Game controllers! Perfected by Nintendo in the early 2000s, they have been a steady companion for our gaming sessions since time immemorial. Did you know that you can use your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller on the PC?
At least that's what I thought. This evening, however, as I was settling down to play Hades on Steam, I tried to play it with aforementioned controller. To no avail! Windows wouldn't even react to me plugging it in again!
Now I was using an XB1 controller, until my father asked for my micro-usb cable, and I don't have Bluetooth on my gaming PC. So what should I do, to get my sweet sweet Switch Pro Controller working with Steam?
Also, discuss your game controller adventures here, I guess.
EDIT: Apparently we don't have a mouse/keyboard/other input peripherals thread? Well, time to refactor this one, then.
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1) You could buy an Xbox Wireless Adapter ($20-$30US), but that is probably an unnecessary expense unless you plan to use that Xbox One (or any future Xbox controllers) with your PC frequently, or use more than one at once, both of which the wireless adapter can handle.
2) You could obviously buy another Micro-USB cable (I'm genuinely surprised if you don't have any other ones lying around, though maybe they're of the non-data variety). Or a USB Blutooth adapter--these are actually kind of bad for lag and response time especially compared to option one but for a lot of people tiny $6 USB dongle is good enough.
Good luck finding one. A ton of the ones on Amazon are actually bluetooth adapters with crappy shells over them to make them look like the Xbox adapter.
Best Buy. Seriously, buy it from Best Buy. They seem to be the last retailer consistently selling the real deal.
I just bought another one a couple weeks ago.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Target also sells them bundled with a controller (which is probably more than you actually need).
The second result on Amazon is a third-party model which, if the reviews are any indication, actually works--it's just a clone of the original Xbox Wireless RF device. They're actually not that hard to find, you just need to know what you're looking for.
Only available with a controller now. If I could get one there I would.
I'm able to plug in my Pro Controller and Steam recognize it. One piece of software I did buy to help out with this is reWASD. It also allows me to remap everything non-Steam (Xbox, Epic, etc) without having to deal with the AB/XY swapping. You can even remap a keyboard to a controller for those older games that don't support controllers.
e: I've been using this software for about 2 years now and have been very happy with it.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/microsoft-xbox-wireless-adapter-for-windows-10-black/6253924.p?skuId=6253924
Just keep an eye on this page, stock comes and goes.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Did you update your Switch controller through the Switch menu recently (last 2 months or so)? Because I suspect that Nintendo made it impossible to use the Switch Pro Controller on a PC very recently, but I'm not sure.
ETA: Also, I got some micro-usb cables. Hades can be played again!
Edit: reWASD has a 14 day trial to see if it works for you. Can't hurt.
I bought one of the 8bitDo Bluetooth adapters for switch, and I play my Switch games with a DS4.
I also bought the 8bitDo Saturn controller conversion kit, which turns the best controller of all time into a Bluetooth device.
The only thing that stops the Sega Saturn controller from being the perfect controller is the lack of analog sticks.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
That's a pretty big gap in its features, though. It makes it only potentially the perfect controller for, like, fighters and side-scrollers.
Since hearing Woolie from SBFP/Castle Superbeast talk about his custom DS4s he got from Battle Beaver Customs, I've thought that when I have money to throw at nonsense I'll look into buying one. Go all out with a better dpad and face buttons, and the triggers and bumpers set up to be really quick-pressing buttons. Maybe add some back buttons too, so I don't have to do the claw to run and control the camera at the same time in Soulslikes.
I fall back to a DS4 when I need analog sticks.
Honestly, the games in which I need precise dpad inputs (like fighters and sidescrollers) are almost never games where I need analog sticks. It's a venn diagram that's pretty much two nonoverlapping circles.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
BTW DS4 will pair with any bluetooth receiver. Its just that for most games you need Steam or another program to make it emulate an Xbox controller.
Not sure why but they both temporarily lose connection which makes the DS break somehow.
Can't help but wonder if it's a Bluetooth issue.
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If you're using them both on BT, I would guess that. One BT device causing another one to disconnect has been a potential, if not common, issue with BT peripherals since they were introduced.
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
Does the same happen if you only use one via USB and another via BT.
Thanks for bumping this thread Magus, reminded me to check and these are in stock. Just ordered two of them.
I haven't tried to use them at the same time. But I'll keep the wired and wireless thing at the same time in mind.
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Oops.
Cause one dongle can connect 4 controllers, p sure.
Yeah, one for my computer and one for the wife's. I just ordered another one, hopefully I get it this time.
But if the order picker wants to send me an elite instead, I mean..
I read Linux got some, so.
At least Steam works!
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The best thing about Steam's controller support is that it can extend to practically anything if you setup a desktop profile.
Settings > Controller > DESKTOP CONFIGURATION > BROWSE CONFIGS > Templates > Gamepad > APPLY CONFIGURATION > DONE.
The PS4 controller will now be detected as a standard Xbox controller in any non-Steam game as long as Steam is running.
ooooh now that's sexy
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Does 1 or 2 nonessential things better than anything else, but that's about it?
Actually that comparison might not be fair to the windows phone.
Still annoying when I play something that expects me to use the d-pad frequently while also using the left analog, because left-hand claw feels way worse with that layout than on a DS4 (swapping characters in Genshin, using shortcuts/items in Souls or Nioh).
The fact that I never have to rely on DS4Windows ever again is also nice.
In Microsoft's "defense", they also never claimed Windows Phone (or Windows Mobile before or after it) were going to "change phone-calls forever."
Unlike Gabe Newell and the Steam Machines.
I miss absolutely nothing else about it since everyone already cribbed the design language, but that autocorrect was fucking amazing.
I can't think of a single thing I'm missing from the Steam Controller, having tried to use it once
I got an xbox 2nd party controller, but it's driving my wife crazy when I play Hades with all the loud button clicks.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/BretonBrawler
It's fantastic for playing KBAM games on a couch.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Definitely did not feel that way. Even compared to my crummy Logitech media keyboard with its big trackpad.
When I power it on, Windows asks if I want to add a wireless controller. If I say yes OR no, the controller turns off.
Repeat forever. Very annoying.
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Though actually, I did find it quite good for turn based games on PC like Civ and xcom. I played a lot of those two games on a secondary screen that had a steam link attached to it.
I got it to work. With a modded driver.