Try pressing the Playstation button. How many lights are on?

Arn't the drivers for these controllers in the kernel? Mine worked from the get go.

Someone had the same problem 5 years ago, and there was a solution. Maybe this helps...
https://gtm.you1.cn/app/221410/discussions/0/1742227264198592395/

Enable Steam Input in Steam settings and double check its enabled for the game too.

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Enable Steam Input in Steam settings and double check its enabled for the game too.

In controller settings? I tried Enable Steam Input for generic controllers, I tried Playstation controller support, I tried enable steam for xbox controllers and switch pro. It doesn't work.

How do I "double check" enabling it for a game?

Originally posted by NinjaTeaHunter66:

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Enable Steam Input in Steam settings and double check its enabled for the game too.

In controller settings? I tried Enable Steam Input for generic controllers, I tried Playstation controller support, I tried enable steam for xbox controllers and switch pro. It doesn't work.

How do I "double check" enabling it for a game?

Right click on game > Properties > Controller

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Originally posted by NinjaTeaHunter66:

In controller settings? I tried Enable Steam Input for generic controllers, I tried Playstation controller support, I tried enable steam for xbox controllers and switch pro. It doesn't work.

How do I "double check" enabling it for a game?

Right click on game > Properties > Controller

Been there, done that, doesn't work.

Are you using it wired or wireless? I've seen a few games specify 'DualShock wired only' under controller support on the store page. Is the cable you dug out data also, or just charging?

As you didn't specify the games, do the games have controller support? Not all games do.

Have you tried the Apt repo version of steam? The flatpak seems to be very problematic and it's not an official steam package supported by valve.
https://flathub.org/apps/com.valvesoftware.Steam

Note: This is a community package of Steam gaming plaform not officially supported by Valve. Report bugs through linked issue tracker.

Originally posted by Xenophobe:

Are you using it wired or wireless? I've seen a few games specify 'DualShock wired only' under controller support on the store page. Is the cable you dug out data also, or just charging?

As you didn't specify the games, do the games have controller support? Not all games do.

Have you tried the Apt repo version of steam? The flatpak seems to be very problematic and it's not an official steam package supported by valve.
https://flathub.org/apps/com.valvesoftware.Steam

Note: This is a community package of Steam gaming plaform not officially supported by Valve. Report bugs through linked issue tracker.

Tested katamari damacy reroll, THPS 1+2, and stardew valley. I am using the official charging cable that came with the dualshock 3 controller. Tried wireless and wired.

Originally posted by NinjaTeaHunter66:

Originally posted by Xenophobe:

Are you using it wired or wireless? I've seen a few games specify 'DualShock wired only' under controller support on the store page. Is the cable you dug out data also, or just charging?

As you didn't specify the games, do the games have controller support? Not all games do.

Have you tried the Apt repo version of steam? The flatpak seems to be very problematic and it's not an official steam package supported by valve.
https://flathub.org/apps/com.valvesoftware.Steam

Tested katamari damacy reroll, THPS 1+2, and stardew valley. I am using the official charging cable that came with the dualshock 3 controller. Tried wireless and wired.

the official dualshock cable should let the controller work as wired, only stardew valley doesn't list playstation/dualshock controllers as supported ... it's possible the flatpak version of steam is the problem, the only way to be sure is to try the apt repo version.

have you tried opting into, or out of, the steam beta client?

do you have the steam-devices package installed? it may help, no guarantee of course.

I don't think Steam is the problem because my DualShock 3 works without Steam. Maybe update the kernel, or there is something that needs to be installed.

Lights?