Sony's DualShock 3 controller hacked to work in Windows

Love your SIXAXIS controller? Wish you could just plug it into your PC and enjoy the spoils of familiarity when engaging in PC gaming sessions? You're in luck, so long as you're not terrified of branching out a bit and loading up some new drivers on your rig. A Japanese coder has whipped up four drivers that not only enable Sony DualShock 3 controllers to operate within Windows, but also support rumble and enable all sorts of tweaking. Hit the read link to get the show started, and be sure to let us know how it goes.

[Thanks, craig]

[Shyam D @ Jan 11th 2009 6:47PM]

Aren't there similar controllers that already exist for PCs, not to mention that the real difference in gaming experience between a PC and a Console is the fact that consoles use controllers and PCs use Mouse/Keyboard input?

[Game_playa @ Jan 11th 2009 6:50PM]

You don't have to buy a different controller if you already have a DualShock. They already work, but no rumble though

[Levi @ Jan 11th 2009 6:54PM]

Yeah, for people like me who don't have a PC controller anymore but play quite a bit of emulator and 2D indie games, it would be a lot better to just use the PS3 controller that I already have as opposed to buying a decent wireless PC gaming controller for $30. Though, if I wanted to use the DS3 wirelessly, I'd have to spend some change on a USB BT receiver. It would still be better than having another controller laying around my tiny apartment though.

[Sean @ Jan 11th 2009 6:56PM]

Shyam D

Of course there are "controllers that already exist for PCs," but that's not the point. People like me who use a PC as a game machine and a ps3 as a game machine like simplicity, one controller for both systems. So i think this would be great so i can use one controller, since those idiots at Sony (or Microsoft) didn't make it compatable.

[SLEEPFLOWER @ Jan 11th 2009 7:11PM]

This is good if you already have a PS3 (I do) but XBOX 360 pads already work out of the box. The extra hassle of having an extra pad around is offset by it working so well with the PC and pad layout already set up for games marked games for windows.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 11th 2009 8:14PM]

Kudos to Xbox 360's designer for allowing you to simply plug&play with 360's controllers on Games for Windows.

[Temple @ Jan 11th 2009 10:10PM]

Drivers for the PS3 have been available for years. The Sixaxis didn't work but everything else did, I guess now they improved it to enable rumble etc.

Also, the PS3 supports any generic USB controller as long it the controller supports generic USB controller drivers. You can even use Sega Saturn USB controller or any Logitech PC controller on the PS3 to play games.

[mick @ Jan 11th 2009 6:54PM]

not quite a "hack"

[Sean @ Jan 11th 2009 6:57PM]

Is that what she said to you?

[Mike @ Jan 11th 2009 6:55PM]

Um, hasn't this been possible for a long time, now? I've been doing it myself for at least a year, I think longer, maybe.

This link has the english PS3 driver for Win32: http://dl.qj.net/SIXAXIS-driver-for-PC-PlayStation-3/pg/12/fid/11679/catid/518
And then this for the USB: http://libusb.wiki.sourceforge.net/

Last I checked, though, it doesn't work for 64-bit OSes... found that one out the hard way...

Did they change the DualShock 3 so much that this no longer works?

[Aguiluz @ Jan 11th 2009 6:59PM]

Tried that on my Dualshock 3 on Vista and XP and no dice.

The controller gets recognized and charges, but buttons won't work.

[Aguiluz @ Jan 11th 2009 7:02PM]

(Addon: Both of the OSes I tested on were 32 bit.)

[The Golden Wombat @ Jan 11th 2009 7:02PM]

I remember spending an hour trying to walk my friend through installing the driver before he told me he was running the 64bit version of Vista. Such a waste of an hour.

[Mr. Vage @ Jan 11th 2009 9:02PM]

It's been possible to use the dualshock on the pc, but rumble was impossible up until now. It the drivers you linked actually cause an odd issue with GlovePIE the causes the left rumble motor to turn on and not stop until the controller has either run out of battery or been re-synced to a ps3.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 12th 2009 12:42AM]

You are correct, but the english drivers did not have rumble functionality and at my last check, the wireless did not function either.

[DarkLN1X @ Jan 11th 2009 6:57PM]

Not news at all, that is already possible.

[SimbaDogg @ Jan 11th 2009 8:10PM]

seriously...engadget writers, if you have the power to delete articles, this would be one to delete. its kinda like announcing a new scientific breakthrough, then a year later, announcing the same thing again. bad analogy, but u know what i mean.

[XGM @ Jan 12th 2009 12:01AM]

Its been a long time that we could use the PS3 controller, but this is new that I can also use the dualshock/rumble on it now.

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 6:59PM]

This is older than old itself.

[GBeatzRecrds @ Jan 11th 2009 6:59PM]

Rosie O'Donnell wants to comment.

[the happiest mac @ Jan 11th 2009 7:05PM]

is that windows 95?

[mtah @ Jan 11th 2009 7:19PM]

No, since the gradient window title bar didn't arrive until Windows 98. So I'm guessing it's either Windows 98 or XP using the "Windows Classic" look-and-feel.

[Plothole @ Jan 11th 2009 7:21PM]

No, it looks like XP with the classic skin enabled.

[Charles @ Jan 11th 2009 8:48PM]

I use the Windows Classic theme in XP myself. The thin window frames and title bars and uncluttered look make it much better to work with. All the computers in work use Windows Classic and my brother's work laptop uses it, though I don't know if he set it himself of if the company did.

Most businesses want productivity not "wow" but sadly Microsoft haven't got the memo and haven't included the theme in Windows 7. The Vista interface in 7 is more than enough reason for me to completely avoid it and I can't see companies being over enthusiastic about it either.

[Matthew C @ Jan 11th 2009 8:54PM]

Classic theme works fine in Windows 7 - just tested it for you.

However, I blelieve that this screenshot is from windows 2000. but thats just my guess.

I love the way no one guessed 2000 or ME. The forgotten Windows editions (although no one in their right mind would run windows ME

[Charles @ Jan 11th 2009 9:16PM]

Matthew C, thanks for checking but I'm not talking about the Vista/7 "Windows Classic" theme but the XP one which looks like Win2K. Here's a screenshot of what I mean:

http://i44.tinypic.com/dp8xeg.jpg

I can understand the confusion since they're both called "Windows Classic" but are completely different

[sua @ Jan 12th 2009 8:38AM]

Charles,

Which one are you talking about?

http://i44.tinypic.com/29f9nkl.jpg

This is Vista's Classic. I am unable to spot huge differences.

[Charles @ Jan 12th 2009 10:38AM]

sua, how do you get to that dialogue box in Windows 7? I can't find it and it seems to have been replaced with a new Themes window that doesn't have the classic theme.

[Chromana @ Jan 12th 2009 1:56PM]

Charles, it is there in the themes. Here is a pic of mine:
http://i39.tinypic.com/2iqofpf.jpg
I have Home Premium 32 bit.
Just right-click desktop/Personalise/Themes and it's right there.

[Chromana @ Jan 12th 2009 2:04PM]

And just for extra proof if you don't believe me for some reason.
http://i44.tinypic.com/s4yog1.jpg
Maybe you've deleted the theme somehow.

[Jacob @ Jan 11th 2009 7:11PM]

Not to mention GlovePIE, Engadget, this is oooooolllllllllllddddddd news.

[Peste @ Jan 11th 2009 7:16PM]

Guys, you need to see that, the SIXAXIS driver can't enable the "rumble" in the DUALSHOCK 3 controller in Windows. I will work, but it won't "rumble". I was playing Need For Speed Pro Street a while ago in my notebook using the DUALSHOCK 3.
If this driver really does what it promises, then, the rumble will work too.

And that's good news =)

[Peste @ Jan 11th 2009 7:28PM]

Argh -.-
I was going to download the drivers to test them... "You need to login with your account to download"... man what a crap.
Someone can upload this on 4shared? or some other download site?

Please? :(

[Elora HRanma @ Jan 11th 2009 8:03PM]

After 5 minutes trying to register and miserably failing the anti spam filter (I have detected a malfunction in my pattern recognition module) I have uploaded them here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C8QFMFNL
It is in tar.gz. Winrar and many other programs can take care of that.

Not that it is of any use, given the absence of MD5s in the original post or a link to the original source, but here you have:
dacb0c7f81c1675f281e8d03798b8912 ds3drv_1.02.zip
83a25f44373b4203dd5a4959f9ad7fb3 ds3drv_dx_1.02.zip
055765e2bb6f424bff6de02001245207 ForceFeedbackDriver.zip
ab3cc4a725bf7eca9c95b48444353aef SDDriverSetting.zip

[Elora HRanma @ Jan 11th 2009 8:09PM]

Or, thanks to -Tj-, you can download them from the developer's page.

http://www.geocities.jp/tamamy_ikesu/devicedriver.html

By the way, the links seem to point that it is 32bit only. Shit.
If only s/he released the sources so I could compile my own...

[Peste @ Jan 11th 2009 9:08PM]

Hmm, not good.
The DUALSHOCK 3 Driver, didn't work for me, the driver could not be initiated. And the "Rumble" feature, it doesn't work so well, sometimes it looks like the controller is just doing it randomly.

Now I'm having a hard time finding all the keys in the register, and deleting them.. -.-
He needs to tweak this driver a little more, then it will be good.

[acme @ Jan 11th 2009 7:22PM]

but will it work wirelessly via bluetooth?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 11th 2009 7:31PM]

No way to pair, IIRC.

[bluesky_v2.01 @ Jan 11th 2009 11:34PM]

I've seen some videos of people using it via bluetooth but couldnt get it to work myself.

[Kitty @ Jan 11th 2009 7:29PM]

I've been doing this for ages, not exactly impressed.

[-Tj- @ Jan 11th 2009 7:49PM]

I bought a DualShock3 just for the purpose of using it as a PC controller using some of the "old news" drivers, but they 1: always killed all my USB devices (including the trackpad), and 2: just plain didn't work. Ended up returning the controller new just because it didn't work. Now I wish I didn't so I could try this. If it works, looks like I'b buy another DS3 controller. 360 controller's fine for analog stuff, but the D-pad SUCKS.

[-Tj- @ Jan 11th 2009 7:51PM]

To add to that, the earliest update to these drivers was on Nov 22, '08 (according to the original page: http://www.geocities.jp/tamamy_ikesu/devicedriver.html). Yeah, the idea's old, but the drivers are quite new, so chill out.

[Dani Reader @ Jan 11th 2009 7:51PM]

wow, I have to admit, this is the first time I've seen something like this available for mac first :o

However, this one is way better.

[Ehrgeiz @ Jan 11th 2009 7:53PM]

I have been using sixaxis over bluetooth to play emulators on my laptop for a while now.
In fact you can have two connected at the same time.
All credit goes to 89ron over at ps2dev forums.
http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?t=7099&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=330

http://bqron.free.fr/PS3/BT/

If you have problems, be sure to read through the entire thread.

[lowesox @ Jan 11th 2009 8:05PM]

Even though this night be similar to the sixaxis 'hack' from awhile ago, and is thus perhaps "old news," for anyone who is interested in getting this to work, and having trouble, you sometimes have to do the following:

Go to Control Panel > Game Controllers > [Whatever the device reads as] > Properties, and then test the buttons within. For some reason, getting the buttons to register in the test (which they almost always do) gets them to work elsewhere where they previously wouldn't.

[Eric @ Jan 11th 2009 8:49PM]

I don't think this rumble enabled feature will make much difference. Most PC games don't support rumble and aren't coded in so having rumble enabled makes no difference just as playing games with no rumble features coded in for PS3 games.

[Wwhat @ Jan 11th 2009 8:58PM]

Want to bet it won't and never will work in windows 64bit?

[CyberGhost @ Jan 12th 2009 9:13AM]

The old version required you to have usb libraries executable running in the background constantly, maybe this one doesn't require you to run any processes.

[Temo @ Jan 11th 2009 10:18PM]

What I want is the X-box 360 or the PS3 controller with the chatpad/QWERTY/Keyboard that works in the computer.

[craig @ Jan 11th 2009 11:01PM]

does anyone know how this could be used to control the mouse cursor on a PC? I like using the 6-axis as my ps3 blu-ray remote (have you seen the number of buttons on the actual PS3 BD Remote?!?). Would be neat to also use the on my HTPC to pull up netflix, etc.