Controller stops working in games after being idle

[Jadawin]

I'm trying to make GTA V work with the controller. I bought GTA outside of Steam and have added it as a shortcut. After hours of effort I've found a configuration that works more or less with the game.

But... only until I need to make a break and the controller switches off due to inactivity. If that happens, invariably after switching it back on the controller does not work anymore in GTA. Or rather, it works in the default desktop config which is of course useless.

Even restarting GTA then (which is totally impractical because it takes ages) does not help. Only restarting Windows reliably helps to get it working again.

As I said, this always happens after the controller switched itself off. But it also sometimes, unpredictably happens when I just start GTA. Sometimes it just doesn't work and the controller acts in desktop mode. In these cases, restarting the game usually makes it work.

I don't know if this also happens in other games, I bought the controller primarily with GTA V in mind and want to get proficient with it in this game before I try others.

[Randork]

You can avoid the problem by going in the section Add/Test controller and select shutdown time to Never.

[Randork]

Also if it starts with the desktop configuration remember to always open the game from the steam library as a non-steam game. Tell me if it works.

[Jadawin]

Thanks, changed it to 30 minutes. But I often have to make long breaks due to family duties and it just sucks to have to choose betweens draining the batteries needlessly or having to restart everything (and often lose mission progress) :(

edit: Yes I always start from Steam, otherwise it never works.

[Randork]

I have to admit that it's hard to drain the batteries, My controller is always on (wireless) and it's still 100%. This is the 5th day and idk if it's a bug or not lol

[WarStomp]

I have the same problem with Trine 3. Both controllers do not work after they shutdown automatically and I turn them on again. Need to restart the game without saving...

[OVER9000]

Yep, thats how steam controller works. Turns it self off, stops registering.

Well my advice is this: Never put it down in a gaming session, reason being:
1. Triggers will auto pull with the slightest movement on the couch, bed, table.
2. Controller will get bored and turn off, which is the exact same as 360, albeit adjustable on Steams controller.
3. After power cycling the controller it will almost always fail hock into the game you are currently running, Steam BPM will still function, not not sending Xinput to game. Ludicrous!
4. And also, dont alt+tab while using it, since this can occasionally also trigger the failure to send xinput game in focus.

Its a brilliant controller, but the above facts is a nuisance at best, what is interesting is that the Hacked PS4 Tool for windows and the 360 wireless will ALWAYS reconnect to game, even GTAV which is notoriously picky concerning controllers.

[RealityQuotient]

Battery life is a non-issue, let's just get that out of the way. Most people are reporting 80 to 100 hours and more of battery life, and I'm sure it uses less juice at idle than it does during use (what with the haptics and all).

I alt-tab all the time and I've never had a problem. I actually admire how it instantly goes from the game config to desktop config when I alt-tab. When I actually shut the games down it takes longer...go figure. Of course, every game is a different beastie.

Best advice to OP; increase the shutdown time or set it to never, whatever suits your needs.

[Mozgus]

What a retarded problem to still exist entering 2018.

[Nod]

This is still happening, its incredibly annoying. If I hit the steam button I can enter the steam overlay and the controller works, return to game and its not working and the only way to fix it is to restart the game. This is a fundamental bug that has not been fixed in four years, very poor QA valve.

[Jadawin]

OP here, I made this thread in 2015. I solved the problem by getting rid of the family, now I can play uninterrupted again so the controller does not shut down in the first place.

[Mozgus]

Originally posted by Jadawin:

OP here, I made this thread in 2015. I solved the problem by getting rid of the family, now I can play uninterrupted again so the controller does not shut down in the first place.

Vaguely murderous.

[WarStomp]

Originally posted by Jadawin:

OP here, I made this thread in 2015. I solved the problem by getting rid of the family, now I can play uninterrupted again so the controller does not shut down in the first place.

Not working for me.