How To Use The PS5 DualSense Controller On PC

The DualSense controller can be connected to play PC games on Steam as well as on other launchers such as the Epic Games Store. With some tweaking, players can connect a PS5 controller to their PC, even without the official drivers.

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Using the PS5 DualSense Controller for Games on Steam

Connecting The DualSense
The standalone DualSense controller does not include any cable, so first, get yourself a Type-C USB cable and connect the controller to your PC. Or, if you want to use the controller wirelessly, hold the Create button and the PS button together until the light bar starts blinking. Now go to your computer’s Bluetooth settings and add the controller (“Wireless controller”).

Configuring The DualSense
Once the controller is connected, Windows will automatically install drivers and recognize it as a generic “Wireless Controller”. Launch Steam and head over to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings. You should see the controller listed under “Detected Controllers”. Click on it, choose “Define Layout”, and now you will have to map the controls manually by pressing the button highlighted on screen. Make sure that the “Generic Gamepad Configuration Support” option is also checked.

Playing Games With The DualSense
Right-click on any game, click on “Properties”, and change the “Steam Input Per-Game Setting” to “Forced On”. Now Steam will ensure that the game always uses the controls mapped by you. Enjoy!

Using the PS5 DualSense Controller for Non-Steam Games

Connecting the DualSense
Either plug in the controller using a Type-C cable or connect it wirelessly, as mentioned above for Steam games.

Downloading and Using The Emulator
Without official drivers, the PlayStation 5 controller is just like a generic gamepad, but we can make it work properly by using an emulator. Go to www.x360ce.com and download the program, which lets a controller act like an Xbox 360 controller, hence allowing it to work with all PC games.

First, place the emulator in the game executable directory, that is, the folder in which your game’s .exe file is located. Once you launch the emulator, it will recognize the controller as a “Wireless controller”. Click on the “Add” button, and choose “Sony Interactive Entertainment Wireless Controller”. Check “Enable 1 Mapped Device”, and then you can manually map your controls. Click the blank field next to any button, choose “Record”, and then press the respective button on your controller.

Playing Games With The DualSense
Click “Save” after mapping all the buttons and launch your game.

So that is how you can connect your PS5 DualSense controller to play both Steam and Non-Steam games on PC. Interestingly, a Reddit user has revealed that we can even use the built-in speaker and microphone of the DualSense controller on PC. We will learn more about how the DualSense controller can enhance gaming on PC once the official drivers are released. Hopefully, the real magic of DualSense — haptic feedback and adaptive triggers — will also come to PC soon.

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