Using PC controllers on PS5

Topher

Topher

Identifies as young
The back pedals on my DualSense stopped working and the battery stopped charging. I am not going to pay $200 for a replacement so I started researching alternatives. I did find a Nacon Revolution for PS5 open box at Best Buy for $100, but I didn't care for it and returned it. The other two options were from PDP and Razer, both way over a $100 and I'm just not going to pay that much for controllers any more. With all the options in the PC market, I wouldn't even buy my Razer Wolverine again at its hefty price. Linus actually has a pretty good video surveying the landscape of hall effect PC gaming controllers (see below). That is what sent me down the road of trying to find a way to use these on PS5 and I came across this:


Pretty simple. Plug my PC controller into the adapter. Plug the adapter into the PS5. Voila. Now I can use my Razer on both PC and PS5 and it works pretty well. The Xbox button works as the PS button. The view and menu buttons toggle the touch pad button and option buttons. That's all out of the box. Didn't have to configure a thing. Only thing I don't have is the share button so I'll have to keep my DualSense close when I want to use that.

Cons. Aside from the losing the share button, this doesn't work wirelessly which means a lot of folks will nope out right off the bat. For me, that isn't a big deal as my PS5 Pro is on my desk so not like I have wire lying across the floor. And since my Edge battery is toast, I was using a wire anyway. Also no touch pad but it is rarely used.

The big sacrifice for most is the haptics. No getting around that. At the same time, PC controllers have options DualSense does not such as the four back pedals instead of two and hall effect thumbsticks with my Razer. Having said all that, the list of cons is hardly insignificant so I imagine this isn't something most gamers will care about, but for those who would like some alternatives for PS5 controllers and can live with the cons, I think this is a pretty good option.



 
Topher said:
The back pedals on my DualSense stopped working and the battery stopped charging.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it might be an easy repair. Open the controller, do some cleaning, do some testing, look for damages, swap defective parts.
 
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Kupfer said:
Sounds like it might be an easy repair. Open the controller, do some cleaning, do some testing, look for damages, swap battery.
Click to expand...

I'll probably try to fix it at some point, but really shouldn't have to repair a one and a half year old $200 controller.
 
Brook came to mind when I read the title, and OP already has the solution.

SUCCESS!

I have a bunch of the 8bitdo console adapters but have never tried the PS4 adapter with the PS5. I have been using brooks and may flash for years (over a decade…goddamn I'm old). They were one of the best solutions (at the time) when it came to supporting arcade sticks on various platforms.
 
Careful with the brooks adapters IF you play online with anti cheat as my son was shadow banned once from COD using that though he got back in eventually

But yeah agree with Magister Magister its dumb Sony doesnt support 3rd party, let me use my 8Bitdo controller already
 
HeisenbergFX4 said:
Careful with the brooks adapters IF you play online with anti cheat as my son was shadow banned once from COD using that though he got back in eventually

But yeah agree with Magister Magister its dumb Sony doesnt support 3rd party, let me use my 8Bitdo controller already
Click to expand...

Good point on the online play. I only play SM2 online and not competitive modes so think it should be ok, but probably not something folks playing games like COD should try.

I know Sony is dang proud of their DualSense, but the lack of third party options is just annoying. The Linus video shows the ridiculous number of options in the PC space with some very low prices. Corporations gotta get their pound of flesh so if they gotta add licensing fee on top then fine, that's still going to give cheaper options than the shit that is offered right now.
 
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Topher said:
I'll probably try to fix it at some point, but really shouldn't have to repair a one and a half year old $200 controller.
Click to expand...
You have a two-year warranty, don't you? Just send it back to Sony.
Returns (RMA) are factored into the purchase price, so there shouldn't be any issues.
Please make use of this "service" so that the manufacturer becomes aware of what still needs improvement and changes.
 
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Topher said:
I did find a Nacon Revolution for PS5 open box at Best Buy for $100, but I didn't care for it and returned it
Click to expand...
Has been working great for me. Probably the only real option with hall sticks on the PS5 if one doesn't care for adapters or mods.
 
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HeisenbergFX4 said:
Careful with the brooks adapters IF you play online with anti cheat as my son was shadow banned once from COD using that though he got back in eventually

But yeah agree with Magister Magister its dumb Sony doesnt support 3rd party, let me use my 8Bitdo controller already
Click to expand...
What's a shadow ban in an online game look like? He can't find any games anymore or how does it work?
 
I would order some cheap parts from Aliexpress and try to fix it myself or ask in a local store if they can fix it.

Kupfer said:
You have a two-year warranty, don't you? Just send it back to Sony.
Returns (RMA) are factored into the purchase price, so there shouldn't be any issues.
Please make use of this "service" so that the manufacturer becomes aware of what still needs improvement and changes.
Click to expand...
Sony only gives 1 year, at least in Europe.
 
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Kupfer said:
You have a two-year warranty, don't you? Just send it back to Sony.
Click to expand...

The warranty is only one year in the US

Skifi28 said:
Has been working great for me. Probably the only real option with hall sticks on the PS5 if one doesn't care for adapters.
Click to expand...

I didn't care for the back pedal button placement. I actually haven't returned it yet, just have it packed up for return. I may pull it back out of the box and give it another try before I return it. Other than the button placement, it seems like a really good controller.
 
BlackTron said:
Still interested in a reverse analog PS setup that doesn't suck, isn't over $100 and won't get me banned.
Click to expand...

Do you know how to use a soldering iron?

====================================================================
HOW TO SWAP LEFT AND RIGHT STICK INPUTS ON A PS5 DUALSENSE CONTROLLER
(Hardware mod – no physical stick relocation required)
====================================================================

This guide explains how to reroute the analog signal wires (X and Y axes) of
a DualSense controller so the left stick controls what the right stick normally does,
and vice versa – without physically moving the sticks. This is a hardware-level mod
and requires soldering skills.

------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT YOU NEED:
------------------------------------------------------------
- PS5 DualSense controller (disassembled)
- Soldering iron with fine tip
- Thin insulated wire (e.g. 30 AWG or enamel-coated copper wire)
- Multimeter (for continuity checks)
- Precision knife or scalpel (for optional trace cuts)
- Tweezers, flux, magnifying glass recommended
- Kapton tape or hot glue (optional, for wire support)

------------------------------------------------------------
STICK PIN OVERVIEW:
------------------------------------------------------------
Each analog stick module has:
- 3 pins for X-axis (VCC, GND, SIGNAL)
- 3 pins for Y-axis (VCC, GND, SIGNAL)
- 2 pins for the push button (L3 / R3)
- 4 large corner pins for mechanical mounting (DO NOT TOUCH THESE)

You only need to rewire the SIGNAL pins (center of the 3 per axis).

------------------------------------------------------------
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
------------------------------------------------------------

1. IDENTIFY SIGNAL PINS
Use a multimeter or check the stick's datasheet (usually ALPS RKJXV).
Label the analog signal pins as:
- LX = Left stick X-axis signal
- LY = Left stick Y-axis signal
- RX = Right stick X-axis signal
- RY = Right stick Y-axis signal

2. CUT THE ORIGINAL SIGNAL TRACES (optional but recommended)
Carefully cut the PCB traces coming from these signal pins
to avoid doubled input or signal feedback.

3. CROSSWIRE THE SIGNALS
Use thin insulated wire to connect:

- LX pad --> RX trace pad
- LY pad --> RY trace pad
- RX pad --> LX trace pad
- RY pad --> LY trace pad

You're basically swapping the signal lines between the sticks.

4. DOUBLE-CHECK EVERYTHING
- Use the multimeter to check for shorts or miswiring
- Make sure VCC and GND are untouched
- Ensure only signal pins are rerouted

5. REASSEMBLE AND TEST
- Put the controller back together
- Test it on a PC using DS4Windows or Steam Input
- Left stick should now behave like the right, and vice versa

------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES:
------------------------------------------------------------
- L3 and R3 (push-in buttons) are not affected unless rerouted separately.
- This mod is reversible if done cleanly.
- This does NOT remap anything at the software level. The controller's firmware
still sees the inputs as physical signals, just redirected.
- Be extremely careful when soldering to tiny pads – damaging them could
permanently disable the stick.

------------------------------------------------------------
MOD AT YOUR OWN RISK — NOT FOR BEGINNERS!
------------------------------------------------------------

Topher said:
The warranty is only one year in the US
Click to expand...

Damn this sucks.
 
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Topher said:
The warranty is only one year in the US



I didn't care for the back pedal button placement. I actually haven't returned it yet, just have it packed up for return. I may pull it back out of the box and give it another try before I return it. Other than the button placement, it seems like a really good controller.
Click to expand...
Get that Best Buy totaltech :)

Once you get close to the 2 year mark just "find" something wrong and they replace it with a new one
 
Kupfer said:
Do you know how to use a soldering iron?

[Tutorial]
====================================================================
HOW TO SWAP LEFT AND RIGHT STICK INPUTS ON A PS5 DUALSENSE CONTROLLER
Click to expand...

I hope you are messing with me right now.

That's not what reverse analog has meant for the past 20 years of colloquial usage :pie_thinking:
 
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Topher said:
I didn't care for the back pedal button placement. I actually haven't returned it yet, just have it packed up for return. I may pull it back out of the box and give it another try before I return it. Other than the button placement, it seems like a really good controller.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, compared to the Edge the placement as well as the back button themselves are not ideal, but it's nice to have 4 instead of two and you do get used to them eventually. Well, at least I did.
 
HeisenbergFX4 said:
Get that Best Buy totaltech :)

Once you get close to the 2 year mark just "find" something wrong and they replace it with a new one
Click to expand...

$180 a year though. If I had done that then I'd be out $360 by now and the only problematic tech that I've had is this controller. It's that extended warranty gamble.

Skifi28 said:
Oh yeah, compared to the Edge the placement as well as the back button themselves are not ideal, but it's nice to have 4 instead of two and you do get used to them eventually. Well, at least I did.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I got 60 days to make up mind so I'll give it another go. It is a premium controller. $100 open box is not bad.
 
Topher said:
$180 a year though. If I had done that then I'd be out $360 by now and the only problematic tech that I've had is this controller. It's that extended warranty gamble.



Hmm, I got 60 days to make up mind so I'll give it another go. It is a premium controller. $100 open box is not bad.
Click to expand...
True but I buy 90% of my electronics there and between a failed TV once, my failed 4090 PC that was 18 months old and one of my 45" OLED monitors losing sound after the 1 year warranty I figure mine is paid for itself for a lifetime
 
Topher said:
I'll probably try to fix it at some point, but really shouldn't have to repair a one and a half year old $200 controller.
Click to expand...

Toph, you know I love ya broski but that Edge controller really sounds like a POS - just like MS's Elite one 🤔

Sorry I'm not helping but these "premium" controllers really sound like a bad deal - even compared to their normal editions, shame...
 
Giallo Corsa said:
Toph, you know I love ya broski but that Edge controller really sounds like a POS - just like MS's Elite one 🤔

Sorry I'm not helping but these "premium" controllers really sound like a bad deal - even compared to their normal editions, shame...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm pretty much done with these ultra-expensive controllers. Just not worth it.
 
Honestly, the controllers are pretty simple to take apart and try and identify the issue if you are in all technically minded

You just need to be careful not to break the small ribbon cables in them, I would honestly try taking a look inside it first and just checking the connectors for the triggers haven't come loose or something, would save you $100+ if it's an easy fix

You haven't really got much to lose if it's broken already
 
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I have both the elite 2 and the edge (acquired both via random trades in fb marketplace) and while I actually love both, I wouldn't pay either's asking price, my ds edge actually started to peel off at the handles lol
 
Mephisto40 said:
Honestly, the controllers are pretty simple to take apart and try and identify the issue if you are in all technically minded

You just need to be careful not to break the small ribbon cables in them, I would honestly try taking a look inside it first and just checking the connectors for the triggers haven't come loose or something, would save you $100+ if it's an easy fix

You haven't really got much to lose if it's broken already
Click to expand...

yeah....I'll try to fix it just to have it as a backup, but I don't think it is reliable enough at this point to be my main controller which is why I looked for alternatives.
 
Sleepwalker said:
I have both the elite 2 and the edge (acquired both via random trades in fb marketplace) and while I actually love both, I wouldn't pay either's asking price, my ds edge actually started to peel off at the handles lol
Click to expand...

Yep.

9yv3rLU.jpeg
 
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Topher said:
Yeah, I'm pretty much done with these ultra-expensive controllers. Just not worth it.
Click to expand...
Have you looked at Cronus Zen/Max/whatever it's called.

Official Cronus Shop - Buy Direct - Worldwide Shipping!

Cronus Zen. Where gaming has no limits. Supports PlayStation 5®, Xbox Series X|S®, Nintendo Switch®, PlayStation 4®, Xbox One®, and PlayStation 3®, and Android/Apple mobile devices.
cronus.shop cronus.shop

And there is the PDP one as well:


I actually got the PDP one at one point (~$100 Like New on Amazon) and it wasn't bad. I just decided I didn't need it since I don't really play that much on PS5 now days and kids can use regular PS5 controllers.
 
StereoVsn said:
Have you looked at Cronus Zen/Max/whatever it's called.

Official Cronus Shop - Buy Direct - Worldwide Shipping!

Cronus Zen. Where gaming has no limits. Supports PlayStation 5®, Xbox Series X|S®, Nintendo Switch®, PlayStation 4®, Xbox One®, and PlayStation 3®, and Android/Apple mobile devices.
cronus.shop cronus.shop

And there is the PDP one as well:


I actually got the PDP one at one point (~$100 Like New on Amazon) and it wasn't bad. I just decided I didn't need it since I don't really play that much on PS5 now days and kids can use regular PS5 controllers.
Click to expand...
Isn't the Cronus USB-ID blocked by the PS5 ?
EDIT:
www.theverge.com

PlayStation 5 update blocks Cronus Zen cheat devices

Cronus Zen cheaters on the PS5 might have a problem.
www.theverge.com www.theverge.com
 
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StereoVsn said:
Have you looked at Cronus Zen/Max/whatever it's called.

Official Cronus Shop - Buy Direct - Worldwide Shipping!

Cronus Zen. Where gaming has no limits. Supports PlayStation 5®, Xbox Series X|S®, Nintendo Switch®, PlayStation 4®, Xbox One®, and PlayStation 3®, and Android/Apple mobile devices.
cronus.shop cronus.shop

And there is the PDP one as well:


I actually got the PDP one at one point (~$100 Like New on Amazon) and it wasn't bad. I just decided I didn't need it since I don't really play that much on PS5 now days and kids can use regular PS5 controllers.
Click to expand...

That Cronus looks pretty nice, but $120. And with all it does.....that might fall too far in the "cheat" category for comfort. Again, not that I play competitively, but Sony being Sony these days, hard to take risks.

I looked at the PDP, but reviews said the build quality was not good so passed on it. If it were under $100 then I might have tried it, but the ability to swap out modules is what makes it so expensive and that isn't something I'm interested in.
 
Topher said:
That Cronus looks pretty nice, but $120. And with all it does.....that might fall too far in the "cheat" category for comfort. Again, not that I play competitively, but Sony being Sony these days, hard to take risks.

I looked at the PDP, but reviews said the build quality was not good so passed on it. If it were under $100 then I might have tried it, but the ability to swap out modules is what makes it so expensive and that isn't something I'm interested in.
Click to expand...
Good point on Chronus, and especially with MP and Sony potentially blocking PSN account.

For the PDP one, see if you can find it Like New on Amazon for like $100 and try it out. Amazon return policy is good.
 
StereoVsn said:
Good point on Chronus, and especially with MP and Sony potentially blocking PSN account.

For the PDP one, see if you can find it Like New on Amazon for like $100 and try it out. Amazon return policy is good.
Click to expand...

The PDP one doesn't even have rumble, wth man...😬

Boys, just forget about 3rd party controllers, they ALL have issues/cons...

Just get a normal DS/Xbox controller and be done with it, it's the easiest, safest and cheaper bet in the end.

Cheers
 
StereoVsn said:
Oh, didn't realize that. The annoying part is something like Cronus would be great for just moving controllers or using KBM for SP games :(.

But due to MP shenanigans the whole thing is blocked which sucks.
Click to expand...
True, I'd like to use KBM as well in some single-player games, especially for harder challenges/trophies.
 
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Kupfer said:
Isn't the Cronus USB-ID blocked by the PS5 ?
EDIT:
www.theverge.com

PlayStation 5 update blocks Cronus Zen cheat devices

Cronus Zen cheaters on the PS5 might have a problem.
www.theverge.com www.theverge.com
Click to expand...
StereoVsn said:
Oh, didn't realize that. The annoying part is something like Cronus would be great for just moving controllers or using KBM for SP games :(.

But due to MP shenanigans the whole thing is blocked which sucks.
Click to expand...

Ah....that's what I was afraid of. I saw it on Amazon since it is sold out on their own website. The list of what it does was a bit concerning (pic below).

Agree StereoVsn StereoVsn , it would have been great as a KBM option. Flew too close to the sun with this one, I guess.

71wP5JSIUBL._AC_SX679_.jpg
 
Giallo Corsa said:
The PDP one doesn't even have rumble, wth man...😬

Boys, just forget about 3rd party controllers, they ALL have issues/cons...

Just get a normal DS/Xbox controller and be done with it, it's the easiest, safest and cheaper bet in the end.

Cheers
Click to expand...
That's what I have been doing but it would have been nice to have enhanced features. Really wish Sony and MS would have just supported Bluetooth or wireless USB dongles.

Topher said:
Ah....that's what I was afraid of. I saw it on Amazon since it is sold out on their own website. The list of what it does was a bit concerning (pic below).

Agree StereoVsn StereoVsn , it would have been great as a KBM option. Flew too close to the sun with this one, I guess.

71wP5JSIUBL._AC_SX679_.jpg
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's what probably got them blocked. I haven't really been looking at those features and more for KBM and using different controllers :(.

Sigh, wish Sony could set a controller profile for only SP or maybe SP and PVE games.
 
Get the extreme rate mods. Non solder unless you need lr3 and you can put in a much bigger battery while you're at it. You won't have analog replacement unless your willing to go the extra route of soldering or taking the controller apart fully. But you can do 3 legit mods by just removing the back plate. You'll have 4 back buttons and all the first party features
 
StereoVsn StereoVsn ordered that PDP controller. $99 used. Not too bad. Going to put up against to the Nacon Skifi28 Skifi28 and I were talking about. I'll post a thread comparing the two after I've had some time with them.
 
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Topher said:
The back pedals on my DualSense stopped working and the battery stopped charging. I am not going to pay $200 for a replacement so I started researching alternatives. I did find a Nacon Revolution for PS5 open box at Best Buy for $100, but I didn't care for it and returned it. The other two options were from PDP and Razer, both way over a $100 and I'm just not going to pay that much for controllers any more. With all the options in the PC market, I wouldn't even buy my Razer Wolverine again at its hefty price. Linus actually has a pretty good video surveying the landscape of hall effect PC gaming controllers (see below). That is what sent me down the road of trying to find a way to use these on PS5 and I came across this:


Pretty simple. Plug my PC controller into the adapter. Plug the adapter into the PS5. Voila. Now I can use my Razer on both PC and PS5 and it works pretty well. The Xbox button works as the PS button. The view and menu buttons toggle the touch pad button and option buttons. That's all out of the box. Didn't have to configure a thing. Only thing I don't have is the share button so I'll have to keep my DualSense close when I want to use that.

Cons. Aside from the losing the share button, this doesn't work wirelessly which means a lot of folks will nope out right off the bat. For me, that isn't a big deal as my PS5 Pro is on my desk so not like I have wire lying across the floor. And since my Edge battery is toast, I was using a wire anyway. Also no touch pad but it is rarely used.

The big sacrifice for most is the haptics. No getting around that. At the same time, PC controllers have options DualSense does not such as the four back pedals instead of two and hall effect thumbsticks with my Razer. Having said all that, the list of cons is hardly insignificant so I imagine this isn't something most gamers will care about, but for those who would like some alternatives for PS5 controllers and can live with the cons, I think this is a pretty good option.



Click to expand...


Cakeboxer said:
I would order some cheap parts from Aliexpress and try to fix it myself or ask in a local store if they can fix it.


Sony only gives 1 year, at least in Europe.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is the way.

Thrown in some TMR joysticks while at it if they make those for Edge those are fairly cheap at least for regular DualSense and Xbox controllers and they have like 4% margin of error, similarly to regular analog joysticks, tension is similar too. Look for K-Silver.

And no stick drift ever.

I can confirm, 1 year warranty for Sony controllers here in Poland.

Generally speaking, I already ditched my PS5, so I can test various number of controllers on my PC - I currently game on 8BitDo Ultimate 2 and Xbox Elite 2 controller with back paddles I managed to grab OEM version without box for the price of regular DualSense, let alone Edge.

And I'm gonna mod it with TMR sticks.


Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Controller/s/REHLUpWfuK

No TMR modules for Edge

You can use K-Silver TMR joysticks, the blue ones for regular DualSense plus some calibration board from Ali and it works.
 
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Update: Turns out the battery in my DualSense Edge is not bad. The cable I for my dock is. Bit of shitty troubleshooting on my part there, I gotta admit.

Also, I was able to fix the problem with the back pedal. Found this on reddit:



Just shoved piece of plastic in there to keep that part from moving and now seems to work fine.
 
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