I have both a PS4 and an XBOX One Pad and neither are working in Steam VR or any VR games on steam. They both work fine out of VR.
I have tried following the advice on this link with no success: https://www.reddit.com/r/Vive/comments/4ejewq/psa_fix_for_steamvr_system_button_not_working_as/
I have also tried a total reinstallment of SteamVR and Steam. Also a re installment of Pimax softwear which is the VR I’m using.
I think it’s the same issue as: http://community.openmr.ai/t/game-controller/1820
Has anyone else had this issue? If so did you find a fix? Any help would be much appreciated.
I am not experiencing this issue at least with the Steam Controller. Not sure where my other controllers are to test with (logitech 710 & ps3)
Razer Hydra works fine as well.
I have a similar kind of problem. Controller works on Steam VR menus and not in game. If I go to Steam settings (the normal Steam big picture menu, not the VR settings menu) and just click it, to refresh it, then reload my game, it works. Annoying to have to do that though. I think it is because of a Steam update that has messed things up. Sometimes I also get two inputs, so any movement or button press is doubled.
Similar problem. xbox 360 controller does not seems to work with new steamVR home beta for example. I dont think is directly related to the pimax. Would be nice to check that new steam feature out! the steam 5x rendering slider works tho! 
Ah okay folks something to try is disable steamvr home
Yeah it does help. Not sure if it is entirely fixed, or there is more than one issue happening here. It seems quite random.
Hmmm… Steamcontroller works so most likely on valve’s end as valve did mess up Hotas.
Managed to play a good while without it happening so hopefully it is safe to say disabling Steam VR Home fixed my problem.
Awesome news. Steamvr home seemed very buggy
So I contacted steam and got the following reply:
Hello,
Pimax is not currently supported on SteamVR.
_We support HTC Vive, Oculus and OSVR headsets. _
_Please contact your manufacturer for a potential solution to your issue. _
Thanks for using Steam,
Hopefully this will change in time. I was wrong that they don’t work with steam games though.
It seems you need to install SteamVR while the Pimax headset is turned on and make sure you have the control pad plugged in before you start steamVR always. The SteamVR home still won’t work but other games will.
I hope that works for anyone that has the same or similar problems as me.
Yes it seems that controller needs to be active prior to steamvr being launched. If running steamvr beta disable steamvr home (very buggy).
As for Steam’s response is a crock. The PiMax hmd is SteamVR conpatiable. Being a Hmd it is not likely to cause issues with Controllers like Xbox, PS or Logitech as these are controlled by steam interface not the vr hmd drivers.
I would imagine its an issue how Steam is dealing with non Steam Controllers. Similar to the issue Valve created in ED with Hotas.