TUTORIALS Gamepads
Connect, configure and use gamepads
GAMING
Planning some Raspberry Pi gaming? Christian Cawley shows you how to set up a game controller either natively or with an emulator.
OUR EXPERT
Christian Cawley A freelance writer and editor specialising in consumer electronics, who is still finding pine needles in his Raspberry Pi.
YOU NEED
Raspberry Pi 3 or later
Popular game controller
Raspberry Pi OS
USB cable
Most game controllers will connect to the Raspberry Pi using Bluetooth or USB. For wireless Xbox One controllers, however, you’ll need a USB receiver dongle.
P
lanning to play some games on your Raspberry Pi?
Minecraft:
Pi
is far easier to play with a game controller, but you might have your eye on
Doom
(LXF268) or other shareware classics.
Alternatively, you could be hooking up a controller to your Raspberry Pi-based retro gaming system.
A good selection of game controllers can be connected to your Raspberry Pi using USB. Furthermore, some well-known controllers can also be linked up using Bluetooth.
In theory, all controllers should work with a Raspberry Pi. This covers everything from generic USB joysticks and joypads to the latest Bluetooth devices. So, you can expect to be able to connect an Xbox One controller and a PS4 controller to your Raspberry Pi. Controllers designed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will also work, as will Nintendo gamepads.