How to Fix Prey 2017's Controller Support - An Extensive Guide

Bought the Steam version but your Controller may not be detected? This is the guide for you

Introduction

I've been seeing various reports over the years that their Controller doesn't work properly, even guides such as this Steam guide:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1833951341

Now that I got my chance to play Prey (2017) and tested out the input capabilities (for the most part), I decided to write how to properly guide you how to fix Gamepad Support in Prey 2017 to be a bit more up-to-date.

This will be divided into two Chapters, depending on your preference for Steam Input API or XInput mode.

But if you want a quick TL;DR:

• on the Steam version, Prey 2017 takes advantage of Steam Input API. No Input Remapper is needed.
  
• Since it uses SIAPI, Arkane Studios has forgotten to opt-in to Steam Input for all Controller Types by default. This has ultimately caused issues for Xbox Controller users the most. You may have to manually enable Steam Input so that Gamepad Inputs get detected.
  
• (conti) unlike most SIAPI implementations that detects both SIAPI and XInput on the fly, Input detection isn't automatic. You have to manually enable XInput or Steam Controller Support in-game
  
• under SIAPI Mode: Camera Sensitivity (due to being Mouse-like) isn't configured correctly for Standard Controllers. You may have to head over to Steam Controller Configuration/Controller Layout and change it manually.
  
• Prey 2017 doesn't natively support PlayStation Controllers, but you can use mods to force DS4 Button Prompts.

Chapter 1: Steam Input API

AUTHOR'S NOTE: As of June 14th, 2023: the Steam Client Update has fully replaced Steam Big Picture Mode with one from Steam Deck/GamepadUI. Portions of the guide may become outdated in the process...but the following guide/step-by-step will be similar to Old BPM.


Note: If you are on Epic Games Store, GOG and Microsoft Store/Xbox Game Pass versions: you can skip right into XInput chapter.

Prey (2017 video game) is one of the few games that takes full advantage of Steam Input API system. Which heavily focused around Game Actions over Physical Button presses.

Not only support Steam Controller, DualShock 4 and Xbox One/360, it'd retroactively support various Controllers (or even a new Controller Type!) can get added to Steam Input after its original release date.

For the case of Prey 2017, we can give a quick example: if you use a DualSense controller or a Steam Deck: you might get Steam Input's built-in Button prompts as opposed to the In-Game button prompts:

(Using DualShock 4)

(Using DualSense Controller)


But if you use a DualShock 4 or Xbox controller (Prey 2017 will be using their own glyphs instead), standard gamepad button features will be prioritized, even if you assign the Paddle buttons alongside it. However, you can unbind the game action from one of the standard gamepad buttons to the non-standard inputs such as Gyroscope, Paddles, Trackpad/Touchpad Clicks and the AUX Buttons (like Mute button) and Steam's button prompts will be shown instead.




That's all sunshine and rainbows, but it also introductions two major problems:

- Problem and Solution 1: Controller Detection

After testing, I discovered the source of the issue on why most Controller Players have issues getting it working when they bootup for the first time ever:


Arkane Studios has forgotten to opt-in All Controller Types to Steam Input.

While this doesn't affect Steam Controller or Steam Deck users, there's a likely chance that Traditional Controllers aren't properly opt-in to Steam Input mode unless the player decides to enable it by the end-user.

Considering this is a SIAPI-supported game, this is something game developers should try their best to avoid when implementing SIAPI, but here we are, so we have to go out of their way to fix it.

-- Enabling Steam Input

Note: If you already enabled Steam Input for either of those methods prior to reading this segment, you can gladly skip this section.

There are two methods of enabling Steam Input.

1. Steam Input Per-Game Setting

This one is the easiest and my personal recommendation. If you plan to only enable it on a per-game basis: Just simply head over to [Game] Properties > Controller and override the Steam input status by selecting "Enable Steam Input".

2. Steam Input [Controller] Configuration Support

This was the original solution provided by Arkane Studios, as this option will enable Steam Input on a "system-wide" basis, but may be more complicated process. You'd have to head over to General Controller Settings on either:

On Desktop: Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings
On Steam Big Picture Mode: Go to Settings (the cog wheel icon) > Controller > Controller Settings

on Steam Deck, Steam Input is enabled by default depending if the game has SIAPI or opts your Controller Type to Steam Input Gamepad Emulation.

- Problem and Solution 2: Camera Controls

Prey 2017 has a Camera sensitivity problem while under SIAPI mode. This is primary because it only provides a Mouse-like Camera action instead of providing a Joystick-like Camera action alongside it. Because of that, folks thought the Joystick Camera is too sensitive.

However, that can be fixed.

-- Heading to Controller Layout

First off, you must have your controller connected so you'll get access to Controller Layout (previously called Controller Configuration) page.

There are four ways to get there:

While In-Game

This one is the easiest, Just launch Prey 2017, then head over to Settings > Controller > Steam Controller Configuration

on Steam Desktop

Either press the Settings button (the Cog icon) or click the "Controller Layout button" on the thing.


You can do the same by on your Game Library listing and highlighting the game of your choice and Click Right Mouse Click.

on Big Picture Mode

Head over to the Game Page [Prey 2017] > Manage Game > Steam Input > Controller Configuration

on Steam Deck

I assume you have a Steam Deck for this one. So just click the Game Page and click the Controller Icon or simply click the Steam button to head directly to Controller Settings while in-game.



Regardless of which method, you can always head over to Controller Configurator/Layout at any time via Steam Overlay

-- Adjusting Camera Sensitivity

Now that we're here, we can start by heading over to the Right Joystick Behavior (currently assigned as [Aim] Game Action) and adjust the Camera sensitivity. It's currently set to
0.366 (or 372 if you're on Steam Deck) .



Now you can adjust the Canera sensitivity to your heart's content.



...However, we spotted a weird bug with the Game Action as it isn't assigned to anything, but it does.



You can easily fix this by assigning it to [Aim] Camera Action and it should be fine. oh, and make sure you bind the [Scope] game action back to Click Action.

Chapter 2: XInput

The tried-and-true method of PC Gamepad Support, XInput. The de-facto standard that is supported on PC Gaming, Prey 2017 is no exception, so that doesn't need any introduction.

...but if you are a Steam user, there is one or two key issue:

- Problem and Solution 1: [Steam version] Enabling XInput

Unlike most SIAPI-supported games, Prey 2017 does things differently.

While it previously offered both, it was later removed in favor of Steam Input support, but later (again) was reintroduced in Prey: Mooncrash's Blood Moon Update (Game Update 1.09) as a toggle to turn off "Steam Controller Support".


Turning it off will switch to the Build-in Controller Support (aka XInput) instead. But in case the game doesn't default to XInput mode: Just head over to In-Game > Options > Controller and disable Steam Controller Support.

This will require a restart. So, make sure you save your progress in case you're in the middle of your session.

If you're on Epic Games Store/GOG/Microsoft Store/Xbox GamePass versions, you can gladly skip and forget this guide even existed...Unless?

- Problem and Solution 2: non-Xbox Controller Support

Unfortunately, only Xbox Controllers are supported. If you use a non-Xbox Controller, you're out of luck.

However, you can use any Input Remappers available on the Internet as a workaround to this. Most common input remappers are: DS4Windows, BetterJoy, JoyShockMapper and of course: Steam Input Controller Configurator (since Steam Input doubles as an Input Remapper). If you never used an Input Remapper, please refer to the guides

Once you set it up, your Controller should now emulate as an Xbox Controller.

Forcing DualShock 4 Button prompts

If you happen to use a PlayStation Controller, you can force DS4 button prompts by using Prey Interface Customizer mod[www.nexusmods.com].

Ending

Hopefully, it'll help you on how to get your Gamepad to work in Prey 2017. If you got any question, just leave a comment down below and me or other experts may try to help you out.

[KuBo[ITA]]

Hello, I'm pretty late to the party but I'm having this weird issue where if I hold LT/L2 the game acts as if there is no mapping for crouching, jumping and leaning, leaving [] instead of a button. Is there a fix for this?

[Regular Goof Fest]

Don't listen to that nerd divine. This helped so much. Thank you for the help

[AL2009man]

@Divine, hence; the TL;DR. :)

[Tigrex]

Thanks for the guide friend 👍

[Brother Divinus]

This is way to wordy, holy smokes. There's so much extra info that I just don't need to know. Bullet point what I need to do and that's it.

[Shortmeister_The1st]

Appreciate this, quick and easy fix.

[iL0VmyDR]

I was just looking for a solution right now, but this is all interesting...
Thanks for the info!

[jeremy]

Thank you! Was having so much trouble with my switch pro controller!

[Reactive]

Thank you for this guide. It was really useful and also informative about the way controllers are supported on PC.