While the PS5 is currently unavailable, the DualSense controller is readily available. And thanks to a recent Steam update, you don't need a PS5 to get the most out of Sony's innovative peripherals.

If you have a gaming PC and a few Sony-adjacent games, they'll do just fine; DualSense is now fully compatible with Steam, and while not all games are fully compatible, games that utilize the common Steam developer tools are compatible if they are.

This information comes from Steam's official blog, simply titled "Steam Input API Adds PS5 Controller Support." Similarly, Steam's full integration of DualSense sounds equally straightforward:

"All games currently using the Steam Input API are fully compatible with the new PS5 controller, with full LED, trackpad, rumble, and gyro function support and can be configured for games such as "Death Stranding," "No Man's Sky," and "Horizon: Zero Dawn. This support is currently available to players who have opted into the public beta Steam desktop client, and will ship with platform-wide support after further testing.

In other words, full DualSense support is now available for any Steam title that employs the Steam Input API. This includes a handful of blockbuster games that have been popular on Sony systems, as well as an unspecified number of smaller titles; if you want to enjoy full DualSense support immediately, you will need to use the public beta Steam desktop client ("Settings" - " Account" - "Join Beta"). Over the next few months, a variety of Steam games with full DualSense integration will be released.

Fans who have actually touched DualSense will immediately see why this could be a big deal; DualSense has very sophisticated haptics and gyros that can even mimic different weights on different parts of the controller. If these features can be enjoyed on the PC, it may ease the vexation of not getting a PS5 and allow PC developers to experiment with a whole new control scheme.

The Steam Input API itself is a software package for developers that can improve integration with Steam with relatively little work. In particular, it integrates controller support for various PC games and allows players to remap buttons through the Steam client itself. In short, the Steam Input API will make controller integration on the PC much easier, and it is no surprise that DualSense will be fully integrated into the platform.

Even if you are not interested in participating in the Steam beta, a full release will probably take place within a few months.