Ok fellow Linux gamers. Who can tell me what controller to buy? I need non Bluetooth, wireless, gyro, Xbox style controller for my gaming needs. It needs to be able to move from Linux to Windows without re-pairing. If it matters, the system is a bazzite Windows dual boot. Bazzite for most things but Windows for anti cheat BS games that won’t work in Linux.
I was looking at the 8bitdo ultimate 2 or 3 but have no experience with them.
I’m extremely fatigued with re-pairing my Xbox and switch pro controllers and trying to overcome my shitty Bluetooth. Thanks!
The problem with Xbox style is, that Xbox does not support wireless. For the 8bitdo ultimate 2 that means you have different modes of the controller. In xbox mode (default) it acts like a xbox controller. No support for gyro. You have to hold specific buttons when starting it, so it starts as Switch controller. In the Switch mode it supports gyro, but A and B are swapped and it does no longer act like a Xbox controller, which some games might handle it differently. Another little annoyance is, that the firmware cannot be updated in Linux itself.
As for the repairing, I don’t actually know if you need to when using on a different OS. I know the controller has builtin memory to save and use the configuration regardless of the OS. Meaning setting it up in Windows, and then using in Linux without additional software. Now when I think about it, I do not need to re-pair it, when I update the firmware in a virtual machine. Switching it back from Windows to Linux, there is no need to re-pair it. But I don’t have other experience.
I’m just sharing my frustration with this gamepad. Gyro was one of the reasons why I purchased it, and I cannot use it because i don’t want to use it in Switch mode. At least the dock is pretty cool and it acts as its own connection. It also supports Bluetooth, but I don’t use Bluetooth. I think the upcoming Steam Controller from Valve will be the ultimate controller, with gyro and trackpads builtin. No driver or firmware shenanigans, no mode switching.
If you connect via Bluetooth, that ultimate 2 just supports steam input natively with the correct buttons displayed, including gyro.
But then its in Switch mode right? Also Switch mode does not support analog triggers as far as I know (never tested it on this controller). I’m on a battle against Bluetooth, had too many problems in the past (decade ago… I know lot has changed, but I do not even have a Bluetooth receiver to test it…).
This is why I kinda hate 8BitDo’s naming scheme. There’s 2 version of the Ultimate 2:
Ultimate 2 Bluetooth-Has the Nintendo button layout and is made primarily for Switch.
Ultimate 2 Wireless-Has the Xbox button layout, and is primarily made for PC.
If you have the Wireless with the Xbox layout, it’s Bluetooth doesn’t register as a Switch Pro Controller, just as a dinput device. It does support the Gyro and analog triggers.
I totally get the frustration with bluetooth, I used a normal switch pro controller for years on my pc and had constant issues with it. That said, I haven’t had any issues with my Ultimate 2 Wireless. I’ve only had it since November, but I haven’t had any issues with it disconnecting.
If you want me to test anything on, let me know and I’ll be glad to :)
Thank you for the offering and for clearing things up. I do not have any requests or questions at the moment. When I replied above there, I recalled that there was 2 versions of it and almost had mentioned it. Reason why I didn’t is, because I was unsure and didn’t want spread misinformation… which shows how bad the situation actually is, as an owner of the Wireless Xbox variant.
At the moment I just gave up on the gyro, which is a shame, because that was one of the reasons to buy it. But I do not want to change the mode every time I decide to play Switch emulation, or other console emulation or play Steam games and so on. I just wait for the launch of the Steam Controller and that’s it.