For years, buying Gloomwood on sale meant accepting a significant limitation: keyboard-and-mouse only, with Steam Deck compatibility stuck in a technically-functional-but-awkward state that required manual input configuration. That limitation no longer exists.
New Node Software's stealth immersive sim now includes full controller support, and the update arrives alongside an upgrade to Steam Deck Verified status after previously sitting at 'Playable'. For a game built in the spirit of the original Thief series, this changes the accessibility equation entirely.
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What the update actually adds
The controller implementation goes beyond basic functionality. Tutorials now display correct gamepad glyphs instead of keyboard prompts, and full button remapping is available. That matters for a first-person stealth game where the control scheme carries real complexity: leaning around corners, managing inventory, monitoring the light gem, and handling sword combat all need functional homes on a gamepad.
A new shop location in the market plaza also appears in this update, though the input overhaul is clearly the main event.
Gloomwood entered early access in 2022 and currently holds over 5,500 "overwhelmingly positive" reviews on Steam, positioning it among the more successful early access releases in recent memory.
Why Steam Deck players were doing this the hard way anyway
The community was already running Gloomwood on Deck before this update. Steam forums had an active thread requesting controller support, and players shared custom gamepad configurations to bridge the gap. That level of workaround effort reflects the goodwill this game has earned, but it was never a sustainable answer for a title with this many keybindings.
Playing a first-person stealth game without proper button prompts means constantly guessing which input does what. In a genre where hesitation breaks immersion and gets you spotted, that's a real problem. The community tolerated it because the game is worth it, which makes official support feel both overdue and satisfying.
A strong moment for an already well-regarded early access game
Gloomwood hit early access in 2022 and has seen consistent updates since launch. January brought a major new map featuring what the developers called the game's largest and most vertically complex open area to date. The development cadence has kept the playerbase invested, and the overwhelmingly positive reception validates that approach.
For anyone who has been waiting specifically for controller support, Gloomwood is currently 25% off on Steam. That discount, paired with the input update, makes this a logical time to finally buy in. You can also check out latest reviews on our site if you want more context on what to play next on your Deck.
The bigger picture for handheld immersive sims
Gloomwood earning Verified status represents a small but meaningful step for immersive sims on handheld hardware. These games typically feature control schemes that resist clean gamepad mapping, and developers often skip the work. When a studio commits to doing it correctly with rebindable inputs and updated tutorials instead of just meeting minimum requirements, it raises the bar.
For anyone who has been holding off because of the input situation, the barrier is gone. Browse more gaming guides if you're looking to get the most out of your first run through Gloomwood's fog-drenched streets.
