Is DS4 still necessary to install when playing with PS4 controllers?

[Padoru]

I'm thinking to get a PS4 controller for my laptop, I wonder if:

1. I still need to install DS4 if I use a USB wired connection for PS4 controller to work
2. I still need to install DS4 if I use wireless connection for PS4 controller to work

[ReBoot]

Please don't. Sony has long provided an official driver and while you'll still need an input mapper, Steam comes with a built-in one.

[Padoru]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Please don't. Sony has long provided an official driver and while you'll still need an input mapper, Steam comes with a built-in one.

I actually prefer to use official ones but didn't knew about that they are already providing official drivers. So thanks for that.

Do you know here can I get these drivers and how to setup them, and also the input mapper?

[ReBoot]

See if the driver just works. If not, install PSNow.
As for the input Mappe, it's even enabled by default. Why do t you just try if it works by default?

[Padoru]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

See if the driver just works. If not, install PSNow.
As for the input Mappe, it's even enabled by default. Why do t you just try if it works by default?

I still dont have the controller so I'm asking the questions advanced just in case

[tintingaroo]

It's not necessary - Steam & DS4W do pretty much the same thing. One benefit of DS4W over Steam is that it can also output an emulated DualShock 4. The only gamepad Steam emulates is the Xbox 360. There are other pro's & con's between the two - depends what the user is after.

(From what I see, DS4W wasn't exactly "necessary" previously. The controller operates as a basic DirectInput-compliant gamepad & so would be natively supported by the OS + games that use Dinput. It would require DS4W or other DInput>Xinput mapper for use with Xinput games.
Where DS4W really kicked in was supporting the controller in full feature mode (gyro, light bar, vibration, touchpad) and emulating a wired DS4 controller).

I know Sony have a driver for the controller on Linux but I am unaware of any driver on Windows, would like to see ReBoot's source of that info. PSNow doesn't have a DS4 driver - in older versions it provided a driver for the DualShock 3.

This is what you'd do if you wanted to apply Steam's support for the controller:
- Connect the device (for BT pairing, when powered off, hold Share + PS button until the light bar flashes (indicating pairing mode) and then pair in Windows)
- Go to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings > have "PlayStation Configuration Support" ticked. That means Steam will now translate the controller and present an emulated Xbox 360 controller for games on/added to Steam.

[Padoru]

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

It's not necessary - Steam & DS4W do pretty much the same thing. One benefit of DS4W over Steam is that it can also output an emulated DualShock 4. The only gamepad Steam emulates is the Xbox 360. There are other pro's & con's between the two - depends what the user is after.

(From what I see, DS4W wasn't exactly "necessary" previously. The controller operates as a basic DirectInput-compliant gamepad & so would be natively supported by the OS + games that use Dinput. It would require DS4W or other DInput>Xinput mapper for use with Xinput games.

Where DS4W really kicked in was supporting the controller in full feature mode (gyro, light bar, vibration, touchpad) and emulating a wired DS4 controller).

I know Sony have a driver for the controller on Linux but I am unaware of any driver on Windows, would like to see ReBoot's source of that info. PSNow doesn't have a DS4 driver - in older versions it provided a driver for the DualShock 3.

This is what you'd do if you wanted to apply Steam's support for the controller:
- Connect the device (for BT pairing, when powered off, hold Share + PS button until the light bar flashes (indicating pairing mode) and then pair in Windows)
- Go to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings > have "PlayStation Configuration Support" ticked. That means Steam will now translate the controller and present an emulated Xbox 360 controller for games on/added to Steam.

Thanks for the detailed answer! I'm really good enough as long as the inputs of the controller is smooth and responsive.

May I know what is the "BT pairing"?

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

Where DS4W really kicked in was supporting the controller in full feature mode (gyro, light bar, vibration, touchpad) and emulating a wired DS4 controller).

Does this mean if I play wired and I dont have DS4W, I wont be able to use the full feature mode of PS4 but only the button inputs will work?

[tintingaroo]

Ah, with "BT" I meant Bluetooth. So for the pairing process do the stuff, from then on it should reconnect when you turn it on with the PS button.


You'll get access to the full features with Steam (or DS4W) both via wire or via Bluetooth. It's just that some games that have native support for the DualShock 4 only have it for the wired controller, so with DS4W you can have a Bluetooth connected DualShock4 and have things operate as if you had a wired DualShock4 controller.

[Jooooo]

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

It's not necessary - Steam & DS4W do pretty much the same thing. One benefit of DS4W over Steam is that it can also output an emulated DualShock 4. The only gamepad Steam emulates is the Xbox 360. There are other pro's & con's between the two - depends what the user is after.

(From what I see, DS4W wasn't exactly "necessary" previously. The controller operates as a basic DirectInput-compliant gamepad & so would be natively supported by the OS + games that use Dinput. It would require DS4W or other DInput>Xinput mapper for use with Xinput games.
Where DS4W really kicked in was supporting the controller in full feature mode (gyro, light bar, vibration, touchpad) and emulating a wired DS4 controller).

I know Sony have a driver for the controller on Linux but I am unaware of any driver on Windows, would like to see ReBoot's source of that info. PSNow doesn't have a DS4 driver - in older versions it provided a driver for the DualShock 3.

This is what you'd do if you wanted to apply Steam's support for the controller:
- Connect the device (for BT pairing, when powered off, hold Share + PS button until the light bar flashes (indicating pairing mode) and then pair in Windows)
- Go to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings > have "PlayStation Configuration Support" ticked. That means Steam will now translate the controller and present an emulated Xbox 360 controller for games on/added to Steam.

DS4 Windows doesn't work with EA App. Unfortunately, there is not a definitive way to play all games on PC with Dualshock 4. Input Mapper has not automatic turning off when IDLE and has very few features too.
Steam built-in doesn't work with all games outside of Steam like EA and Xbox.

[tintingaroo]

@Jooooo

How do you mean DS4W doesn't work with the EA App? Can you describe the situation where it's not working/steps you're taking?
I've briefly tested a game from the EA App (SteamWorld Dig) and it was fine for me with DS4W.


One method of using Steam Input for non-Steam games is to make it available as a system-wide Xbox 360 controller. There is a tool called GloSSI that helps with that. I've also used the tool x360ce to achieve the same thing (used it with Forza Horizon 4 from the Xbox app).