Controller not working properly

[GunBoat]

The controller works properly without any issues in literally a plethora of games I have on Steam. I won't list them all here but could. No issues to start with and no issues in literally thousands of hours of game play and several controllers gone bad and replaced even.

There appears to be some games, this being one of them, where the controller is problematic right out of the gate. X did not work to talk to the first 4-eyes. A didn't work to jump. Menu button didn't work, etc.

This brings me to 2 questions:

Why do some games have issues from the start with controllers and many others do not?

The controller still is not working properly for this game, so how do I/we get it working properly? We being my kids.

[dogsmokespipe]

My controller doesn't work and my keyboard buttons don't work either. I've heard good things about this game but it's literally unplayable right now. I've been waiting for a patch to fix these things but somehow there isn't one in sight.

[LarryTwoHands]

yeah movement is inverted for me and cannot be fixed in settings

[alchron]

I have tried my xbox 360 controller as well as a steam controller and a logitech controller, to which none of them work properly with this game.

[smidley]

The same for me. Keyboard and gamepad doesn't work, I can't get access to main menu. Interesting, but on linux, under proton, everything works fine. Controller and keyboard. But under windows 10 game just unplayable.

[Lruce_Bee]

I got this refunded for this very reason. Somehow people appear to be playing this without any problems or have found some sort of workaround - I'm not sure but I honestly can't see how people are playing this game with the controls in the state that they're in. Looks to be a really fun game as well but I'll probably revisit this after these issues have been sorted. Absolutely crazy that the steam version was shipped like that with controls being inverted and rebinding of keys not working properly etc - I just don't get it.

[dogsmokespipe]

Well I fixed my issue. I had a joystick plugged in because I had been playing Granblue. This isn't an issue for any other game I have, but I unplugged all my controllers other than my DS4 and then right clicked "The Outer Wilds" on my games list, went to properties and forced on "Steam Input Per-Game Setting" and now my controller works! Hope this fix works for you as well.

[WiseOldFool]

bump, again same issue

[GunBoat]

Mine's working now. I had to completely scrub my computer's USB pallet. Unplug everything USB except keyboard and mouse and remove all USB devices in the Devices settings dialog box except keyboard and mouse. Then rebooted.

Then I just plugged in the xbox 360 controller and let it add it. Then I went into the controllers advanced settings and made the 360 controller default, and calibrated it. Then it worked. I am afraid to plug anything else in until I finish the game.

It's obviously very finicky because the controller had been working fine in all the other games me and my kids play.

Forgot, and I unchecked the 360 controller in steam's settings controller tab. Not the game's but steam itself from the steam menu.

[uncleaner]

I configured a DS4 through big picture mode and selected it as a 360 controller in game and it worked.
Trying to get a flight stick working though completely broke the game lol.

[Eliminajor]

It's 2020. Games should work. Controllers that work in literally every other game I've played on Steam should work on this game, but don't. I'm not going to unplug every other USB thing in my computer and reboot just to play this game. Fix the game.

[spe3d-X]

same here and i will not plug everything off, just because they cant program a bugfree game. neither my controller works right, nor my keyboard. fix the game.

if they dont want my money, no problem - refund and bam

[Limygeorge]

Couldn't get past the first bit, land in the geyser. I think the controller did what it's supposed to do? But it's no awful I've given up for now. Also my Right joy stick which according to the set up menus isn't uses just sends me all over the place.

I tried different setups in the menu (manual/auto. inverted or normal) but I don't even know if they changed anything. I was spinning around crashing, hit the geyser a few time by chance, flung high in space, so high it was a little dot, and uncontrollable.

A lot of good stuff is written about this game, so I can't help but wonder if I've got something basic wrong?

It's literally impossible to control the model space ship after lifting off. Frustrated. I see others are too. Crazy that a game which is supposed to be so good will send some packing right at the beginning as the model ships controls are totally fXXXXXX up!

I've spent about 30mins. Starting and talking OK, walking jumping OK (2minutes) spent the rest of the time with literally the most idiotic controls for the model ship I've ever encountered in any game.

Why not a simple patch at the very start. I can't say I've played it yet. Perplexed.

EXTRA @Elimajor and @ Crank. FULLY agree. How can this be so messed up?
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[Odo]

Having the same problems as reported by others here despite the game working perfectly for over a week with a wireless (bluetooth) Xbox One controller. Now the game is completely unplayable.

[H 4 R 4 M B 3]

Controller worked perfectly until yesterday, now the only way I can get it to work is with DS4, and then the controls are inverted... Brilliant game, but how can it literally say that it is best played with a controller and then have so many issues with actually running a normal PS4 controller...

[Limygeorge]

Well now I'm totally screwed. I couldn't get it work properly before yesterday. (I guess a patch?)
Now there is no chance. I'll keep it uninstalled and try again next year, literally.