winget install --id=david419kr.SteamlessController -e This fork turns a Steam Controller into a virtual Xbox 360, DualShock 4, experimental DualSense, or Switch Pro Controller. The main branch goal is parity with the original Xbox 360 behavior plus native PlayStation/Nintendo controller features for games that support them.
This fork turns a Steam Controller into a virtual Xbox 360, DualShock 4, experimental DualSense, or Switch Pro Controller. The main branch goal is parity with the original Xbox 360 behavior plus native PlayStation/Nintendo controller features for games that support them.
SteamlessController-Setup.exe from the latest release and install it.Output Mode -> DualShock 4, Output Mode -> DualSense, or Output Mode -> Switch Pro Controller, then enable Steamless Mode.Auto Enable Mode -> Auto Enable to enable Steamless Mode automatically when a Steam Controller is detected. Auto Restart Steam can restart Steam at the same time when Steam is already running.Restart Steam from the tray menu.DualSense mode is experimental. It makes the Steam Controller 2026 appear as a virtual DualSense controller and tries to support native gyro/accelerometer input, touchpad input, standard rumble, Haptic Feedback, and adaptive-trigger signals in games that support DualSense directly.
DualSense Haptic Feedback is designed for the physical DualSense actuator system and controller body, so Steam Controller hardware cannot reproduce it perfectly. This fork uses a best-effort translation layer that maps those signals onto Steam Controller trackpad pulse/click/tick haptics and rumble motors. It can feel different from ordinary rumble, but it should not be expected to match an original PS5 DualSense controller.
Adaptive triggers are also physically impossible to reproduce because the Steam Controller has no trigger-resistance mechanism. The app still receives those trigger-effect signals and tries to approximate their feel with rumble motor and haptic feedback.
The Steam Controller 2026 can be used wired or wirelessly through the Puck, and DualSense mode works from either input path. If DualSense Haptic Feedback feels too strong or too weak, use Output Mode -> DualSense Settings... in the tray menu and adjust Rumble Threshold. If unsure, keep the default value.
SteamlessController.exe, the patched viiper.exe, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022 x64, usbip-win2, and optional HidHide.viiper.exe manually.Auto Enable Mode -> Auto Restart Steam only restarts Steam when Steam is already running. The manual Restart Steam tray action still launches Steam even when it is not running.A lightweight Windows system tray app that lets you use a Steam Controller as a standard gamepad without Steam running.
When Steamless Mode is active, the app disables the controller's built-in keyboard/mouse emulation, reads raw HID input from the Steam Controller, and exposes it as a virtual Xbox 360, DualShock 4, experimental DualSense, or Switch Pro Controller through VIIPER.
SteamlessController.exeviiper.exe built from this branch, next to SteamlessController.exe0x28DE / PID 0x1302 or 0x1304Build the app plus patched sidecar with the preset:
git clone https://github.com/david419kr/steamless-controller-XB-PS-NS.git
cd steamless-controller-XB-PS-NS
cmake --preset release
cmake --build --preset release
The release output is placed under build\release\Release when using Visual Studio generators. It should contain both SteamlessController.exe and viiper.exe.
You can also build the patched VIIPER sidecar directly:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools\build-viiper.ps1 -OutputDir build\release\Release
The script clones upstream VIIPER v0.6.1, applies the bundled DS4, DualSense, and Switch Pro patches/overlay under third_party\viiper-patches, builds viiper.exe, and marks it as v0.6.1-steamless8. Stock v0.6.1 is intentionally rejected in PlayStation/Switch modes because it does not expose the reports required by native gyro/touch/trigger/Haptic Feedback or Nintendo controller clients.
Build a single offline installer that contains the app, patched viiper.exe, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022 x64, usbip-win2, and the optional HidHide installer:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File tools\build-installer.ps1
The installer output is build\installer\SteamlessController-Setup.exe. It installs VC++ and usbip-win2 automatically when missing. HidHide is presented as an optional task and is checked by default because it is recommended for Steam duplicate-input prevention.
The build script downloads the prerequisite installers into build\prereqs, writes build\prereqs\prereqs.json with source URLs and SHA-256 hashes, then compiles resources\InnoInstallerScript.iss with Inno Setup 6. If ISCC.exe is not on PATH, install Inno Setup 6 first.
You can also use the CMake preset after configuring:
cmake --preset release
cmake --build --preset installer
| Target | Description |
|---|---|
SteamlessController | Main system tray application |
ViiperSidecar | Builds SteamlessController, then builds/copies the patched viiper.exe next to it |
PackageInstaller | Builds a bundled Inno Setup installer with app, VIIPER sidecar, VC++ runtime, usbip-win2, and optional HidHide |
SteamlessControllerTests | Assert-based conversion and VIIPER protocol helper tests |
SteamProbe | Console diagnostic tool that dumps raw HID report bytes |
RawControllerProbe | Checks whether Windows.Gaming.Input.RawGameController can enumerate the Steam Controller |
The Steam Controller exposes a vendor HID collection, usage page 0xFF00, that carries all game input in a 54-byte report, ID 0x42, at about 60 Hz. By default the firmware runs in keyboard/mouse emulation mode so the controller works without drivers.
SteamlessController sends HID feature reports to disable that firmware mode, reads raw input reports, and translates them into VIIPER Xbox 360, DualShock 4, DualSense, or Switch Pro input states. A background heartbeat re-sends the disable command every 800 ms to keep the controller in gamepad mode.
The full input report layout is documented in src/steam/SteamController.h.
viiper.exe must include its license and corresponding source/patch notice.