Any wireless controller recommendations?

[Nethlem]

To my big surprise the Steamdeck in the dock recognized and paired my old PS3 controllers no problem, and even keeps the wireless connection with them through Bluetooth.

Sadly one of them is kinda busted and just spams random ghost commands without any inputs, so I only have 1 wireless controller.

Ordered the best rated "amazon choice" PS4 non-brand controller for 27 bucks, which works fine wired to my Windows PC in Steam, but the Steamdeck won't pair with it, won't even find it when connected to the dock.

Are my off-brand PS4 controllers just crap, do legit PS4 controllers pair without issue?

Tried the wireless dongle of my Xbox Elite series 1 controller, it also doesn't get recognized by the dock, and doesn't even light up.

I'd be fine with just getting another PS3 controller, but those are apparently by now a rare resource going by 150+ bucks a piece new.

Saw some 8bitdo controllers mentioned, but those are also at least 50 bucks, and tbh their design looks like ass, way too square.

What is your go-to choice for an affordable and reliable wireless controller?

[tyl0413]

Never buy knockoffs, they're trash, just buy official DualSense or DualShock 4, those are the most compatible, Xbox is not as reliable on Linux.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Never buy knockoffs, they're trash, just buy official DualSense or DualShock 4, those are the most compatible, Xbox is not as reliable on Linux.

Valve should release a new steam controller. Steam controller with usb dongle can wake up a computer.

[Punkovich]

I love my 8bitdo Ultimate 2.4g Wireless controller. Xbox layout with a quality feel. The dongle works in my dock, they don't really advertise it, but it also has bluetooth just like the 70$ "Bluetooth" version with the Nintendo(wrong) button layout.

50bux, got it for 40 on Prime Day

[Ricback2]

My Xbox controller works perfectly well in games without the need to do absolutely anything apart from connecting via Bluetooth once. After this, you just turn on the controller to use it. So, yes, despite people saying the opposite, it works flawlessly and I'll never recommend anything else.

[tyl0413]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Never buy knockoffs, they're trash, just buy official DualSense or DualShock 4, those are the most compatible, Xbox is not as reliable on Linux.

Valve should release a new steam controller. Steam controller with usb dongle can wake up a computer.

I regret missing out on it.

[WarnerCK]

Originally posted by Nethlem:

Are my off-brand PS4 controllers just crap, do legit PS4 controllers pair without issue?

Legit PS4 controllers do pair without issue; Sony maintain the kernel driver themselves. Your knockoff controllers don't have the manufacturer supporting them, so it's down to the community taking sufficient interest for them to work.

[yokoshlomo]

Used Steam Controllers cost around 30€ and got similiar haptics as the deck.

[thetargos]

I'll chime in to confirm brand controllers work best. You CAN absolutely get third party console controllers working with SteamOS (or any other Linux system for that matter) with some tinkering by means of creating a device specific udev rule, with the inconvenience in the case of SteamOS that have to replace the rule at every system image update, as the path used for these will be overwritten.

This process involves getting the device specific vendor:dev ids pair from USB via lsusb, then use them in an empty text file to create your rule for wired and BT mode, and that is pretty much it, you can use the system provided rule as template (which name should be akin to 60-steam-input.rules, typically found in /lib/udev/rules.d/)

[PopinFRESH]

GuilKit KingKong 2 works pretty much without issue via bluetooth. Otherwise, I'd stick with legit PS4 controllers or legit Xbox One controllers. There have been some issues with Xbox Series X|S and/or Xbox Elite controllers with their latest firmwares when connecting via bluetooth.

[MJ711]

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Never buy knockoffs, they're trash, just buy official DualSense or DualShock 4, those are the most compatible, Xbox is not as reliable on Linux.

this is not correct.
There are some very high quallity 3rd party controllers.
Some are way better then original one from Xbox or PS4/5.
And some provide more functionality like more buttons, better buttons, better gyro, better sticks and much more.

Xbox controller (and its copies) is the most reliable controller for Linux. No idea where you go that wrong info...

I personally use my Steam Controller almost daily and i have the Logitech F510 controller (same one that a certain submarine had while it sank) as a backup for split-screen multiplayer like Baldurs Gate 3.
The Logitech controller is 10+ years old and it still works.

[tyl0413]

Originally posted by MJ711:

Originally posted by tyl0413:

Never buy knockoffs, they're trash, just buy official DualSense or DualShock 4, those are the most compatible, Xbox is not as reliable on Linux.

this is not correct.
There are some very high quallity 3rd party controllers.
Some are way better then original one from Xbox or PS4/5.
And some provide more functionality like more buttons, better buttons, better gyro, better sticks and much more.

Xbox controller (and its copies) is the most reliable controller for Linux. No idea where you go that wrong info...

I personally use my Steam Controller almost daily and i have the Logitech F510 controller (same one that a certain submarine had while it sank) as a backup for split-screen multiplayer like Baldurs Gate 3.
The Logitech controller is 10+ years old and it still works.

I said knockoff not third party, yes there obviously are high quality 3rd party manufacturers but I was talking about cheap clones.
I don't use Xbox but I've heard it doesn't work properly until at least its updated on Windows so based off that and since it has less features than PS/Steam I think it's a worse choice.