Introduction:

Gone are the days when gaming was restricted to a single platform or device. Today’s gamers demand versatility and ease-of-use when it comes to their preferred gaming controllers. One such controller is the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, gaining popularity among PC gamers due to its Bluetooth connectivity and compact design. In this article, we will guide you through the process of connecting your Joy-Cons to Steam for an enhanced gaming experience.

Step 1: Check Your Bluetooth Connection

Before you can use your Joy-Cons on Steam, make sure you have a computer with integrated Bluetooth or an external Bluetooth adapter. Ensure that your device is compatible with the Joy-Con controllers as well.

Step 2: Install vJoy and JoyToKey

To make your Joy-Con work seamlessly with Steam, you’ll need to download and install two essential programs:

1. vJoy: A device driver that acts as a virtual joystick for Windows, enabling support for various controllers.

   Download link: https://github.com/shauleiz/vJoy/releases

2. JoyToKey: Joystick-to-keyboard mapping software that allows your controller inputs to be recognized by Steam.

   Download link: https://joytokey.net/en/download

Install both applications before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Configure vJoy

Open vJoy after installation and follow these steps:

1. In the “Configure vJoy” window, choose “1” under “Number of devices.”

2. Ensure “Enable vJoy” is checked.

3. Set all sliders and checkboxes as shown in this image:

   Configuration Image: URL (Replace URL with an actual image reference if available)

4. Click “Apply,” then close vJoy.

Step 4: Configure JoyToKey

Open JoyToKey after installation and perform these steps:

1. In the “Profiles” tab, create a new profile, and name it “Steam.”

2. In the “Joystick 1” and “Joystick 2” tabs, set up the desired button mappings for your Joy-Con controllers.

3. Make sure to save your configuration before closing JoyToKey.

Step 5: Connect Your Joy-Cons to Your PC

Now that both software applications are configured, you can connect your Joy-Cons to your PC:

1. Enable Bluetooth on your PC.

2. Press and hold the small Sync button on the side of each Joy-Con until its LED lights start flashing.

3. In the Bluetooth settings on your PC, search for devices, and select the Joy-Con controller to pair it with your computer.

Step 6: Launch Steam

Once both Joy-Cons are connected to your PC through Bluetooth, open Steam in Big Picture mode:

1. Click the Gear icon in the top right corner of Steam.

2. Navigate to “Controller Settings.”

3. Click on “Detected Controllers,” then select “Define Layout” for each Joy-Con.

4. Assign buttons for each controller according to your preferred layout.

And that’s it! You can now play your favorite Steam games using Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons as controllers. As an added bonus, you can also create custom profiles for individual games using JoyToKey if you want a more tailored gaming experience. Happy gaming!