You’d think that being born with an extra thumb on one hand might be a boon to playing video games. But when pretty much every controller is designed for people with10 fingers, it can present a problem if your body is a little off the standard template. Such was the case for one Steam Deck owner who asked Reddit for help. And Reddit delivered.
User Alpha-Quartz praised their Steam Deck, but found that the long reach to the left thumbstick (pretty far compared to a standard controller, since the D-pad is on the edge of the case) hard to reach due to their smaller double-thumb. They told the Steam Deck subreddit that using the device was a “nightmare” compared to more conventional Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Their plight resonated with the sub, as the post is sitting at just shy of 10K upvotes and hundreds of comments.
Steam Deck users are also often fans of modding, so it’s no surprise that there were multiple attempts to help out Alpha-Quartz. GamesRadar spotted the first of many, “SpecificGreen9140,” who posted a basic 3D-printed cover for the thumbstick that extends the surface out to the left, making it easier to hit with a shortened thumb. “Woogies” refined the design, and “D_Bagggg” made…an extra thumb. For people who only have one thumb but want to use the double-thumb aid. Har har. 3D printer folks really will take any excuse to break out the CAD software.
Speaking to Games Radar, Alpha-Quartz says that they’re “simply overwhelmed with the amount of support and positivity,” even though they’re still trying out different solutions for a more secure fit on the Steam Deck. They say that “100 different people” are trying out different 3D-printed designs and mailing them off to help.