The Steam Deck's built-in controls are fine for the couch. But dock it, or prop it up, and pair it with a SWORL, and you get leverless precision for fighting games and analog thumb domes for everything else, all in a setup that fits in a backpack.

Connecting the SWORL to your Steam Deck

1. Select PC mode by holding the PC mode button while plugging in. On the SWORL Basic, that's the second of the top-right buttons; on the Multiconsole, see the mode chart in our SWORL product guide.
2. Connect with a cable that carries both power and data, directly to the Deck's USB-C port or through a USB-C hub or dock.
3. Steam Input will detect it as a controller. Set it as Player 1 in the Quick Access menu if needed.

Both the SWORL Basic and SWORL Multiconsole support PC mode, so either one works with the Deck.

Power: what you need to know

The Deck has a single USB-C port, and the SWORL has LED lighting, so power planning matters more than with a simple button box.

• Use a PD passthrough hub or dock for long sessions. Plug the Deck charger into the hub, and the SWORL into a USB port on the hub. This keeps the Deck charging while you play.
• Turn down the LEDs. Hold Edit and press Down to reduce brightness. It lowers power draw when you're on battery.
• Connection issues? Try a powered hub and a known-good data cable first. That rules out the most common power and cable problems.
• On the go: a USB-C PD power bank into a PD passthrough hub gives you extra hours away from outlets.

Games that shine on SWORL + Steam Deck

Fighting games

• Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Where the analog thumb domes pay off

• Monster Hunter Wilds: analog movement plus camera control without lifting your thumbs
• Hades / Hades II: smooth analog movement and fast dashes
• Elden Ring and other action RPGs: remap dodge, attack and items to your strongest fingers
• Hollow Knight, Celeste and other platformers: crisp digital directions when you want them
• Vampire Survivors and other twin-stick style games

Check each game's Steam Deck compatibility rating on its Steam page before you buy. Some online games use anti-cheat that isn't supported on SteamOS, and heavier 3D games may need lower settings for good battery life.

Make a profile per game

The SWORL stores five profiles on the controller. A typical Steam Deck setup:

1. Your main fighting game
2. Action / RPG layout with triggers moved under your index and middle fingers (see The Natural Profile)
3. Platformer layout
4. Whatever you're playing this month
5. Default layout

Grab ready-made layouts from our blog, like Sekiro, Lies of P and The One-Handed Shooter, pull community layouts from the #sworl-layouts channel in our Discord, or build your own with the SWORL configurator.

Travel setup

• The SWORL's dual-compartment hard case protects it in a bag.
• A small Deck stand or dock keeps the screen at eye level on a table.
• Pack a USB-C PD hub and a data-capable cable.

Fighting games only? The MICRO + Steam Deck setup is even smaller. Comparing the two? Read SWORL vs Snack Box MICRO.

Shop the SWORL Multiconsole → · SWORL Basic →