Ds4windows By Jays2kings ((link)) Online

When you launch a game, DS4Windows can automatically load the correct profile.

The project was most active in the mid-2010s but has not received updates for many years.

The turns your PS4 or PS5 controller into the most versatile PC gaming peripheral you own. It’s free, open-source, and with the setup steps above, you’ll be gaming wirelessly with full functionality in under 10 minutes.

| Tool | Pros | Cons | |------|------|------| | | Free, open-source, highly customizable, touchpad mouse, gyro, low latency | Requires initial driver setup | | Steam Input | Built-in, no extra software, good config sharing | Only works for Steam games; overlay can cause performance drops | | InputMapper | Polished UI, commercial support | Freemium model, heavier on resources | | reWASD | Incredible features (remap anything, shift layers) | Paid software ($7+), not open-source | ds4windows by jays2kings

At its core, is an open-source gamepad mapper and virtual emulator. Since Windows uses XInput (the language of Xbox controllers) and the DualShock 4 uses DirectInput , most PC games won't recognize a PlayStation controller natively.

Controller works, but games see two controllers (one DS4, one Xbox). Solution: In DS4Windows Settings, check "Hide DS4 Controller" (requires running the program as administrator at least once).

| Tab | What It Does | |------|---------------| | | Automatically switch profiles when you launch a specific .exe (e.g., turn off gyro for Cyberpunk). | | Lightbar | Change color, brightness, and LED patterns. Turn it off to save battery. | | Touchpad | Use the touchpad as a laptop-style mouse. Click = left mouse, two-finger tap = right click. | | Gyro | Map to mouse, joystick, or directional keys. Perfect for aiming in Breath of the Wild (Cemu) or Call of Duty . | When you launch a game, DS4Windows can automatically

Beyond basic mapping, it provides LED color customization, button remapping, and touchpad-to-mouse functionality. 3. Modern Alternatives & Recommendations

Once the basics are working, dive into the tab. Here’s what you can tweak:

One of the DS4’s unique features was its touchpad. On the PS4, it acted as a large button or a swipe interface. Jays2Kings realized this could be repurposed for PC gaming. Through DS4Windows, the touchpad could be mapped as a mouse trackpad, allowing gamers to control the Windows cursor without putting down the controller. This was a game-changer for couch gamers navigating Steam Big Picture mode or media centers like Kodi. It’s free, open-source, and with the setup steps

While the project has seen various iterations and forks over the years, the version by Jays2Kings set the gold standard for features:

This accomplished two major things: