Dualsense (PS5) controller does not work at all

[Owl]

I tried using ds4windows with the 360 emulation, didn't work. I tried ds4windows with the ps4 emulation, didn't work. I tried native controller support, didn't work. I tried steam controller support, didn't work. I tried all of the above twice, bluetooth and wired, nada.

Am I really going to need to bite the bullet and get an xbox controller? The keyboard and mouse feel is atrocious, so unless someone here can help, that's my only choice

[Dusk of Oolacile]

Should work with steam input enabled. Make sure you select an actual profile too, Steam has a tendency of selecting broken or useless ones by default.

Enable steam input, start the game, open controller configuration, then select the profile called "game pad". Of course, if you have traces of anything of the above mentioned things left (ds4windows etc.) purge them. You can only use one solution at a time.

[Owl]

Originally posted by Dusk of Oolacile:

Should work with steam input enabled. Make sure you select an actual profile too, Steam has a tendency of selecting broken or useless ones by default.

I'll give that a shot, thank you!

[Owl]

Originally posted by Dusk of Oolacile:

Should work with steam input enabled.

Welp, try as I might, the game refuses to read my controller inputs. Followed your words to a T, and still no result.
I know for sure that my computer is reading the controller fine, because I tested it in that one gamepad testing website, as well as the controller configuration window in Steam.

[JellyPuff]

Here are some controller troubleshooting steps for controller issues with soulsgames, that you can try:

• Try using Steam-Input's controller support for PlayStation controllers. DS2 only supports xinput/XBOX controllers out of the box. If it's a third-party PS5 controller, try using the "Generic Controller Support"-option instead
  
• If you are using Steam-Input, make sure, that not other controller-software is running in the background (like DS4WIndows)
  
• Make sure only one input device is connected to your computer at a time, excluding KB&M(**) - things, like 2nd controllers, pedals/steering wheels and eve Stream Decks/macro keypads
  
• If a wireless connection is being used for the controller, try using a different Bluetooth-dongle or an USB cable instead
  
• Disable 3rd-party controller drivers. Go to "Device Manager" and under "Input Devices", disable all entries of "HID-Compliant Game Controller" or non-generic sounding names (e.g. "vJoy")

DS2 has controller-related conflicts a little more commonly, than other soulsgames from my experience.

(**)Rare, but some KB&M have a built-in joystick (ROG Chakram mice) or analogue features (Wooting keyboards) that will conflict with other controllers, because they use the xinput-API (what XBOX-controllers use). DS2 uses the first xinput-device it sees and ignores everything else, so if you have one of those types of devices, you have to disable those features in Device Manager.

[Owl]

Originally posted by JellyPuff:

(**)Rare, but some KB&M have a built-in joystick (ROG Chakram mice) or analogue features (Wooting keyboards) that will conflict with other controllers, because they use the xinput-API (what XBOX-controllers use). DS2 uses the first xinput-device it sees and ignores everything else...

Might be my mechanical keyboard, it has one of those volume rockers. I'll try playing with it disconnected. Thanks!
Besides the keyboard though, I've basically tried everything listed.
As for the controller, it is a first-party, original, PS5 Dualsense.

[Konjiki no Inazuma]

I play with a PS5 controller using the configuration of steam, and it works perfectly. Don't use an external program for this game, and make sure you have "on" the settings of the controller in options.