Steam Deck Revival: Pillars of Eternity & Deadfire Receive Native PC Controller Support and Turn-Based Rework
Steam Deck Revival: Pillars of Eternity & Deadfire Receive Native PC Controller Support and Turn-Based Rework
Obsidian Entertainment rolls out major public beta patches across both cRPG classics, introducing native gamepad UI, seamless input hot-swapping, and overhauled initiative mechanics.
In an unexpected quality-of-life push for isometric cRPG enthusiasts, Obsidian Entertainment has officially launched public beta updates for both Pillars of Eternity (Patch 1.3.10.0) and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. The headline feature brings full native controller support to PC, Linux, macOS, and Steam Deck—replacing clunky mouse-emulation profiles with dedicated radial menus and contextual button prompts.
Alongside gamepad integration, the update delivers a substantial overhaul to Deadfire's Turn-Based Mode (TBM), introducing dynamic speed-based initiative turns, a 35% global lethality buff, and the ability to toggle between real-time with pause (RTwP) and turn-based combat mid-campaign.
1. Full Native Gamepad Integration & Steam Deck UX
Prior to this update, playing the Pillars of Eternity duology on handheld devices like the Steam Deck relied heavily on community trackpad layouts to emulate mouse pointers. The new public beta natively integrates gamepad navigation across every game sub-system.
Gamepad UX & Controller Features
Seamless Hot-Swapping
Dynamically switches between mouse/keyboard and controller inputs instantly based on active hardware movement.
Radial Action Menus
Custom radial wheel layouts grant rapid access to party abilities, spellbooks, inventory, and naval combat controls.
Steam Deck Integration
Includes native Big Picture on-screen keyboard support for character naming, journal notes, and save labels.
Multi-Platform Support
Official controller mapping profiles deployed across Windows, macOS, and native Linux builds via Steam, GOG, and Xbox app.
2. Turn-Based Mode Rework: Initiative & Combat Pacing
A. Speed-Driven Action Frequency
The public beta fundamentally redesigns Deadfire's Turn-Based Mode mechanics. Previously, turns were strictly locked to a single action per round. Under the new system, turn frequency is directly governed by character Initiative (derived from RTwP Recovery values). Fast characters with high Dexterity and light armor can now take multiple turns per round, while heavily encumbered characters may act less frequently.
B. Mid-Campaign Combat Mode Toggling
A long-requested engine feature has also been unlocked: players can now toggle Turn-Based Mode on or off outside of combat at any point during a playthrough—eliminating the need to lock in a combat style during initial character creation.
| Mechanic Vector | Legacy Turn-Based Mode | Patch Public Beta Rework |
|---|---|---|
| Turn Cadence | Strict 1 turn per round per character | Initiative-based frequency (fast characters get multiple turns) |
| Global Lethality | Standard damage scaling | +35% global damage multiplier from all sources |
| Consumables & Modals | Consumed full standard action | Classified as Free Actions (subject to per-turn usage caps) |
| Combat Mode Flex | Locked permanently at character creation | Swappable out-of-combat via Options or HUD toggle (T key) |
How to Access the Public Beta Branch
Players on Steam can opt-in immediately by opening game Properties > Betas and selecting the public_beta branch from the drop-down menu. GOG users can enable the Public Beta channel under Manage Installation > Configure, while Xbox PC players can access testing builds via the Xbox Insider Hub.
By retrofitting native gamepad UI and modern turn-based rulesets into its flagship cRPGs, Obsidian sets a high standard for long-term support—ensuring classic titles remain completely accessible on modern Linux handhelds and big-screen setups.