller to smartphones and several other mounts the company already sells.
The BaseGrip for the Steam Controller is designed to fit snugly on the back of the controller, while still leaving room for its magnetic charging puck to attach. And because most of the mechanism’s accessories are designed to work together, with the BaseGrip attached, you can connect the Steam Controller to a multitude of the company’s existing mounts, including a phone mount that lets you magnetically attach a smartphone to the top of the controller. With the phone and controller together, you theoretically have a tiny handheld console for playing games.
Or, well, you can do that someday. Valve has been pretty clear that the Steam Controller is designed to work only with Steam and the Steam Link app, which is why the mechanism notes that “the controller does not yet work on all iOS or Android devices.” You can use your smartphone, Steam controller, and Steam Link app to stream your PC games, but you may have difficulty playing more than that. Future software updates may improve support, but it makes using the Steam Controller with a smartphone a little less useful right now. However, this shouldn’t detract from the other accessories the mechanism offers, particularly its planned Steam Controller Dock, which proudly displays the controller when you’re not using it, and also includes a charging puck to keep it powered.
Mechanism says the BaseGrip for the Steam Controller will be available on May 4 for $9, or at a discounted price when bundled with other accessories. The Steam Controller Dock doesn’t have a final price yet, but Mechanisms says it will ship in June and you can join the waiting list to purchase it.
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