It’s basically emulating an Xbox controller, which is why some games will keep showing Xbox button prompts when you have a PlayStation controller connected. You can even connect a pad with no official Windows drivers – like the PS5 DualSense – and Steam will translate inputs so that games can understand them. Unless a game recognises both driver types, your PS5 controller won’t work – unless, that is, Steam steps in to bridge the gap.Īs hard as the Steam Controller flopped, it has left a legacy of some very extensive controller support across Valve’s platform. They may instead use the newer XInput driver, which was created by Microsoft with Xbox controllers in mind. Sony hasn’t produced official PC drivers themselves, and although the DualSense can interface with Windows’ DirectInput driver, a lot of modern games don’t recognise this. It’s all doable, though, and this here guide will walk you through the setup process as well as how to get the most out of different games.Īs is so often the case with hardware worries, the underlying reason for the PS5 controller’s lack of natural PC affinity is driver software. Without the Microsoft-masterminded, plug-and-play sensibilities of Xbox controllers, the PS5 controller often needs some help to get working on a Windows machine. Sony’s DualSense pad is a lovely bit of peripheral design it’s a shame, then, that figuring out how to use the PS5 controller on PC is a right old pain in the thumbstick.