Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

[Stamper]

tldr; Are you using a Pro Controller? if so, which distro and kernel version are you using?

For a few years now I have wanted to make the move from dirty MS Windows to nice happy Linux. However, I have tried a number of times and each time I have hit blockers like: Graphic drivers, Razer Mouse/Keyboard lack of support and macros, MIDI/USB support (I have some legacy music keyboards that just wont work as they do in windows), Anti Cheat stopping my fav games from working... to name a few.

I recently found some articles that could help with the USB/MIDI and Razer support (some coding/scripting required, but thats ok), so planning on having another go.

I now find that Kernel 5.16 supports Nintendo Pro Controller, however, I am currently using Linix Mint (Cinnamon), which is not up with 5.16 yet, and might not be till next year.

So, are you using a Switch Pro Controller and how do you get it to work? Are you using 5.16 or better?

I'm thinking of scrapping Mint (although I love it) to maybe Fedora so I can stay a bit more up-to date with latest and greatest.

Your thoughts please, cheers

edit: a few typos

[amber]

d

[thetargos]

Yes, the controller works usually OK.

I have also used a WiiU Pro Controller which I got back in the day and needless to say has worked just fine since like forever. It is no different with the Switch Pro (but you do need a rather recent kernel). I use Fedora and it has been on 5.16 for a while, though. But you can get a more recent kernel than what ships with Mint/Ubuntu from PPAs (alas, since I do not use such distros, I wouldn't know how to use them, and pretty much resort to buld my own kernel, but I digress)

To pair such devices usually involves to set to pairing mode (press the little pair button on the controller) open your BT device manager or set bluetoothctl to scan mode) and then pair with the discovered device... That's pretty much it.

If you are using Steam, just make sure to have installed the steam-devices package so you have the needed udev ruls (you can extend/modify them if you need, as well), which will allow you to use the device as a regular user and set the correct options for the device node (basically are a set of config options for the device that work usually well for most users)

[Stamper]

Originally posted by thetargos:

Yes, the controller works usually OK.

I use Fedora and it has been on 5.16 for a while, though. But you can get a more recent kernel than what ships with Mint/Ubuntu from PPAs (alas, since I do not use such distros, I wouldn't know how to use them, and pretty much resort to buld my own kernel, but I digress)

If you are using Steam, just make sure to have installed the steam-devices package so you have the needed udev ruls (you can extend/modify them if you need, as well), which will allow you to use the device as a regular user and set the correct options for the device node (basically are a set of config options for the device that work usually well for most users)

yes, I think Fedora and 5.16 are the magic ingredients. I did try putting 5.16 with Mint but Nvidia drivers said no. I'm sure it's probably possible, but seeing as Cinnamon can be used over Fedora, I can keep my sexy desktop if I switch over.

Do you use keyboard macros by any chance?

[thetargos]

I seldom use keyboard macros, but I know that recent Razer devices have been supported. Alas to which extent, I do not know. But from the looks of it seems that macros do work.

My wife uses Cinnamon rather than GNOME (I use pure GNOME) with Fedora on her computer and works just fine. nVidia drivers are as painless as it can be, but depending on your card, you may need to boot into text mode prior to installing the RPFusion driver packages, which is what I use on both my computers (desktop with a 1080 and laptop with a 950m). Alas 2D performance is less than spectacular, and you may run into screen tearing and multimonitor is a chore (as in if you have mixed refresh modes, you're required to use xinerama). I have not tested Wayland and the newer driver, though.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

It worked on Manjaro, although with some bugs. Like the stick, although i was pushing it to the limit, only reported that i was pushing it a bit. So i couldn't run in games

Havn't tried it on Arch yet, guess i have to pacman -S my blutooth drivers first

[Stamper]

Originally posted by The Nintendo guy:

It worked on Manjaro, although with some bugs. Like the stick, although i was pushing it to the limit, only reported that i was pushing it a bit. So i couldn't run in games

Havn't tried it on Arch yet, guess i have to pacman -S my blutooth drivers first

Which kernel version on Manjaro?

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

Originally posted by Stamper:

Originally posted by The Nintendo guy:

It worked on Manjaro, although with some bugs. Like the stick, although i was pushing it to the limit, only reported that i was pushing it a bit. So i couldn't run in games

Havn't tried it on Arch yet, guess i have to pacman -S my blutooth drivers first

Which kernel version on Manjaro?

I just used the very latesst stable kernel
so 5.17
Now on Arch i use the Zen kernel
But it shouldn't matter too much, since even the latest lts kernel, is the 5.15 which isn't even that old, considering that 5.17 just came out

[Marlock]

GPU:
if you actually have dual graphics (due to having an Intel or AMD iGPU in the CPU besides the Nvidia dGPU you mentioned) you might miss Linux Mint's superb integration if you move away for a different distro...

most distros now have easily available Nvidia drivers, but not all of them have working optimus, prime and a handy toolbar switcher from the get-go

you could always ditch that Nvidia gpu for an AMD one and enjoy the out-of-the-box shenanigans-free mesa driver support that won't break over kernel updates... oh, wait, it's still 2022 and GPU prices are still ridiculous


nintendo switch pro controller:
you can try SC Controller for a userland support solution that will work even while steam isn't running, amd that AFAIK will work even if you have older kernel than 5.16 (it was born to support the Steam Controller before any other form of support existed outside Steam itself, hence the name)


Linux Mint 21.0 is right around the corner... it should be released in Q4 this year, since Ubuntu 22.4 (the next LTS version, which marks the path for Mint devs building their new thing) will be released by the end of this month

[Stamper]

Originally posted by Marlock:

.

Thanks for your comments @Marlock. I am a fan of Mint, but I still game in Windows as when I first switched to Mint from Ubuntu a year or two back I was fire fighting drivers etc. and games I was playing at the time were not playable in Linux, I think most are now, its come a long way. Also, I was frustrated that my Razer Kyb n Mouse lost all the good stuff from Synapse (macros etc.) plus my old Roland Keyboard usb/midi wouldn't work.

The arrival of Steam Deck woke me back up to trying Linux Gaming again, but Switch Pro Controllers needed jigging, or wait till 5.16. Not wanting to fire fight again, I was asking about alternate, slightly more up-to-date, Distros with later Kernels otherwise natively not offered by mint/ubuntu. Hence my OP post.

As for AMD vs NVidia, that's a can of worms. Yep GPU's are coming down, but still grossly over priced against MSRP. Viruses and Wars will be the excuse to keep the prices high, I'm sure. How did we get on to politics, haha. Stop that.

[NRG-R9T]

Yes, I use the Switch Pro Controller as my main Linux Gaming PC Game Controller, played through MGSV and Horizon Zero Dawn with it. Steam recognises it immediately and you could change buttons to the switch Layout in steam controller settings. Steam is not the problem, even wireless works via Bluetooth.

Distro and Kernel: Garuda Linux (based on Arch) with Kernel 5.17.

Mostly I used it wired by USB. For a long time it failed to connect permanently with several BT5.0 and BT4.0 dongles, even widely used ones. The driver for the Switch Pro Controller in Linux for USB and BT/wireless was here before Kernel 5.16, but had to be installed. I never had success with it to connect it permantenly by wireless though, the problem was HW/driver related or my own stupidity - who knows.

I used a PC update to buy an ASUS Mainboard with WiFi/Bluetooth-Antenna this time to get BT controllers working, and with Kernel 5.16 around by then, the wireless BT-Connection worked - at least in most games I play. I have problems with it in FIFA22 and other (if not all) EA Origin Titles in Steam. It's because of their Origin Launcher. So I connect it wired by USB for these. "It Takes Two" for example just straight up refuses to recognise any controller, even the Xbox360 Wireless I use over a decade and never had me any trouble in Linux.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

So, uhm necro.
ANYWAY
As a 2024 update. I can say that my Switch pro controller works perfectly when wired. I never use it wireless so I don't know about that.
Also I should correct my statement from 2022 that the 5.15 kernel should be fine. The 5.16 (I guess) kernel came with a new/proper Pro controller driver. But I doubt there being a lot of people who havn't moved on since. Even Debian uses 6.1 lmao

Edit: I am not the one who revived this thread. Someone else did it and deleted their coment. I just thought that it might be worth mentioning in case someone stumbles upon this.