Controller:DualShock 3
XInput support | |
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Predecessor | |
Sixaxis DualShock 2 |
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Successor | |
PlayStation Move DualShock 4 |
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Key points
- Remove MotionInJoy and Better DS3 if they are installed. See Removing MotionInJoy.
- DualShock 3 controllers can be used either wired via USB Mini-B cable or wireless with Bluetooth dongles supporting Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.
- Very good D-pad, 10-bit precision analog sticks, pressure sensitive buttons.
- RPCS3 and PCSX2 emulators have native support for DualShock 3.
- Controller has Gyroscope and Pressure Sensitive Face Buttons but features are supported only by emulators and GTA ports. However reWASD software allows remap pressure sensitive face buttons. [1].
- Has non-standard HID descriptors[2] and broken Bluetooth protocol[3] that require specific drivers fixes to be used.
Inputs
- Motion sensing: 3 axes, 6 degrees of freedom
- 2 × clickable analog sticks (10-bit precision): L3, R3
- 2 × analog triggers: L2, R2
- 2 × pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons: L1, R1
- 4 × pressure-sensitive action buttons: △, ○, ×, □
- 4 × pressure-sensitive directional buttons (d-pad): ↑, ↓, ←, →
- 3 × digital buttons: sᴛᴀʀᴛ, sᴇʟᴇᴄᴛ, PlayStation
Controller variations
- The Sixaxis controller is an earlier variant of the DualShock 3 controller, lacking haptic feedback. See Sixaxis.
Use with PC platforms
Windows
- Windows 10 has no native drivers; drivers are needed. When the gamepad is plugged in for the first time, Windows 10 detects it and the device shows up as a placeholder device. Once the official drivers is installed, the device acts as a DirectInput gamepad. All buttons are tested to work under Windows "Game controller settings".
reWASD
- Supports DualShock 3 controller via bluetooth adapter or cable, does not require manual driver installment.
- Allows to remap pressure sensitive face buttons. Every button has three activation stages which can activate different action depends how hard button is pressed.
- LED shows which config slot is active at the moment.
- Allows emulate virtual DS4 controller to play PS4 Remote Play, PS Now or Dualshock 4 compatible games. Including gyro and accelerometer control.
- Allows emulate virtual Xbox 360 controller to play XInput compatible games.
- Supports analog face buttons feature which can be remapped to High, Medium and Low zones.
- Not free of charge. 14-days trial.
- Custom configs for DualShock 3 controller can be found in official Community Configs Library maintained by reWASD users.
DS4Windows
- Needs to be running under DsHidMini driver and in DS4Windows Mode.
- Requires BthPS3 for Bluetooth connection (covered on DsHidMini installation guide).
- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR or higher required for wireless connection.
- Rumble works as normal, though the small motor has only one strength level.
- LEDs can be controller by setting the correct lightbar colors (more on this here).
- Pressure sensitive buttons not supported.
- Motion related functions not supported.
Wired connection - official drivers
- Does not support gyroscope and analog face buttons. For additional features it's recommended to use ViGem drivers.
Setup |
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Notes
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Wired connection - unofficial drivers
Using ViGem Drivers (old)
- DualShock 3 can be used as virtual DualShock 4 controller.
- Developments of Fireshock and Shibari have been discontinued.
- Only suport Windows 10.
- Installed Windows Service for the drivers sometimes doesn't start at boot and need to be started manually.
Instructions[4] |
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Notes
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Using ViGem Drivers (new)
- Development of DsHidMini is still active.
- DualShock 3 can be used as virtual DualShock 4 controller.
- No background program or service needed to use the controller, except on Xinput mode.
- Only supports Windows 10.
Instructions[5] |
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Using SCPDriver/XInput Wrapper
- Support Windows XP and up.
- No longer maintained[6].
Instructions |
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Bluetooth connection
Using ViGem Drivers (old)
- Can use other Bluetooth Devices.
- Like the wired solution, service for the drivers sometimes does not start.
Instructions[7] |
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Notes
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Using ViGem Drivers (new)
- Easier to use than old vigem drivers
- Can use other bluetooth device, like DS4.
- No background program or service needed, if not using Xinput.
- Need DS4Windows to use controller as Xinput.[8]
Instructions[9] |
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Using SCPDriver/XInput Wrapper
- Other Bluetooth devices cannot be used.
Instructions |
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Notes
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Bluetooth Driver Removal
- If the instructions didn't work then remove the Bluetooth drivers and try something else.
- If the device manager asks to restart select No.
Instructions |
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Notes
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XInput wrapping
- Acting as native DirectInput controller, it's possible to use any of the generic wrappers. See the controller article for those.
macOS
OS X 10.7 and Newer |
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OS X 10.6 and Older |
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Download and install this driver. |
Linux
Download and install the Sixaxis Joystick Manager. |
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Chrome OS
- This controller is "Plug and Play" on Chrome OS.
- To use Bluetooth connection, controller has to be connected via USB first. Otherwise it will not recognize proper controls.
Steam
- Controller can be found in Supported Controller Database and it's correctly recognizable as PlayStation DualShock 3 controller.
- Natively supported wired and wireless (since beta build 554). To pair over bluetooth: connect via USB cable press PlayStation button. Unplug USB cable then press again PlayStation button and now DualShock 3 works over bluetooth.
- Not capable of making full use of Steam Input. Does not include support for the DS3 gyro or analog face buttons. Gyroscope is not visible in configuration menu.
- If you’re using a DS3 on Windows you’ll have to obtain the Sony driver through PlayStation Now.
Steam Link compatibility
- Natively supported wired and wireless (since beta build 554).[10]
- Works without any drivers on any operating system that supports Steam.
- Can be used just to send input from a controller to a PC. Go into Streaming options, hit △ and disable video and audio streaming.
- To pair over bluetooth connect via USB cable press PlayStation button. Unplug USB cable then press again PlayStation button and now DS3 works over bluetooth.
- Some clones (CECHZC2H Bluetooth DualShochIII and OUBANG PS3 Controller Wireless Dualshock3) won't work wirelessly.[11]
- Won't work great unless you connect it to LAN or a low latency Wi-Fi.
Hardware
Adapters
Mayflash Wireless PS3 Controller to USB Adapter
- All controllers that can be paired and work with regular PlayStation 3 should work, including third party ones.
- Has switch on side of adapter, allowing for both XInput and DirectInput modes natively. XInput should work with regular drivers, for rumble to work with DirectInput mode, drivers needs to be downloaded manufacturers website.
- Can connect one controller in XInput Mode and four controllers in DirectInput Mode.
- Includes turbo mode. Pressing PlayStation and button toggles turbo for that button. To disable turbo for all buttons press PlayStation button twice quickly.
8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter or USB Wireless Adapter for PS classic edition
- All controllers that can be paired and work with regular PlayStation 3 should work, including third party ones.
- Supports X-input, D-input, Mac mode, Switch mode.
XIM APEX
- XIM APEX provides the highest precision mouse and keyboard (and more) experience on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 (PS3). Software emulates Keyboard+Mouse inputs into signals from controllers connected to third USB port.
- Supports official wireless Playstation 3 DualShock 3 controller connected with a mini-USB cable
- Simple real-time smartphone and tablet-based configuration. Real-time feedback to guide you to your optimal settings.
- Firmware upgradable.
- Active community forum.
- Needs your controller plugged into USB port #3 on your XIM HUB at all times to function.
- PlayStation 3 headsets and chatpads are unsupported.
Issues fixed
Controller no longer detected or working (Windows)
Instructions |
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Playing with multiple PlayStation 3 Controllers on Windows
- Set up the Xbox 360 Controller Emulator, then play the desired multiplayer game with multiple controllers, such as Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
Support in games
- Games with generic DirectInput support are supported by the controller, however button placements may be out of place and need to be rebound. Refer to game-specific articles for rebinding support.
Games with pressure sensitive face buttons support
For a list of games, see List of games that support Pressure-Sensitive Face Buttons.
- Pressure-sensitive face buttons are supported in PlayStation emulators PCSX2[12] (thanks to ViGEm/FireShock) and RPCS3[13].
- Xbox emulator Cxbx-Reloaded do not recognize pressure-sensitive face buttons from Playstation controllers yet. Controller will require Xbox OG Controller emulation to be recognized.
- Pressure-sensitive face buttons are recognized by PC games thanks to reWASD application which allows to remap their three pressure zones (low, medium, high) to any key.
- Mod GInput for GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas enables support for DualShock 3 controllers and SCP Driver Package or DsHIdMini driver - including pressure sensitive buttons and SIXAXIS accelerometers[14].
Games with motion control support
For a list of games, see List of games that support tracked motion controllers in non-VR gameplay.
- Accelerometer is supported in emulators like RPCS3[13], Cemu (via Cemuhook[15]) or Dolphin (via DSU protocol[16]).
- Mod GInput for GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas enables support for DualShock 3 controllers and SCP Driver Package or DsHIdMini driver - including pressure sensitive buttons and SIXAXIS accelerometers[14].
- Number of games which natively support motion controls is limited and accelerometer support is still not a PC standard.
Games with DualShock button prompts
- Total number of games: Error 1140: In aggregated query without GROUP BY, expression #1 of SELECT list contains nonaggregated column 'pcgamingwiki_cargo.cargo__Input._pageID'; this is incompatible with sql_mode=only_full_group_by (mysql01.mysql.pcgamingwiki-14662257-production.svc.cluster.local)
Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT `cargo__Input`.`_pageID` AS `cargo_backlink_page_id_Input`,`cargo__Infobox_game`.`_pageID` AS `cargo_backlink_page_id_Infobox_game`,COUNT(*) FROM `cargo__Infobox_game` LEFT OUTER JOIN `cargo__Input` ON ((`cargo__Infobox_game`.`_pageName`=`cargo__Input`.`_pageName`)) WHERE `cargo__Input`.`_ID` IN (SELECT `_rowID` FROM `cargo__Input__Other_button_prompts` WHERE `_value`LIKE 'Xbox') ORDER BY `cargo__Input`.`_pageID`,`cargo__Infobox_game`.`_pageID`,COUNT(*) LIMIT 100
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- Please note, that this is only list for games that offer DualShock button prompts.
- Some may require use of DualShock 4, which only usable through ViGem driver but not SCP driver. Refer to game-specific articles for details.
Other information
Removing MotionInJoy
- Due to the way MotionInJoy behaves a full reformat is advised instead. The following steps could potentially harm Windows, backup any important files before following these instructions.
- MotionInJoy should be always treated as malware due to its odd and overall harmful behaviour. It can trigger BSODs, crashes and other major system issues.
Instructions[17] |
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Notes
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Overridden Bluetooth Driver |
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Technical information
- Wireless controller, HWID: 054C:0268
Input lag
- Wired connection input lag: 13.6ms (button press), 10.1ms (joystick move).[18]
References
- ↑ PS3 analog face buttons support
- ↑ https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/a687c5765b5ae19fe559e14615ddc87ebb46d409/drivers/hid/hid-sony.c#L76
- ↑ https://twitter.com/NefariusMaximus/status/770517683875876864
- ↑ https://forums.vigem.org/topic/357/bthps3-post-setup-instructions
- ↑ https://https://vigem.org/projects/DsHidMini/How-to-Install/
- ↑ https://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-XInput-Wrapper-for-DS3-and-Play-com-USB-Dual-DS2-Controller
- ↑ https://forums.vigem.org/topic/362/playstation-r-3-peripherals-unofficial-bluetooth-drivers-bthps3
- ↑ https://vigem.org/projects/DsHidMini/HID-Device-Modes-Explained
- ↑ https://https://vigem.org/projects/DsHidMini/How-to-Install/
- ↑ List of compatible controllers with Steam Link - SteamWiki
- ↑ SteamCommunity
- ↑ Native Windows Bluetooth drivers for PlayStation 3 Peripherals
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Using dedicated DualShock 3 pad handler
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 GInput
- ↑ ScpToolkit (supports DS3 and DS4 controllers, but requires that you dedicate a Bluetooth dongle to it)
- ↑ DSU Client
- ↑ Emulation Wiki - MotionInJoy
- ↑ Ultimate Controller Comparison | Input lag, etc. (PS5, PS4, Xbox SX/Elite 2/One, eSwap Pro)