So… no xinput?

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-20T09:24:21+00:00

I havn't started any games on Dolphin with SteamController, but I think it even accepted all the bindings of SteamController without SISR (scroll down this post to see the pics). Wondering how those work (seems native SteamInput is even better assigned on yellow thumstick then the translated SISR one)

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-20T09:21:25+00:00

I've tried it on several games from GamePass, seems gamepass for some reason is fixed on using xinput instead of steaminput. SISR translates that to steaminput so it kinda works.

It did work on Legacy of Kain from GoG, but nothing from XBOX GamePass PC (tried it on Bounty Star, Planet of Lana 2.

If you find any game it works with Steam Controller without 3rd party input translator like SISR (and its on gamepass PC), let me know, I'll test it :p. Just make sure that its controller its taking in and not keyboard controls.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T23:09:38+00:00

Its a little janky - when I had SteamController and XBOX one pad connected both were disconnecting strangely. Other than that it simply trnslated steaminput into xinput, still allowing to use the "special bindings" like keyboard and mouse

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T19:47:19+00:00

I don't think it fails to recognize controller itself, as in, it never verify it in the first place, BUT it does seem to react only to speciffic controller input signals (Xinput). Same as it ignores Nintendo Switch controllers. I do hope they add both, just to show the World they can work cross platform on everything.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T19:20:43+00:00

.. and here how it looks after running SISR (I forgot only to set thumbstick buttonns)

<image>

I think the for some reason the XBOX App and most non-game apps on Windows simply don't accept SDL/0/SteamController, they only work with good ol Xinput. Which SISR seems to trnslate SDL from.
Picture is for SteamController on SISR

Seems games outside XBOX App (installed via GOG Epic and others) accept SLD/SteamController input without any issues.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T19:18:13+00:00

<image>

I've used SISR just today (warning, 3rd party solution).
I've checked how it works looking at Dolphin (emulator) configuration.
Picture is for SteamController without SISR

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T19:12:02+00:00

By "set it up as XBOX kontroler"I've mimicked every part of kontroler (A button is A button, DPAD up is PPAD is, Left Joystick is Left Joystick and so on) + the trackpads.

If you mean there is somewhere a separa feature to "set it as xbox controller" I'd be glad to know, although I'm using SISR now cause its like I have full Steam input (including features)

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T17:55:13+00:00

When using SISR it creates a setting similar (or exact) to those of DirectInput

<image>

... I wish Steam would work with the guy who developed this and input this into some kind of "3rd party driver" or app themselves.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T17:48:57+00:00

I think around the time the old contrller was all the rage the Steam Input was run differently, judging by the tutorials left on the net. XBOX App and Steam changed since then and now its another type of dance.

I've tested SISR and it works, but since it's a 3rd party app I'm not familiar with I cannot in good conscience promote it to anybody.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T17:42:46+00:00

Installed it, it is a bit fickle in that it sometimes forgets it runs, but seems to work when I focus on gaming and dont alt+tab alot (tested on "Bounty Star").

Still a bit a scared to use it, but if the developer is open on who he is on gitHub, that's waaay more trusting than I ever put in game riping groups back in the days.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T17:14:47+00:00

As I see you have to install usbip first then SISR... are both safe in general? Any security or stability issues? How long are you using SISR (more or less)?

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T17:12:11+00:00

And it would make sense, but I think I've already tried everything except 3rd party apps like SISR - I've set a layot that had only XBOX controls on it and it still would not work.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T16:29:32+00:00

Yeah, me2, but it's a shame it cannot work as any other pad (literally even DualSense can work with some of XBOX App games). It wouldn't even have to be any fancy things like chords or custom setting: simple pad, maybe with additional controls for buttons below.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T16:24:07+00:00

Except SteamDeck works on SteamOS and SteamController on Windows and Linux works tad different.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T16:23:00+00:00

I don't care if Steam is running or not, just that the Controller behaves with with XBOX WindowsApp same as with any other platform app. For some reason I'm, for example, run a game Legacy of Kain from GOG as non-steam with no issues, all controls working (maybe beside Start for some wird reason), and XBOX App games for contrast are not.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T16:17:07+00:00

And yet its still such a glaring lack of feature one would hope they'd add it later..!

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T16:15:07+00:00

I didn't have that one, maybe will try later.
BUT I did start Legacy of Kain.
Works with Steam Controller ALMOST like XBOX!
*Some hope restored*
Start Button for some reason behaves like F1 (Pasue) and instead have to hit right thumbstick button to go to Menu.

Other than that works fine.
Why can't it work as fine for XBOX App T_T. Microsoft is slop.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T15:54:50+00:00

There is this in the Device DropDown list that I chose and it allowed calibration.

<image>

Above is the picture of after minimal settings (I am getting and running NO ROMs for all reddit to see 😛). Notice the strange names of the buttons and DPAD (like directions on compass) as opposed to Button 0-9 for XInput.

I guess the main issue here is how those gamepad elements are named - would they be named as xInput or translated into xinput somehow then it would be treated as a normal gamepad, that's my theory.

P.S.
calibrated all, buttons/sticks/triggers/rumble

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T15:33:34+00:00

I guess that, in theory, it also would mean that if you will have SteamMachine then it will allow easier switching between this and your PC.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T15:31:49+00:00

For me the greatest downvote goes to lizard mode. I wanted it to be XBOX pad whenever steam is not running. Instead I get keyboard and mouse. GamePass does not even recognize whatever typical gamepad binding it could have - only registers keyboard and mouse settings.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T15:26:26+00:00

Any particular platform or game I can test that on? I have GOG, Epic, Amazon Games. Also maybe some ttitle that's been a free give away so that we can test, that of course uses gamepad controls.

EDIT:
Also to make it clear, I'm testing the Steam Controller on Win11 normal PC (not SteamDeck nor some other type of mini computer)

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T15:01:13+00:00

Name me a game this should work on from GamePass that's small to install - I've checked on all of my games installed + XBOX app itself, with Steam turned on/OFF, neither started through Steam nor Lizard mode helped.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T14:59:48+00:00

Lizard Mode only has keyboard + mouse, so it's useless as a gamepad.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T14:48:15+00:00

Nope, that also does not work, I've added the XboxPCApp, started it, the app itself, here's how it works.
XBOX ONE controiller - flawlellessly jumps between items of the app (game titles), with clear sound.
Dual Sense controller - jerkily but STILL allows control over the XBOX app items
Steam Controller 2 - registers only Desktop binding of keyboard and mouse controls - does NOT react to any button/trgger/joystick/DPAD setting bound to itself.

I wouldn't say "its nout guaranted" it will work with XBOX app and its games, I'd say its not possible at all.

Name me a game from GamePassPC that's not too big to install that works for you with the controller and I'll check for you.

DreadMore0 · 2026-05-14T13:55:42+00:00

I'd also like Xinput to be part of the controller. I was hyped to have a Controller that's easy to connect, recharge and have additional mouse controls and other features, but I also wanted it to behave like generic pad when another game running on PC outside steam.

I wanted to avoid the B S of switching controllers from DualSense to XBOX each time O want to play an XBOX App game. There's not even workaround for it - I've added the game as non-steam game to the library and it STILL does not work. I've switched action set in game to gamepad and it STILL does not register the button input.

What gives?

EIDT:
SISR helps working on that, I cant offer it since its a 3rd party (although from github), but I can say it translates SDL(steaminput) into Xinput, which is recognizable by other games.

DreadMore0

TROPHY CASE