Can an Xbox One Controller Work on a Pc

Y'all can't play video games without a expert command organisation. Maybe you want a keyboard and mouse for your shooters and strategy titles. Perchance y'all don't mind using a touch screen for smartphone puzzles. About games, though, play best with some form of dedicated controller. That'south why every major game panel comes with a gamepad or two, and why they all can be continued to your PC with some tinkering.

If you generally desire to play games on your PC—for the good reason that it has the largest library of titles spanning the widest range of ages, audiences, genres, prices, and hardware requirements—you should probably invest in a controller. In that location's nothing wrong with playing Fortnite with your current mouse and keyboard (in fact, PC purists would say you'll play fifty-fifty ameliorate than with a gamepad), but almost every other game y'all pick upward from GOG.com, Apprehensive Package, or Steam will feel much better with dual analog sticks under your thumbs.

There are countless gamepads and other types of controllers you can hook upwards to your PC. Here are some options to assist pick the best one for y'all.

Top Controllers, Tested

Using Console Controllers With Your PC

If you have a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One South, managed to detect a PlayStation five or Xbox Series X, or splurged on a Switch Pro Controller for your Nintendo Switch, you already take a gamepad you can use with your PC. These controllers have the benefit of rock-solid build quality and reliable PC compatibility (with some software or adapters required for the Nintendo and Sony gamepads). If you don't already accept one, though, they're a bit pricey at $60 to $70 each.

Xbox Controllers

Whether it came with the Xbox One or Xbox Serial, or you bought it separately, the Xbox Wireless Controller is immediately compatible with any Windows 10 PC as a wired controller; but plug it into a USB port and you can start playing with information technology. If the controller was manufactured in the terminal five years, it can pair wirelessly with your figurer over Bluetooth. If you want to use more than than one Xbox gamepad, or if you lot have an early on Xbox Wireless Controller without Bluetooth, yous can use the $25 Xbox Wireless Adapter to connect upwards to 8 gamepads to your PC at once without dealing with Bluetooth pairing. If you want to splurge, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series two is one of our favorite wireless gamepads, though it'due south also a hefty $180.

PlayStation Controllers

The PS4's DualShock four and the PS5's DualSense controllers also piece of work with your PC through a USB or Bluetooth connection, at least with nearly Steam games. Steam offers a PlayStation Configuration Support option in its controller settings bill of fare that should get either controller to work like an Xbox gamepad, and even supports push remapping.

You tin too use the 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter, a $xx dongle that connects to your PlayStation gamepad (and many other kinds of controllers) and properly maps it to work in Windows. It even supports 8Bitdo'due south Ultimate Software for extensive mapping and customization.

Finally, for the most roundabout setup, you can utilise a DualShock four through a program chosen DS4Windows. It's free third-party software that tricks your PC into thinking the DualShock 4 is a much more common (for PCs) Xbox controller, like the Steam configuration fashion and 8Bitdo USB adapter do.

Nintendo Controllers

The Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons also connect to your PC, but they require even more wrestling. They're swell on the Switch, but they don't feel quite as solid or have nigh as comfortable directional controls as the Xbox Wireless Controller or DualShock iv. Instead, we recommend the Switch Pro Controller. It'southward a powerful and sturdy conventional gamepad that tin can work with your PC without much endeavor, thank you to the Switch Pro Configuration Support option in Steam'southward controller settings menu (it'south two options below PlayStation Configuration Back up). For non-Steam games, WiinUPro and WiinUSoft lets you use your Switch Pro Controller, as volition the 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter.

Third-Party PC Gamepads

If y'all desire to pause out of the $threescore to $seventy range of controllers, third-party gamepads offer much more than choice. There are wired and wireless options that range from $20 to over $200, depending on design, features, and customization options. And, of grade, build quality; less expensive gamepads from tertiary-party manufacturers can be hit-or-miss affairs in terms of how sturdy they feel and how well they play, which is why nosotros recommend reading our reviews and being wary of inexpensive and unfamiliar gamepads that seem as well skilful to be truthful.

Our current favorite is the 8Bitdo Pro two, an incredibly flexible controller that feels good and offers loads of features for but $50. It has programmable rear buttons, supports multiple configuration profiles, and tin can be extensively tweaked with 8Bitdo's Ultimate Software. Information technology even works with the Nintendo Switch, if yous want it to pull double duty.

There are other options out there as well, in both wired and wireless forms. The wired Nacon Pro Compact Controller is a more petite gamepad that might better suit smaller hands. And if you want to return to the SNES inspiration 8Bitdo has drifted away from with the Pro 2, the Retro-Bit Legacy16 Wireless is another good selection.

Custom PC Controllers

If you really want to splurge, yous can go enthusiast-level gamepads from companies like Scuf, Evil Controllers, and Controller Anarchy. These companies by and large modify showtime-party Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox gamepads, overhauling them inside and out with custom designs, new buttons, and often a variety of electronic tricks to get an edge in games like Call of Duty and Fortnite by providing specific inputs that take advantage of certain mechanics.

These companies let you build your ideal gamepad from the footing up. Different colors, patterns, and finishes are bachelor, with boosted options like whether the analog sticks are concave or convex (ofttimes with removable options with different lengths), extended triggers, and fifty-fifty imitation bullet confront buttons. Rear paddle buttons are common on these gamepads, and they provide two or iv additional, programmable inputs for your fingers that residual on the grip.

Custom Xbox One gamepads work directly with any Windows x PC, though the different internal "trick" mods you tin go might not office with PC games like they will on the Xbox One. Custom DualShock 4 controllers can as well piece of work on your Windows ten PCs with either a USB adapter or a tool similar DS4Windows, but whatever extra electronic mods in them are more uncertain. Scuf's Vantage is best considered role of the modded DualShock four family, but it's unique among this category of controllers; it's a licensed, completely manufactured controller Scuf produced working with Sony, rather than a heavy aftermarket modification made to a stock DualShock 4.

These gamepads are often the about feature-filled, striking, and customizable, but they're also the virtually expensive. They starting time at 3 digits, with fully overhauled controllers easily costing over $200. If y'all want custom colors just don't demand the rear paddles or extra features, the Xbox Design Lab lets you brand your own first-party Xbox Wireless Controller with your favorite colors and finishes for a fraction of the price.

Recommended by Our Editors

Arcade and Fight Sticks

Arcade sticks, or fight sticks, are controllers that emulate archetype arcade cabinet controls. They usually feature a single eight-management joystick and a series of big buttons, mounted on a very large, flat base you lot can set on a table or your lap. They're considered vital tools for serious players of fighting games, such as Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter V. They also work very well for archetype arcade games, plenty of which are bachelor individually or in compilations on every game organisation.

Hori is i of the most beloved brands, with sticks for all iii major game systems (all of which will work with PCs through USB). Serious arcade sticks similar Hori's Existent Arcade Pro series are known for using the same sticks and buttons as Japanese arcade cabinets, which helps justify their steep prices of $150 and above. If yous desire an arcade-style experience but don't need quite the same serious build quality, 8Bitdo's Arcade Stick trades enthusiast-level responsiveness and sturdy arcade parts for wireless connectivity and a much smaller price.

If y'all desire crisp directional controls and lots of face buttons but like to concord your controller in your hand even so, you lot can pick up a fightpad like the Hori Fighting Commander or the Razer Raion FightPad. These are gamepads that strip away features fighting game enthusiasts don't need, like analog sticks, and instead offering splendid management pads and three-by-two confront button layouts.

Enthusiast Controllers: PC Racing Wheels and Flying Joysticks

If you're a fan of driving simulators or flight simulators, yous might want to invest in some simulator-worthy equipment. Racing wheels are steering bike controllers that let y'all drive cars in racing games by realistically turning a bike instead of tilting a stick. Similarly, flying joysticks (not to be dislocated with the analog sticks on gamepads or the digital sticks on arcade sticks) allow you fly planes with a realistic total-paw grip to control your pitch, curlicue, and yaw. These seem like very different types of controllers, and they are. Yet, they share iii important common factors: They're designed for very specific games and genres, they often consist of multiple, modular components, and they can exist expensive.

Thrustmaster is one of the biggest racing cycle and flight controller manufacturers; Thrustmaster's very proper noun invokes the force that lets a airplane have flying. The company offers several dissimilar flying sticks and racing wheels, along with accessories similar pedals, throttles, shifters, control panels, and even split up heads-up displays that provide additional information about your car or plane's systems outside of your monitors. These setups can get pricey, with wheels and sticks starting at $100, and easily reaching several times that cost with accessories.

Likewise, Logitech offers racing wheels and flight sets, such as the $400 G923 wheel/pedals philharmonic with optional $60 Driving Forcefulness Shifter shifting knob; $150 to $250 H.O.T.A.S. joystick/throttle combinations; and the modular Flight Yoke System ($170 for the yoke, with four dissever instrument panels, a rudder pedal, and a throttle bachelor for $lx to $170 each). These controllers are incredibly specific and modular, so nosotros haven't recently reviewed any racing wheels or flight command systems.

Of Course, You Can Still Use a Mouse and Keyboard

If you stick to shooters, strategy games, MOBAs, and MMOs on your PC, have a look at our all-time gaming keyboards and gaming mice.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-game-controller-for-your-pc

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