The Xbox controller has become the gold standard for PC gaming. It works out of the box better than just about any controller on the market, and if you plan on gaming with a controller, you should get one.
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Sure, mouse and keyboard are still king, but PCs are all about choice and flexibility. Controllers are the best option for many types of games, including platformers, racing games, and fighting games.
Microsoft on Thursday finally released Windows drivers for the Xbox One controller, allowing gamers to use the company’s latest console controller on their PC. The drivers allow the Xbox One. How to connect Xbox One liquid metal controller to PC. By Kevin Arrows June 27, 2018. For most of Windows 10 users, the drivers are already installed on their machines. Select the Xbox One controller driver which you just installed. Click Ok and your computer will detect the controllers.
Xbox Ports and Games for Windows
Many PC games are ported from the Xbox. These games generally come with built-in support for the same controller they use on the Xbox. Plug in a controller and you’ll usually see the on-screen button prompts change from mouse and keyboard to Xbox controller buttons. Some of the worst ports to PC don’t even include on-screen prompts for keyboard and mouse controllers–they show you Xbox controller buttons on screen whether or not you plug in an Xbox controller. Mouse and keyboard users are left struggling to figure out the appropriate buttons on their own.
This controller support was also advanced through Microsoft’s Games for Windows certification program, which required native support for Xbox 360 controllers. Jay z oceans mp3 download. This allowed people with Xbox 360 consoles to plug their controllers straight into their computer’s USB ports and use them without any configuration.
Today, the Xbox 360 (and the very similar Xbox One) controller has become such a standardized controller that even indie games developed for PC are often designed with it in mind. They weren’t designed for Xbox and aren’t worried about passing Games for Windows certification–they’re just supporting the best, most common PC controller.
They’re are also great for playing classic console games in emulators on your PC. Hook up two or more and you can play old multiplayer console games. It should be plug-and-play for PC games, but you’ll have to do a bit more work when configuring emulators to work with an Xbox controller.
XInput and DirectInput
Xbox Controllers are different from other controllers because they use the XInput API to send input data to games. This is different from the older DirectInput API that other controllers used. XInput is easier for developers to use (according to Microsoft) and offers support for analog triggers and controller vibration.
Games are built with XInput support and the Xbox 360 or One controller in mind. Some games may not even include DirectInput support at all, so they may not work with other controllers. If they do support DirectInput, you’ll have to configure the controls on your own, while the default controls will be designed by the developer with Xbox controllers in mind. You can use a tool like x360ce to emulate XInput, translating DirectInput controller calls to XInput, but this will require configuration and may not work perfectly.
Get Any Wired Xbox 360 or One Controller
RELATED:How to Hook Up a Wireless Xbox 360 Controller to Your Computer
When picking up an Xbox controller for your PC, you’ll probably want to buy a wired Xbox 360 controller. Sure, everyone loves wireless input devices, but the wireless Xbox 360 controller is inconvenient. The wireless controller doesn’t use standard Bluetooth; it requires you connect an Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows to your PC’s USB port. So you’re paying extra to deal with batteries and possible wireless reception issues. You’ll also still be using a USB port and dealing with a large wired dongle anyway–you might as well just get the cheaper wired Xbox 360 controller unless you really want that additional distance. Either way, the drivers should be built into Windows, so you won’t need to do anything to get up and running.
Update: It took awhile, but Microsoft finally released Xbox One controller drivers for Windows, so an Xbox One controller–wired or wireless–should work just as well as an Xbox 360 one. The drivers are included in Windows 10, and you can download them from Microsoft if you’re using Windows 7, 8, or 8.1.
While shopping for controllers, you’ll see two different types of wired controllers: An “Xbox 360 Wired Controller” and an “Xbox 360 Controller for Windows.” Don’t be fooled: these are exactly the same product, and the difference is only marketing. The controllers marketed “for Windows” have a higher recommended retail price, but Microsoft has confirmed they’re the same product. Don’t pay extra for an identical controller with “for Windows” on the box. Windows includes Xbox 360 controller drivers that will work out of the box.
In the future, Valve’s Steam controller may have a chance at becoming the next PC gaming controller to have. For now, the Xbox controller is the clear winner.
Image Credit: Scott Akerman on Flickr.
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Once upon a time, Microsoft didn't support its own controllers on its own PC platform. You needed hacked drivers and workarounds to use the excellent Xbox One controller with PC games. That's no longer the case, with official drivers built right into Windows 10. So, while it's easy to do, there's more to it than just plugging it in. Here's a complete guide.
Products used in this guide
- The controller: Xbox One controller ($47)
- The cable: Anker micro USB cable ($11)
- Going wireless: Xbox Wireless Adapter ($23)
- For USB-C PCs: AmazonBasics USB-C adapter ($9)
- The app: Xbox Accessories for Windows 10 (Free)
How to use a micro USB cable with the Xbox One controller
By far the simplest way to use an Xbox One controller is to use a micro USB cable. Attach to the connector on your controller and any free USB port on your PC, and it'll automatically recognize it's there and you're good to go.
Any decent cable will do the trick, even the one that you use to charge your phone.
However, it's not just desktop PCs that you can use an Xbox One controller with. It's perfectly possible to use it with a tablet or laptop, and in those cases, you may only have USB-C connectors available.
The easiest thing to do is get a USB-C to USB-A dongle, allowing you to use a regular micro USB cable through the USB-C connector on your laptop or tablet.
The Xbox Wireless Adapter
Microsoft also has an official wireless dongle for Windows PCs that allows you to go wire free. The first-generation controller and the Xbox Elite controller don't support Bluetooth, so to go wireless on your PC you'll need the dongle.
It isn't expensive, and the redesigned model is much smaller than the original. Simply plug it in to your PC and connect your controller to is as you would the Xbox One, by holding down the pairing button on the top.
The Bluetooth controller
The current generation Xbox One controller from Microsoft supports Bluetooth. Any currently on sale, or that came with the Xbox One S or Xbox One X have Bluetooth capabilites. That means you can connect it to any Windows PC, laptop, or tablet that has Bluetooth built in.
- Open settings on your PC.
- Go to devices.
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- Turn on the controller by pressing the large round X button.
- Click on the controller in your discovered devices to pair.
This is particularly handy if you're taking a controller on the road with you and your laptop. One less cable to pack!
Taking advantage of the Xbox Accessories app
This is particularly handy if you're using an Xbox Elite Controller, as the Xbox Accessories app allows you to customize the buttons and paddles to a layout of your choice.
It's in the Windows Store to download to your PC, all you need to do is connect the controller to the PC to get started. There's a bunch of things you can do to customize your controller for your favorite games, and you can save two profiles to the Elite Controller at any one time.
Windows Xbox One Controller Driver Called Xbox One
All the gear you need
Exactly which piece of equipment you need will depend on which controller you want to use with which type of Windows PC. The list below covers off everything you might need to get your hands on.
Xbox One Controller($47 at Amazon)
The Xbox One Controller is officially supported by Windows 10, and it's also the best around!
Anker micro USB cable($11 at Amazon)
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This braided cable from Anker is reliable, braided for durability and plenty long enough to reach your gaming PC.
Xbox Wireless Adapter($23 at Amazon)
Xbox One Controller Driver Windows 7
The official wireless adapter from Microsoft, this is what you need if you're using an Elite or first-gen controller to go wire-free.
AmazonBasics USB-C adapter($9 at Amazon)
For laptops and tablets without regular USB ports, pop this into the USB-C connector and use a regular micro USB cable with your controller.
Xbox Accessories app(Free at Microsoft)
Particularly useful for Elite Controller owners, this app allows you to customize button layouts, paddles and save your favorite profiles for easy use.
Xbox One Controller Driver Mac
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Richard Devine
Xbox One Drivers
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.