Feel the sound: Steam Controller mod turns game audio into haptic feedback

A new open-source project gives Valve’s 2026 Steam Controller an unusual capability: it can convert system audio from games, music and movies into real-time haptic feedback. The mod, called LiveHaptics, was created by developer FamBoy32 and could offer a useful accessibility feature for people who cannot rely on traditional audio cues.

LiveHaptics captures system audio and sends it to the controller’s haptic motors, allowing users to feel music, dialogue, sound effects and other audio through vibrations. Unlike game-specific haptic implementations, it does not require developers to add custom haptic support for explosions, footsteps or background music in individual titles. Any sound playing through the selected PC audio output can potentially be converted into haptic feedback, allowing the tool to work across different games and other types of content.

The project began as an experiment with the Steam Controller’s haptic hardware, but its accessibility potential became clearer after the developer demonstrated the technology on Reddit. One user who identified as deaf said they would like to use the feature, explaining that they typically play games without sound and that haptic feedback could help them feel more of what is happening in a game.

LiveHaptics applies processing such as gain, bass and limiter adjustments before sending the resulting signal as stereo haptic data to the controller’s actuators. It supports the Steam Controller over USB, through Valve’s Steam Puck and via Bluetooth, with versions available for Windows and Linux.

The software is available as an open-source project, and its development has continued since the original demonstration. FamBoy32 later released versions with graphical interfaces for Windows and Linux, while users have already experimented with the tool for both music and games.