Controllers have been incorrectly mapped on Mac for years (fix inside)

[Nicholas]

Subnautica developers,

This is an issue that has been repeatedly reported in this support forum and elsewhere since 2017 (examples here, here, here, here), and has still not been fixed as of the Big Little Update.

Problem

My controller behaves like so:

- Right-stick Y-axis (up/down) produces an input of the right-stick X-axis (right/left).
- Right-stick X-axis produces an input of the triggers (left -> LT, right -> RT).
- Many other button mappings are incorrect: for example, pressing RT on the controller inputs right on the D-pad.

I personally tested this with a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (as supported in Steam), but from extensive searching, the symptoms match bug reports from other Mac users using Xbox or Xinput gamepads.

As reported by others, this issue occurs for me only in Subnautica and cannot be reproduced with the same controller configuration anywhere else in my Steam library.

Unplugging all other USB devices and removing any interfering inputs (e.g. from external mice) does not fix the problem, nor does a full reinstallation.

Diagnosis

I decided to test and research this issue myself in the hopes that it will accelerate a much-needed fix, both in the current Unity 2018.2 branch and the forthcoming Unity 2019 update.

I have determined that this behaviour is specific to macOS and the cause of the problem is that Subnautica is configured to use Unity's Windows controller map on all platforms. However, Unity's input manager uses different numerical axis/button mappings for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Subnautica does not account for this in the Mac build (and possibly also not in the Linux build).

This matches the erroneous behaviour exactly. According to this page[wiki.unity3d.com] (scroll down to the table under "Bindings"), controller axis numbers for Windows (for the drivers described) are as follows:

- 3 = Triggers
- 4 = R-stick X
- 5 = R-stick Y
- 6 = D-pad X

While controller axis numbers for Mac are as follows:

- 3 = R-stick X
- 4 = R-stick Y
- 5 = LT
- 6 = RT

Also refer to the tables in the comments here[answers.unity.com] (again, for the Xbox 360 driver).

In sum, controller support in the Mac build is improperly configured to use Windows-specific axis/button numbers in Unity's input manager.

Please fix this urgently. The Mac version has been unplayable with controllers for a long while, and I believe I have identified the issue.

[Nicholas]

Still not fixed as of the 11 December update.

[Branchminer1]

Yup, I can confirm that controller support for Subnautica on Mac is a mess.

[daiyam]

+1

[Kraea]

I am experiencing the same problem

[den]

Thank you for perfectly identifying the issue. Subnautica developers are laughing at the face of their paying customers. Problem still not fixed as of 28 January 2023. Tested on Monterey and Ventura with PS5 controller.
Despite raising multiple bug reports, it is right to understand that it will never be fixed. Subnautica is then so producing false advertising by telling customers that they support game controllers.

[grzegorz77]

Originally posted by den:

Thank you for perfectly identifying the issue. Subnautica developers are laughing at the face of their paying customers. Problem still not fixed as of 28 January 2023. Tested on Monterey and Ventura with PS5 controller.
Despite raising multiple bug reports, it is right to understand that it will never be fixed. Subnautica is then so producing false advertising by telling customers that they support game controllers.

In fact, this is a burning problem, it is a mockery that all 5 users who have encountered this problem in the last 3 years did not get a free vacation in Asia.

And it doesn't matter that the mac went from i386 to arm platform processors.

Anyone who buys a subnaitica should also get 3 free pizzas with delivery.

[ckdblueshark]

Sarcastic replies about what customers deserve aside, since Steam now lists Subnautica as having "full controller support" (and even calls out my Dualsense specifically on the store page) it would be very much appreciated if UW would release a simple update to fix the button mappings on macOS.

[stygmate]

Incorrect mapping always here 26 dec 2023...
MacOs 14.2.1 MacStudio M1 Max
😓😓😓

[Ignis]

The experimental build has a new version of controller support. Can you tell me if that fixes your issues?

[stygmate]

Originally posted by Ignis:

The experimental build has a new version of controller support. Can you tell me if that fixes your issues?

Yes controller work perfectly :) I've seen some rare textures glitch but nothing important.

[Sammyt]

Hello, just downloaded BZ on mac with XBox controller, mapping are wrong. It is unplayable. Is there any way to remap the controller ?

[Coolvipp001]

unplayable

[tanstaafl]

This is still an issue for me. Have tried experimental beta (which completely eliminated any controller option being available in the menu). The regular build still has the original poster issues. Have tried logitech F310 and F710. Would really like to get the full graphic experience on my desktop instead of steam deck hooked up to big screen.

Agree with several others that this seems to be a long term unaddressed problem (please correct me if I'm mistaken) perhaps due to the smaller number of mac users Subnautica-ing.

Processor: 3.8 Ghz 8-Core intel Core i7
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT 8GB
Memory: 40GB 2667 Mhz DDR4

[briantully]

i purchased this game over a month ago after looking for games similar to Dave the Diver (which I LOVE). I finally got around to trying this game a couple of days ago, and sure enough the PS4 DualShock controller support is completely broken. To the point where I can't even exit a game without force-quitting Steam. I've been looking for possible solutions for the past couple of days, and am so happy to finally see this discussion post verifying that I am not crazy! I actually requested a refund do to the game being unplayable on Mac, but i was denied a refund due to it being more than 30 days.
So fingers crossed that a beta build will fix the controller issue.

[briantully]

How does one install an experimental build of Subnautica from Steam?