Hear the Steam Controller sing whole songs with haptics, including the Wii Store soundtrack, Still Alive, and even attempt a Rick Roll
The Steam Controller can be programmed to “sing” complete songs using its haptic feedback system. A software tool called SteamHapticsSinger, recently published by developer CrazyCritic89, converts MIDI music files into haptic patterns that the controller can play. Users simply drop a MIDI track into the software, and it translates the audio into haptic vibrations that bring the controller’s rumble motors to life.
The tool is a fork and modernization of software originally created over a decade ago for the original Steam Controller, initially developed by Pila and Roboron3042. This latest version includes fixes and upgrades to support newer Steam devices. Demonstrations showcase the software successfully playing various songs including the Wii Shop Channel soundtrack, “Still Alive” from Portal, and novelty songs like “Never Gonna Give You Up” (the Rick Roll). The results highlight the surprising depth of the Steam Controller’s haptic capabilities beyond traditional gaming vibration feedback, essentially turning the device into an unconventional musical instrument. The open-source nature of the project reflects the Steam Controller community’s creative experimentation with the device’s hardware potential.