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Gamepad Settings

Configure and customize your gamepad buttons and behavior.

3 min read

Fine-tune your gamepad configuration for the best gaming experience. Playback comes pre-configured for most popular controllers, but you can customize everything to your liking.

Button mapping

Pre-configured bindings

Playback includes button mappings for most popular gamepads. When you connect a recognized controller, it should work immediately with correct button assignments.

Rebinding buttons

To customize your button layout:

  1. Open Settings > Controls
  2. Select your gamepad from the dropdown
  3. Click Rebind Keys
  4. Each button prompt will light up in sequence
  5. Press the corresponding button on your gamepad for each prompt

Testing your bindings

After rebinding, test each button to ensure it’s mapped correctly. The on-screen display shows which buttons are being pressed in real-time.

Analog stick settings

Fine-tune how analog sticks respond:

SettingDefaultRangeDescription
Deadzone0.150.0–0.95How far you must push the stick before input registers. Increase if you have stick drift.
Sensitivity1.00.1–3.0Multiplier for stick movement. Higher values make the stick more responsive.
Deadzone ModeRadialLinear, Radial, ScaledHow the deadzone is calculated.

Deadzone modes

  • Linear — Deadzone applies to each axis (X/Y) independently
  • Radial — Deadzone applies in a circular pattern from center (recommended)
  • Scaled — Radial deadzone with sensitivity scaling applied

Rumble

SettingDefaultDescription
Gamepad RumbleOnEnables vibration feedback for games that support it.

Not all games support rumble. Compatible games will trigger vibration automatically when rumble is enabled.

Troubleshooting

Controller not recognized

  1. Ensure your OS detects the controller first
  2. Try a different USB port
  3. Restart Playback with the controller connected
  4. See Adding Unsupported Controllers for manual setup

Stick drift

If your character moves without touching the stick:

  1. Increase the Deadzone value (try 0.20–0.30)
  2. If the problem persists, your controller may need physical repair

Buttons mapped incorrectly

  1. Use the rebind function to correct the mapping
  2. If the issue persists, your controller may need a custom SDL mapping

Input lag

  • Use a wired connection for lowest latency
  • Close other applications that might be using the controller
  • Check that no conflicting controller software is running

Tips

  • Rebind controls when switching between different controller types
  • Start with default deadzone settings and only adjust if needed
  • If a controller works in your OS but not Playback, it likely needs a custom mapping

See also

Still need help? Contact our support team