Need help with using a PS4 controller with Prey.

[Slackerdude74]

I was using an Xbox One controller which worked great, but I decided to use a PS4 controller because I like using the big button in the middle for inventory over the tiny button on the Xbox One controller.
So far the the controls with the PS4 controller works in the game as it should, but I am having an issue that I hope the someone can help me with.
The issue is in the options of the game it still shows the Xbox Controller and while playing the game it shows then the button prompts for the Xbox One controller, but in Steams Big Picture mode it shows the PS4 controller prompts.
Is there a way change that by showing the correct settings for the PS4 controller in the game?
Thanks for any help.

[B1ackjack]

Check if you have Playstation 4 contoller support enabled in Bigh Picture settings. If it's on - disable it.
If the game doesn't have native DS4 support, this emulation is the only way to play though.

[Slackerdude74]

Originally posted by B1ackjack:

Check if you have Playstation 4 contoller support enabled in Big Picture settings. If it's on - disable it.
If the game doesn't have native DS4 support, this emulation is the only way to play though.

So if the PS4 controller works just fine in the game except for the ingame on screen controller prompts(what button to press) and if it works just fine in Steam's Big Picture mode and shows the correct button prompts, so your advice is to "disable" the the PS4 controller support in Steam's Big Picture mode. Huh?

[B1ackjack]

It's not much of an advice, it's just how it works for now.

TL;DR
Most games these days support Dualshock 4 on their own. Some still don't and support only Xbox controllers and such (XInput type). For those there are tools to make them work with Dualshock, e.g. DS4Windows.
Not long ago Steam added its own Playstation 4 controller solution which does the same. Basically, when enabled it tricks all games into thinking you are using an Xbox controller, converting input from your Dualshock controller into XInput. Thus you see Xbox icons in game.

Disabling PS4 controller support in settings allows you to check if the game supports it natively. If you disable it in Steam, re-plug the controller and it will still work in some game, it means that game supports it as is, and you don't need to use Steam's "hack" for it.

Now, there are 3 possibilities:

1. The game supports DS4 and has PS4 icons packed into PC version (e.g. Witcher 3), then it will work and you will see PS4 icons.

2. It supports DS4, but doesn't have the icons on PC (Resident Evil 7), then it will still work but you'll see Xbox icons anyway.

3. It doesn't support DS4 at all (Dark Souls 3), which means you need to enable Playstation 4 controller support in Steam settings and replug the controller, then the game will think you're using an Xbox controller and it will work, but of course, only with Xbox icons again.
Sidenote: rare indie games allow you to choose between Xbox and PS4 icons even if they don't have Dualshock driver.

Keep in mind that this feature is still new, and like everything that rises from BP, lacks some functionality. So if you want to be able to customize DS4 controls in Steam and have a game recognizing it as DS4 controller at the same time, i'm not sure it's possible right now.
This feature's quirks have been extensively discussed on Big Picture forum and Reddit, so feel free to google more about those settings. Maybe there's some solution in using Steam's universal controller config.

Hope that helps, feel free to ask more questions.

I'll be able to check if Prey has native Dualshock support and icons myself in a couple of hours.

[B1ackjack]

Update:
I've checked and it seems like Prey is using a new method. It doesn't support DS4 as is, but after i enabled it through Steam, i noticed there's a controls profile posted by Arkane themselves and also an in-game option for use of Steam controller, which is rare.
It seems like they've decided to implement official DS4 support on Steam's end, probably because they've used Steam contoller API in the game itself, and Valve based their DS4 support on it. Long story short, the game was able to detect it correctly and show DS4 icons.

It took a few tries though, first couple of times DS4 wouldn't work. I tried switching Steam controller support in Prey back and forth with restarting the game until it worked (might not be related).
Anyway, this is new, and seems like the first time devs properly integrated Steam's API for DS4 instead of relying on emulation only.

So, leave the PS4 controller enabled in Steam settings, make sure to select Arkane's controls profile and start the game. If it doesn't work, try turning Steam controller support on or off in Prey settings. If it works and you want to change the controls in Steam, try doing it, but begin with Arkane's official DS4 profile. Maybe this is what matters.

[Slackerdude74]

Okay, I will try that. Thanks for your help.

[ben]

Did it work? :O

[B1ackjack]

Originally posted by Jordan B. Peterson:

Did it work? :O

They kinda fixed PS4 controller support in updates, but it also introduced microstutter when moving camera. The best way is to use Methanhydrat's Xinput Fix, google it.
He describes the issue in his blog and introduces a simple fix, which forces the game to use xinput instead of steam controller api. It also allows you to pick PS4 button icons. But you'll need to use DS4Windows as well.
This is the best way to get super smooth PS4 controller input with correct button prompts. Also, a lot less complicated than it sounds.

[ben]

Originally posted by B1ackjack:

Originally posted by Jordan B. Peterson:

Did it work? :O

They kinda fixed PS4 controller support in updates, but it also introduced microstutter when moving camera. The best way is to use Methanhydrat's Xinput Fix, google it.
He describes the issue in his blog and introduces a simple fix, which forces the game to use xinput instead of steam controller api. It also allows you to pick PS4 button icons. But you'll need to use DS4Windows as well.
This is the best way to get super smooth PS4 controller input with correct button prompts. Also it's a lot less complicated than it sounds.

Yay thanks for the tips! Got my physical copy in the mail today haha.

[ben]

Link to the Xinput fix: https://www.nexusmods.com/prey2017/mods/19?tab=description