Controller doesn't work in some games

[rezo552]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Is your issue described in the documentation?

• I have read the documentation

Is your issue present in the nightly release?

• This issue is present in the nightly release

Describe the Bug

In some games the controller is not being recognized (linux host) while I dont have the same issue when using Steam link. The only difference I can see:
The controller appears like this when using Sunshine:

[193895.683930] input: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad as /devices/virtual/input/input38

The controller appears like this when using Steam:
[193918.271611] input: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 0 as /devices/virtual/input/input40

Expected Behavior

No response

Additional Context

No response

Host Operating System

Docker

Operating System Version

Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

Architecture

64 bit

Sunshine commit or version

Sunshine version: v0.20.0.1303defb67c586447a03185d60eb20bea91a8eff

Package

Linux - flatpak

GPU Type

AMD

GPU Model

5700G

GPU Driver/Mesa Version

Mesa 23.2.1-1

Capture Method (Linux Only)

No response

Config

# If no external IP address is given, Sunshine will attempt to automatically detect external ip-address
# external_ip = 123.456.789.12

# Set the familly of ports used by Sunshine
# port = 47989

# The private key must be 2048 bits
# pkey = /dir/pkey.pem

# The certificate must be signed with a 2048 bit key
# cert = /dir/cert.pem

# The name displayed by Moonlight
# If not specified, the PC's hostname is used
# sunshine_name = Sunshine

# The minimum log level printed to standard out
#
# none -> no logs are printed to standard out
#
# verbose = [0]
# debug   = [1]
# info    = [2]
# warning = [3]
# error   = [4]
# fatal   = [5]
# none    = [6]
#
min_log_level = info

# A list of commands to be run before/after all applications.
#   If any of the prep-commands fail, starting the application is aborted.
global_prep_cmd = [{"do":"/usr/bin/xfce4-minimise-all-windows","undo":"/usr/bin/sunshine-stop"}]

# The origin of the remote endpoint address that is not denied for HTTP method /pin
# Could be any of the following values:
#   pc|lan|wan
#     pc: Only localhost may access /pin
#     lan: Only those in LAN may access /pin
#     wan: Anyone may access /pin
#
# origin_pin_allowed = pc

# The origin of the remote endpoint address that is not denied for HTTPS Web UI
# Could be any of the following values:
#   pc|lan|wan
#     pc: Only localhost may access the Web Manager
#     lan: Only those in LAN may access the Web Manager
#     wan: Anyone may access the Web Manager
#
# origin_web_ui_allowed = lan

# If UPnP is enabled, Sunshine will attempt to open ports for streaming over the internet
# To enable it, uncomment the following line:
# upnp = on

# The file where current state of Sunshine is stored
# file_state = sunshine_state.json

# The file where user credentials for the UI are stored
# By default, credentials are stored in `file_state`
# credentials_file = sunshine_state.json

# The display modes advertised by Sunshine
#
# Some versions of Moonlight, such as Moonlight-nx (Switch),
# rely on this list to ensure that the requested resolutions and fps
# are supported.
#
# fps = [10, 30, 60, 90, 120]
# resolutions = [
#     352x240,
#     480x360,
#     858x480,
#     1280x720,
#     1920x1080,
#     2560x1080,
#     3440x1440,
#     1920x1200,
#     3860x2160,
#     3840x1600,
# ]

# Sometimes it may be usefull to map keybindings.
# Wayland won't allow clients to capture the Win Key for example
#
# See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/virtual-key-codes
#
# Note:
#   keybindings needs to have a multiple of two elements
# keybindings = [
#   0x10, 0xA0,
#   0x11, 0xA2,
#   0x12, 0xA4,
#   0x4A, 0x4B
# ]

# How long to wait in milliseconds for data from moonlight before shutting down the stream
# ping_timeout = 10000

# The file where configuration for the different applications that Sunshine can run during a stream
file_apps = apps.json

# Percentage of error correcting packets per data packet in each video frame
# Higher values can correct for more network packet loss, but at the cost of increasing bandwidth usage
# The default value of 20 is what GeForce Experience uses
#
# The value must be greater than 0 and lower than or equal to 255
# fec_percentage = 20

# When multicasting, it could be usefull to have different configurations for each connected Client.
# For example:
#       Clients connected through WAN and LAN have different bitrate contstraints.
#       Decoders may require different settings for color
#
# Unlike simply broadcasting to multiple Client, this will generate distinct video streams.
# Note, CPU usage increases for each distinct video stream generated
channels = 2

# The back/select button on the controller
# On the Shield, the home and powerbutton are not passed to Moonlight
# If, after the timeout, the back button is still pressed down, Home/Guide button press is emulated.
# If back_button_timeout < 0, then the Home/Guide button will not be emulated
# back_button_timeout = 2000

# !! Windows only !!
# Gamepads supported by Sunshine
# Possible values:
#   x360 -- xbox 360 controller
#   ds4 -- dualshock controller (PS4)
# gamepad = x360

# Control how fast keys will repeat themselves
# The initial delay in milliseconds before repeating keys
# key_repeat_delay = 500
#
# How often keys repeat every second
# This configurable option supports decimals
# key_repeat_frequency = 24.9

# The name of the audio sink used for Audio Loopback
# If you do not specify this variable, pulseaudio will select the default monitor device.
#
# You can find the name of the audio sink using the following command:
# !! Linux only !!
# pacmd list-sinks | grep "name:" if running vanilla pulseaudio
# pPipewire: Use `pactl info | grep Source`. In some causes you'd need to use the `sink` device. Try `pactl info | grep Sink`, if _Source_ doesn't work
# audio_sink = alsa_output.pci-0000_09_00.3.analog-stereo
#
# !! Windows only !!
# tools\audio-info.exe
# audio_sink   = {0.0.0.00000000}.{FD47D9CC-4218-4135-9CE2-0C195C87405B}
#
# The virtual sink, is the audio device that's virtual (Like Steam Streaming Speakers), it allows Sunshine
# to stream audio, while muting the speakers.
# virtual_sink = {0.0.0.00000000}.{8edba70c-1125-467c-b89c-15da389bc1d4}

# !! Windows only !!
# You can select the video card you want to stream:
# The appropriate values can be found using the following command:
# tools\dxgi-info.exe
# adapter_name = Radeon RX 580 Series
# output_name  = \\.\DISPLAY1

# !! Linux only !!
# Set the display number to stream.
# You can find them by the following command:
# xrandr --listmonitors
# Example output: "0: +HDMI-1 1920/518x1200/324+0+0  HDMI-1"
#                  ^ <-- You need this.
# output_name = 0

###############################################
# FFmpeg software encoding parameters
# Honestly, I have no idea what the optimal values would be.
# Play around with this :)

# Quantitization Parameter
# Some devices don't support Constant Bit Rate. For those devices, QP is used instead
# Higher value means more compression, but less quality
# qp = 28

# Minimum number of threads used by ffmpeg to encode the video.
# Increasing the value slightly reduces encoding efficiency, but the tradeoff is usually
# worth it to gain the use of more CPU cores for encoding. The ideal value is the lowest
# value that can reliably encode at your desired streaming settings on your hardware.
# min_threads = 1

# Allows the client to request HEVC Main or HEVC Main10 video streams.
# HEVC is more CPU-intensive to encode, so enabling this may reduce performance when using software encoding.
# If set to 0 (default), Sunshine will specify support for HEVC based on encoder
# If set to 1, Sunshine will not advertise support for HEVC
# If set to 2, Sunshine will advertise support for HEVC Main profile
# If set to 3, Sunshine will advertise support for HEVC Main and Main10 (HDR) profiles
# hevc_mode = 2

# Force a specific encoder, otherwise Sunshine will use the first encoder that is available
# supported encoders:
#   nvenc
#   amdvce # NOTE: alpha stage. The cursor is not yet displayed
#   software
#
# encoder = software
##################################### Software #####################################
# See x264 --fullhelp for the different presets
# sw_preset  = superfast
# sw_tune    = zerolatency
#

##################################### NVENC #####################################
###### presets ###########
# default
# hp     -- high performance
# hq     -- high quality
# slow   -- hq 2 passes
# medium -- hq 1 pass
# fast   -- hp 1 pass
# bd
# ll     -- low latency
# llhq
# llhp
# lossless
# losslesshp
##########################
# nv_preset = llhq
#
####### rate control #####
# auto      -- let ffmpeg decide rate control
# constqp   -- constant QP mode
# vbr       -- variable bitrate
# cbr       -- constant bitrate
# cbr_hq    -- cbr high quality
# cbr_ld_hq -- cbr low delay high quality
# vbr_hq    -- vbr high quality
##########################
# nv_rc = auto

###### h264 entropy ######
# auto -- let ffmpeg nvenc decide the entropy encoding
# cabac
# cavlc
##########################
# nv_coder = auto

##################################### AMD #####################################
###### presets ###########
# default
# speed
# balanced
##########################
# amd_preset = balanced
#
####### rate control #####
# auto        -- let ffmpeg decide rate control
# constqp     -- constant QP mode
# vbr_latency -- Latency Constrained Variable Bitrate
# vbr_peak    -- Peak Contrained Variable Bitrate
# cbr         -- constant bitrate
##########################
# amd_rc = auto

###### h264 entropy ######
# auto -- let ffmpeg nvenc decide the entropy encoding
# cabac
# cavlc
##########################
# amd_coder = auto

#################################### VAAPI ###################################
####### adapter ##########
# Unlike with `amdvce` and `nvenc`, it doesn't matter if video encoding is done
# on a different GPU.
# Run the following commands:
# 1. ls /dev/dri/renderD*
#   to find all devices capable of VAAPI
# 2. vainfo --display drm --device /dev/dri/renderD129 | grep -E "((VAProfileH264High|VAProfileHEVCMain|VAProfileHEVCMain10).*VAEntrypointEncSlice)|Driver version"
#   Lists the name and capabilities of the device.
#   To be supported by Sunshine, it needs to have at the very minimum:
#       VAProfileH264High   : VAEntrypointEncSlice
# adapter_name = /dev/dri/renderD128

##############################################
# Some configurable parameters, are merely toggles for specific features
# The first occurrence turns it on, the second occurence turns it off, the third occurence turns it on again, etc, etc
# Here, you change the default state of any flag
#
# To set the initial state of flags -0 and -1 to on, set the following flags:
# flags = 012
#

Apps

{
    "env": {
        "PATH": "$(PATH):$(HOME)\/.local\/bin"
    },
    "apps": [
        {
            "name": "Desktop",
            "image-path": "desktop.png",
            "exclude-global-prep-cmd": "true"
        },
        {
            "name": "Steam Big Picture",
            "image-path": "steam.png",
            "exclude-global-prep-cmd": "false",
            "detached": [
                "\/usr\/games\/steam steam:\/\/open\/bigpicture"
            ],
            "prep-cmd": [
                {
                    "do": "",
                    "undo": "\/usr\/bin\/xfce4-close-all-windows"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "name": "RetroDeck",
            "output": "",
            "cmd": "\"\/usr\/bin\/flatpak\" \"run\" \"--branch=stable\" \"--arch=x86_64\" \"net.retrodeck.retrodeck\"",
            "exclude-global-prep-cmd": "false",
            "elevated": "false",
            "image-path": "\/home\/default\/retrodeck\/logo.png",
            "working-dir": "\/usr\/bin\/"
        }
    ]
}

Relevant log output

[193895.683930] input: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad as /devices/virtual/input/input38
[193918.271611] input: Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 0 as /devices/virtual/input/input40

[cgutman]

In some games the controller is not being recognized

Can you provide some examples of games where the controller is working and non-working?

[rezo552]

In some games the controller is not being recognized

Can you provide some examples of games where the controller is working and non-working?

For example RPCS3 (PS3 emulator)

[ritlo]

I noticed that Auto/DS4 emulated gamepad with a Dualsense controller doesn't work in Forza Motorsport.

When you push down on a face button, it will show ABXY on the interface, and as soon as you let go it switches back to keyboard keys. X360 works as it should. The issue appeared after updating to the latest Moonlight release with PS controller input support.

[datapush3r]

I'm having similar issues with my PS5 controller. It use to be emulated as an Xbox controller but now that it's emulated as a DS4 controller, it barely works with anything. I'd much rather have the option for it to be emulated as a Xbox controller.

[ReenigneArcher]

I'm having similar issues with my PS5 controller. It use to be emulated as an Xbox controller but now that it's emulated as a DS4 controller, it barely works with anything. I'd much rather have the option for it to be emulated as a Xbox controller.

Explicitly set Sunshine to use a Xbox 360 gamepad in the config UI.

[LizardByte-bot]

It seems this issue hasn't had any activity in the past 90 days. If it's still something you'd like addressed, please let us know by leaving a comment. Otherwise, to help keep our backlog tidy, we'll be closing this issue in 10 days. Thanks!

[LizardByte-bot]

This issue was closed because it has been stalled for 10 days with no activity.

[Fell]

I tried the latest git build which includes 2606, but the problem wasn't fixed for me.

What did fix it however was adding my user to the input group and installing game-devices-udev as well as udev-joystick-blacklist.

I did some testing and I could reproduce the virtual sunshine controller not being detected in Freds-Controller-Tester (added as a non-steam game). I also noticed that my Oculus Sensors showed up in the list when I ran evdev so I unplugged them. I think some games actually enumerate all gamepads (and only gamepads) while others just pick whatever is the first input device they can find. Freds Controller Tester detects both XInput and DirectInput devices, which should reflect what most games do.

Oh and, one last thing: All my controllers (including Sunshine) were always detected correctly when I enforced Proton 8.0-5 in Steam. So there must be something they changed in 9.0+.