How to set up a PlayStation Classic Controller for use with Steam (+ Configs)

I don’t know where else to post this, so I’ll post it here.

Have a PlayStation Classic and like its controller (and maybe not the actual console)? Then you may be interested in using it on a PC (and it’s completely possible). Here’s how to set up the PlayStation Classic for use with Steam.

Setting up the PlayStation Classic Controller for Steam

First, connect the controller to your PC (obviously). The controller should be recognized as “Controller” (fitting, isn’t it?). Let the drivers install and continue.

Head into Steam and go into Big Picture Mode. From here, go into the settings menu. In the “Controller” section, go into the controller settings menu. In this menu, you should see the controller listed in the available controllers section. Click on the controller, and click on “Define Layout” (you can also register the controller anytime if you wish, and I would recommend disabling rumble as the controller doesn’t have rumble support).

In the” Define Layout” menu, you’ll see a virtual controller with options corresponding to buttons on the controller. Press the buttons on the PlayStation controller to match the virtual controller and the options, but be sure to do this very precisely as the menu is very buggy (at the moment), and skip any buttons that aren’t on the controller by pressing the down button on your keyboard. When you get to the D-pad options, skip these. Apparently, the controller is set up to have the D-pad act as an analog stick, possibly for compatibility for the emulator the PlayStation Classic uses. Set the D-pad on the controller to the “Left Stick X” and “Left Stick Y” options for horizontal input and vertical input, respectively.

Once the controller is completely set up, exit out of the menu, wait until the controller reappears in the controller menu, and enable “Generic Controller Support.” Now you should be able to use the controller for Steam! Just be sure that when you configure your games, set the “analog stick” (D-pad) to emulate a D-pad layout.

How to use with non-Steam games

If you want to use the controller in a game outside of Steam, give it the Steam overlay by adding it as a non-Steam game. If that still doesn’t work, or you don’t want to use the Steam overlay, then try GloSC[alia5.github.io], which is a tool that allows your controller to work as a normal XInput controller, given that the configuration is set to have XInput buttons.

Configurations

I’ll post custom configurations for the controller here soon to help out with using the controller.

[MrNobody™]

Hi. I know that it is not about that theme but here is the question: I've installed Half-Life for Ps Classic but there is no information how to play Half-Life with Ps Classic gamepad :( I've tried to change keyboard.cfg but Half-Life still doesn't see Ps Classic gamepad. Someone have .cfg file to play Half-Life wih orignal Ps Classic gamepad at Ps Classic?

[mrOnion]

Hi fellow gamers!

I did the steps but my controller started freaking out, going upwards and downwards rapidly. I didn't follow HTV04's instruction carefully enough and was stuck at incorrect setup.

If you still have problems:
1. Exit Steam completely
2. Go to your Steam config directory - in my case - X:\Steam\config\
3. Open config.vdf in Notepad, look for "SDL_GamepadBind" and delete everything that comes after > click save and open Steam
4. Start over:
-go to Steam / Settings / Controller / General Controller Settings
-untick all boxes and go to Controller - Define Layout section
-map all buttons but when you are in the movement section omit first four (D-pad)
-map only A. Left Stick X by pressing Left and B. Left stick Y by pressing Up
-go to the bottom by pressing arrow down on your keyboard and click Save
-wait a moment for the controller to reappear and tick the Generic controller support tickbox

There you go, worked for me :D
Thanks to HTV04 and Sherryjenix (YT)

[Paddy]

mine glitches out like im pressing it heaps before ive even changed the controls.

[DaMu]

Configs?

[Brodyquester]

Thank you mate. It worked out amazingly for me.

[Enrad]

Hi, i trying to config my controller using this manual, but i can't do it((
Could you please make the video or else about this configs, please
And sorry for my English)

[htv04]

No problem! I'll try to write a better guide later, the controller is much easier to set up outside of Steam as well.

[KillJacked]

Thx man 👍 , you're a friggin boss !

[ennemation]

Thank you so much, I was searching for the ideal fighting game controller for years. The Ps1 pad isn't perfect (lack of buttons for training mode) but still better than all other controllers <3

[Gusto101]

Thanks for this post it helped a lot! Another problem I had was that my steam controller settings weren't saving in Big Picture Mode so I had to change them from outside the mode and it worked!