Help me choose a controller
3d 7h ago by sh.itjust.works/u/muusemuuse in linux_gaming
I got my moonlight/sunshine rig running with fedora on the server and my AppleTV as the client. My DualShock 4 controller works but isn’t mapping right and it’s old enough that it’s probably time I bought something new rather than bother fixing it anyway.
I have an Xbox wireless controller but it just never felt right in my hand.
I have 8bitdo SN30 controllers but they never were able to keep a stable connection.
I’m considering either a Sony dualsense controller and charger, 8bitdo ultimate 2, or 8bitdo pro 3.
Opinions?
The new Steam Controller is supposed to release early this year, so I would probably wait for that.
https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamcontroller
If that were not an option, I would pick up a DualSense next time it goes on sale. (Most recent sales were in June and December, I think.)
Will it work with appleTV? Because that’s the client accessing my Linux server.
We won't know until it's released.
this is exactly my though as well.
After seeing how good and foundational DualSense is, i cannot go back to the childrens toys that is the Xbox Controller and others. Sony set the golden blueprint with HD Haptics and Adaptive Triggers (I wish a similar tech can be implemented on the sticks as well, but that might be too much given how packed the Sticks are already.).
upcoming Steam Controller looks promising as well. And I think its value proposition would be uncontested IF Valve price it right.
If you can wait, the new steam controllers probably work great on Linux. Ofc all theoretical until they start shipping.
while the game is running and rendered on linux, the client it is passed through is an appleTV so....hmmmm
Moonlight should pass through the controller from the client to the host. that is how it works on my vm at least
Moonlight doesn’t pass through hardware. Ever. It captures the input, sends it to the host, and the host software emulates a real controller giving those inputs on the host.
If you can wait a couple months, get the new Steam Controller when it releases. It should work great on Linux (designed for SteamOS) and have plenty of buttons for any game. And if you find yourself kicked into a desktop environment or needing to click or scroll something, the trackpads will help you handle that.
I have a Sony Dualsense controller and haven't had any problems with it as a game controller. However, I'm always launching games through Steam, or letting Steam run in the background (so that it's handling the controller input remapping). I don't know if that's what you plan on doing; I've never tried it without Steam handling the inputs.
My one complaint about it is that the trackpad isn't good enough to use as a mouse when you're navigating the desktop. So I ended up switching back to my original Steam controller.
I dont know, I've found the track pad on it to work reasonably well enough to navigate menus when I'm being a lazy slug in bed.
I find that it's good enough for things like the main menu or the pause menu. But I don't find it usable if I'm having to accurately click something while gameplay is happening. And if I want to minimize the game and look something up on the web, it'll take me five attempts to click a link with it.
I also have a Dualsense controller (among like five others) and have found it works great with Steam on Linux, Mac, and Windows. I realllly love when games actually utilize the haptics and adaptive triggers. It adds a whole new dimension to games like Pacific Drive and Returnal, I wouldn’t play them without it.
Oh cool, glad to know that Returnal takes advantage of it. I don't have any games that take advantage of the haptics right now, but I've been wanting to try one. And I was already wanting to check out Returnal at some point.
I REALLY loved Returnal. Such a cool, beautiful game. One of the few games in the last decade that I fully completed everything of!
The controller does need to be plugged in for triggers and haptics, but I just got a super long USB extension. The triggers are way cooler than I expected. Driving in Pacific Drive feels so crazy cuz the brake feels like a real car brake, and accelerating is rumbly and neat.
I love my Ultimate 2 but unfortunately don't have an Apple TV to test it with, but since it does Xinput I'd assume it does
How Bluetooth mode? I hated both my SN30s because Bluetooth never worked reliably.
It's stable, works as good as my DualShock 4.
Though I used it very little over Bluetooth, I prefer the 2.4g dongle, so YMMV.
Edit: 8BitDo sells this controller in 2 variants: The Ultimate 2 Wireless (comes with the 2.4g dongle, Xbox button layout) and the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth (No dongle, Nintendo Switch button layout).
Maybe the Bluetooth variant works better?
I'm so grumpy, I bought three 8bitdo Ultimate controllers and only one keeps a stable connection even using it's USB dongle on the steamdock. smh. I then tried a different PC with Bazzite, same deal. Like wtf why won't they work
I hope to buy a new steam controller but I'll return it the same day if that shit doesn't connect
I highly recommend if you're going to get the 8bitdo ultimate try getting one and just return the ones that don't work.
I recommend talking to their customer support. I had an 8bitdo sne30 pro+ from when they first launched that had a structural issue where when I used certain buttons other buttons would depress causing no input to register or the wrong input to register. I was very annoyed but when I did complain they offered to replace it.
Is the steam deck thing near usb4/thunderbolt cables?
they interfere strongly with some wifi and Bluetooth frequencies.
Get a replacement. I know folks who have just gotten bad units. In general,no feel like their QA is a bit lacking, but if you get a good one, should work pretty flawlessly.
If you're using the USB dongle then try use a USB extension cable to put some distance between the device and the dongle to reduce interference. And make sure the dongle has clear line of sight to the controller.
I dont have the 8bitdo controller but I have had issues like that with lots of other devices with dongles and using an extension + line of sight solved connectivity issues with all of them.
I love my Gamesir Cyclone 2. Works with Windows, Linux, Android (I use it for Moonlight on my NVIDIA Shield) and iOS (likely Apple TV as well). Well constructed and replaced my Xbox One controller I was previously using. Would highly recommend.
Hmm, that and the super nova speak to me. What’s with the shift to micro switch buttons? What problem does that solve?
Not much, it's really just preference. Short, clicky switches vs long, tactile membrane
How's the software on windows for the controller? As much as I love my scuf controller, iCue is absolute dog shit and won't let me remap my buttons and breaks controller functionality so looking for something to hold up as a replacement
The software is perfectly cromulent. You have four on-board profiles you can switch between. Using the software is easy and allows you to remap the ABXY and paddles to any other button as well as adjusting deadzones, sensitivity and rgb.
You can also remap buttons on the fly without the software at all.
I came here to recommend Gamesir. I bought a pair of wired Gamesir T7 xbox-style USB A controllers, and they're fantastic.
I also really like my 8bitdo SN30 snes-style wireless controller, but only for games that don't really use 2 joysticks. The second joystick is on an uncomfortable spot for my XL hands—fantastic controller otherwise, though.
I have the Cyclone 2 as well. Its a great controller. The charging stand is really handy too and the controller automatically turns on and connects when you pick it up off the charging stand.
The only issue I've had (and its a problem with all xbox style controllers) is that in order to move the mouse cursor you need to hold the "Xbox button" and move the stick, but if you hold the button for longer than a few seconds the controller powers off. So I'm looking forward to the new Steam Controller because it has seperate touch pads.
If you are comfortable with the Dualshock 4, then I think its a no brainer to go with the Dualsense.
I am with you on the xbox controller feeling weird in the hand, the Switch Pro controller too.. anything with lopsided joysticks, basically, because I spent so much time having a Dualshock 1/2 in my hands... but DualSense pricing is stupid, and the best time to get one would have probably been black friday/christmas, where i was seeing them for 40 bucks, as opposed to their normal 80.
Its what I use on my PC.. granted, I'm not using Moon/Sun.
Only complaint I have with the dualsense is that the battery life is shit, and that..for me, it never turns off with inactivity, so basically runs until dead unless I manually turn it off... but I use it mostly corded anyway so its not a super big deal for me
it never turns off with inactivity, so basically runs until dead unless I manually turn it off…
I think it powers off when the bluetooth connection drops, which you could trigger from your desktop if you ever decide to go wireless.
I'm an 8bitdo fan. A couple of them even have native steam input: https://www.8bitdo.com/steam/
I hear great things about the 8bitdo controllers, but I'm gun shy since the bluetooth reception on my SN30s never improved.
Have you considered a switch pro controller?
But be aware, that they need a BluetoothLE capable Bluetooth chip. Others will not really work. Ask me how I know...
I'm not giving nintendo money
Based.
Maybe a third-party Ninty controller though?
Which Xbox controller are you referring to? As in the most recent like Xbox "series" controllers?
its blue and white and came from bestbuy maybe a year ago. It didnt even work right until I flash a firmware update to it
I know you mentioned you have 8bitdo already. I just got the newer model with the wireless dongle a few months ago and they were plug and play on Linux and they just work. No more fidlling with controllers, even my 6 year old uses them and zero complaints.
this is a moonlight rig. the machine running the games is in the basement. the controller talks to my appletv in the living room and the inputs are passed to the linux server. there is no concern of linux compatibility as the controller doesnt speak directly to it. Thereis no support for a wireless dongle for this use case.
I think you should try the 8bitdopro3. I have the 8bitdopro2 and the only reason I haven't bought the 3 is because I've spent so much money over the years buying these things and the thing the pro 3 does that I would want is have working back paddles that are mappable. I don't have problems with connection or anything like that when I play docked from 5-8' away and my controller is solid on steam OS. About the only problem I do have is that I sometimes forget to charge it, and the mapping software for different control schema doesn't work on Linux (which is fine mostly because I set it up once and forgot about it).
I'm not worred about linux support, its just mapping things it gets from the moonlight client. I'm more interested in bluetooth stability and general feel and experience in using them. I've heard haptics on the 8bitdo controllers are weak compared to sony.
I'd say the haptics thing is pretty true. And Bluetooth connectivity seems to be a hit or miss thing with their controllers. Some people seem to have had a lot of problems with it, just looking at comments on this and other threads, but I never have and I've had 3 of their controllers.
I just got the 8bitdo ultimate 2. It connected fine on Bluetooth the first time i used it, but i was unable to get it to connect with the dock. Then the next week (this week) I’ve been completely unable to get it to connect over Bluetooth but it connects instantaneously with the dock. Like incredibly fast.
I’ve also been unable to map the l4/r4 buttons in trackmania to keys but i think that might be a trackmania issue.
There's a physical switch in the back to alternate between the two. Pretty sure you unknowingly changed it. The 2.4Ghz connection through the dock/dongle is much better than Bluetooth anyway.
To map extra buttons you need to switch the controller to d-input (turn it off, then restart it while holding B) to give Steam Input direct access to them. You need to be on one of the latest firmwares, so you need access to (a friend's) Mac or Window computer to update it.
https://gist.github.com/barraIhsan/783a82bcf32bed896c85d27dbb8018a5
Nope, I’ve tested with both (and i knew that when i was testing the first time, I didn’t want to use Bluetooth I wanted to use the dongle and it wouldn’t work). It just doesn’t work with bluetooth on this computer now.
Yep did that, the inputs show up. Steam lets you map them to letters, but trackmania doesn’t recognize them. And yes it’s the latest firmware, that was the first thing I updated.
Please, believe me, I spent more than 4 hours trying to get this working. I’ve tried everything you’ve said and more.
Sorry :( you seem to have a defective unit.
What kernel are you on? 3.15+ has full support for these controllers, so it should work flawlessly.
it doesnt matter, its not talking to the controller. the client passes inputs over where they get mapped virtually in linux. AppleTV supports all these controllers, as does moonlight, but the linux version of sunshine doesnt quite like DS4.
That's probably some libinput confusion.
Try adding Sunshine as a non-steam game under Steam, launch, then see if it maps properly like that.
you cant run sunshine from within steam, thats not how it works. sunshine grabs the wayland session sway and steam are running in.
8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless here (but only using it wired, on PC, Linux). Good Xbox-style controller.
8bitdo ultimate 2c. I use it on Cachy with the dongle. Never have any issues with it.
Over Christmas I got an 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless controller because I found a GitHub gist page that showed it'd just take a udev rule to get all the features (gyro & extra buttons) working... only to find out that's a different controller than the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth. Something to keep in mind. Additionally, now that I have the latter too I will note that I could only get those features working when it's paired through bluetooth, not wired or using the WiFi dongle.
For the Ultimate Wireless 2, check this gist.
TL;DR:
- Get a Windows Machine (a VM works too)
- Download the 8BitDo Firmware updater
- Update both the controller and the dongle's firmware
- Add the udev rule to your machine
- When turning the controller on, hold the B button*
Tada, Gyro and extra buttons.
Not sure if it also works over wired and bluetooth but can confirm it works over the 2.4g dongle.
*: Pulling it out of the dock while holding the B button won't work for some reason.
You must pull it out, turn it off, and turn it back on while holding the B button for it to actually work. Annoying!
give a look to the Alpakka, a FOSS DIY controller with dual gyros, and fully programmable
I did see that, but I dislike the right thumb situation that seems to be fixed in alpakka 2, which isnt out yet.
Ahh, okay. Then the latest series of Xbox controllers. Unfortunately that's the only one I have experience with.
My brother has one of the 8bitdo controllers that also works on the switch. Had to do the keymap and firmware update on Windows but after that it's flawless on Linux