The Dead We Knew Controller Support
Does THE DEAD WE KNEW have controller support? Steam lists partial controller support. What that tag means, what to expect on day one, and how to set up a pad.
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THE DEAD WE KNEW's Steam page lists partial controller support. That is the official answer to the controller question as of launch — and the word partial is doing real work in that sentence. Here is what the tag means, what it does not mean, and how to set up a controller sensibly for day one.
What "partial controller support" means
Steam's own definition is straightforward: a game with partial controller support is playable with a controller, but requires a keyboard and mouse for some portion — typically menus, text entry or inventory management. In other words: expect the in-world gameplay (moving, aiming, fighting) to work on a pad, while UI-heavy screens may still want your keyboard within reach.
Before launch, an earlier community-tracked check described controller support as "not confirmed" — that has since been superseded by the official store tag, which is now the authoritative status. The exact boundary between pad-friendly and keyboard-required screens in the launch build is to be confirmed from live play; we will update this page once verified.
Setting up a controller on day one
- Plug in or pair before launching. Steam detects the controller at startup; switching mid-session works but starting clean avoids remapping hiccups.
- Check the in-game options first. Look for a control scheme or invert/ sensitivity settings before customizing anything.
- Use Steam Input if something does not work. Steam's controller configuration (Controller Settings → your pad → define layout) can map any missing function to a button or a touch-menu.
- Keep the keyboard nearby. With partial support, assume at least one menu will want it — that is what the tag promises.
Does it matter that much?
For this genre, yes and no. Open-world survival games are long-haul games — sessions stretch for hours — so comfort matters. But they are also menu-heavy: inventory triage, crafting queues and map planning are keyboard-and-mouse territory in most PC survival titles. A partial tag is a normal landing spot for an indie launch, and full support is a common EA-period patch. Whether THE DEAD WE KNEW upgrades its tag is to be confirmed — watch the launch tracker.
Verified on Steam Deck?
Not yet. The Steam Deck question is really the Linux question in disguise — the game has no verified rating and no ProtonDB reports at launch. That is tracked separately in Linux / Steam Deck status.