Obsidian is bringing complete gamepad support to both beloved RPGs, with public test versions available now alongside gameplay improvements and updates.

Fans of Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire have a new reason to revisit their adventures. Obsidian Entertainment has launched public beta tests introducing full controller support for both games on PC, making them more accessible to players who prefer gamepads over traditional keyboard-and-mouse controls.

The new feature offers controller compatibility from the beginning to the end of both games. It's particularly welcome news for Steam Deck owners, who can now enjoy a more natural handheld experience without relying on community-created Steam Input configurations.

Players can try the feature immediately by opening each game's Properties menu on Steam and opting into the respective November 4 beta version.

Since these are public tests, some technical issues are expected. Early testing has revealed a few incorrectly aligned controller prompts and minor awkwardness with analog movement. However, the overall experience already looks promising, with both isometric RPGs adapting surprisingly well to gamepad controls.

Controller support isn't the only addition arriving with these updates. Obsidian has also released patch 1.3.10.0 for Pillars of Eternity and patch 5.1.0.0 for Deadfire.

The first game's update focuses primarily on smaller fixes, including improvements to the user interface and its recently introduced turn-based mode.

Meanwhile, Deadfire receives more substantial changes to its turn-based combat system. The update incorporates improvements from the first game's turn-based mode, giving battles a more dynamic feel.

Characters are no longer restricted to a single turn per round. Instead, their movement depends on their initiative, allowing combat actions to feel more flexible. The update also significantly increases combat lethality, making encounters more dangerous.

With controller support and meaningful gameplay refinements arriving together, both RPGs are becoming more appealing for returning players and newcomers alike. The public betas offer an early opportunity to experience these changes before they are fully polished.