Xbox One version Controller set-up in PC version possible?

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

Hi there,

I just got the Xbox One version of Elite Dangerous, and I really love the way the controls are set up in the controller. Everything can be done easily without ever touching a keyboard.

My question is that is there a way to use the exact same controller setup on the PC version? If not, I really hope that it would be implemented as an option for the PC version as well, as it works so well.

Bokugo · Mar 15, 2016

Yup. Should already be default controls for it too but you can change them to your needs.

Nerf Buck · Mar 15, 2016

It should be a controller profile option. Shame that it's not. You can only use the existing generic profiles and tweak it manually at the moment. But I don't know if it'll feel the same as on the XO. Try tweeting Frontier, that might work and inspire them to add a proper XO profile.

I use a 360 controller and that could do with a dedicated profile too.

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

What is great about the Xbox One version is that you have these "sub menus" that you get buy pressing a button longer. I don't think that it is possible in the current PC version, since it is UI related.

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

The xbox one controller config is already there. Plug in the Controller, start the game, select the default layout, hey presto. Simples.

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

MrWhippy said:
The xbox one controller config is already there. Plug in the Controller, start the game, select the default layout, hey presto. Simples.

I've tried it, it's not the same. You cannot do all the functions fast by just using a controller in the PC version. You need the keyboard as well since you are missing all the sub-menus, for an example.

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

devastat said:
I've tried it, it's not the same. You cannot do all the functions fast by just using a controller in the PC version. You need the keyboard as well since you are missing all the sub-menus, for an example.

Then you are either doing something wrong, or there is something different with your config (maybe you edited your default layout file). As I played for 3months on the PC using the xbox one layout. I know it was the same as I also play on the xbox one and didn't fancy trying to get my head around two different layouts.

CMDR Ducky · Mar 15, 2016

The pc version does not have the on-screen display of functions when you hold A or B or X or Y, its a really cool feature and ever so helpful, there is no reason it can not be applied to every type of controller other than it would make people happy and ED are not in the business of making its customers happy for some perverse upper class reason.

Kled7 · Mar 15, 2016

devastat said:
Hi there,

I just got the Xbox One version of Elite Dangerous, and I really love the way the controls are set up in the controller. Everything can be done easily without ever touching a keyboard.

My question is that is there a way to use the exact same controller setup on the PC version? If not, I really hope that it would be implemented as an option for the PC version as well, as it works so well.

You can set it up close, but not the same. This has to do with how the Xbox and PC take controller input. On the Xbox when you press B the boost won't activate until you release the button to allow you to chose another command. On the PC whatever you have bound to B will activate the second you push the button.

So for the PC, you can't bind anything to the XYAB buttons unless that's the only thing you want the button to do.

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

Kled7 said:
You can set it up close, but not the same. This has to do with how the Xbox and PC take controller input. On the Xbox when you press B the boost won't activate until you release the button to allow you to chose another command. On the PC whatever you have bound to B will activate the second you push the button.

So for the PC, you can't bind anything to the XYAB buttons unless that's the only thing you want the button to do.

It would be easy to find an alternative solution. Let's say - if you press the left shoulder button + B you will get the submenu. You could find an alternative that works similarly as the Xbox One version.

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

Geez....soooo much wrong information here my head hurts.

I've already told you all how to get EXACTLY the same configuration on PC as on Xbox one, it even does the graphic popup overlay when you press and hold one of the ABXY buttons.

I've even just done it again now to make sure I'm not the person spreading crap information, and I'm not. Plug in the controller, launch the game, select default context, click apply. Job Done.

You now have the same controls as Xbox one layout. Press and hold ABXY and the onscreen graphic pops up and shows you the additional buttons you can press.

The only thing I'm wondering is whether any of you are actually using an Xbox one controller, maybe this doesn't work the same if you plug in a 360 controller. IDK, I'm using an Xbone controller and it all works exactly the same for me.

I should mention, there are two layouts on Xbox one. On PC one is the Default Context, the other is the Classic Context. So one or the other will match the Xbox controls you are familiar with (there's only a few differences between the two).

Asadaine · Mar 15, 2016

MrWhippy said:
Geez....soooo much wrong information here my head hurts.

I've already told you all how to get EXACTLY the same configuration on PC as on Xbox one, it even does the graphic popup overlay when you press and hold one of the ABXY buttons.

I've even just done it again now to make sure I'm not the person spreading crap information, and I'm not. Plug in the controller, launch the game, select default context, click apply. Job Done.

You now have the same controls as Xbox one layout. Press and hold ABXY and the onscreen graphic pops up and shows you the additional buttons you can press.

The only thing I'm wondering is whether any of you are actually using an Xbox one controller, maybe this doesn't work the same if you plug in a 360 controller. IDK, I'm using an Xbone controller and it all works exactly the same for me.

I should mention, there are two layouts on Xbox one. On PC one is the Default Context, the other is the Classic Context. So one or the other will match the Xbox controls you are familiar with (there's only a few differences between the two).

I can confirm this. I played the xbox version for six months was initially very dismayed that it seemed the xbox controller setup wasn't present on pc until I found EXACTLY the same setup (with context menu's) under the default setting.

I have to say I got a warthog about a month ago and nearly sent it back because I loved the xbox controlller so much, but i fell in love eventually...

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

Asadaine said:
I can confirm this. I played the xbox version for six months was initially very dismayed that it seemed the xbox controller setup want present on pc until I found the EXACTLY the same setup (with context menu's) under the default setting.

I have to say I got a warthog about a month ago and nearly sent it back because I loved the xbox controlller so much, but i fell in love eventually...

Finally, someone willing to listen! +1 Rep to you!!

For those non believers, I don't know when you last tried, but I'm pretty sure it was in one of the PC patch notes a while back that they had added the Xbox one control schemes into the PC version. (It's been there since at least last Oct/Nov as that's when I got the PC version).

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

MrWhippy said:
Finally, someone willing to listen! +1 Rep to you!!

For those non believers, I don't know when you last tried, but I'm pretty sure it was in one of the PC patch notes a while back that they had added the Xbox one control schemes into the PC version. (It's been there since at least last Oct/Nov as that's when I got the PC version).

Ok I will try this again today, yesteday I wasn't able to get the Xbox overlay to work. Thanks for the info.

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

devastat said:
Ok I will try this again today, yesteday I wasn't able to get the Xbox overlay to work. Thanks for the info.

You should be golden, just make sure to not choose any of the "control pad" presets. You want either Default or Classic depending on which layout you use on Xbox.

Justyn Time · Mar 15, 2016

I've been looking for an answer to this so thank you. I've been choosing controller options so that's where I've been going wrong!

ArachAu · Mar 15, 2016

Well I learned something in this thread. I didn't think the PC version that had the nice submenus the XBOX version did. Neat. I can do some lazy couch exploring now and put the HOTAS away for a bit of a rest.

devastat · Mar 15, 2016

MrWhippy said:
You should be golden, just make sure to not choose any of the "control pad" presets. You want either Default or Classic depending on which layout you use on Xbox.

You are godsend, it works perfectly! It's such a confusing name for the preset, they should just call it 'Default Xbox One' or something.

MrWhippy · Mar 15, 2016

Agreed, it is rather counter intuitive, particularly with the various Control Pad presets.

Wrongway · Mar 15, 2016

I have learned quite a lot with his thread too. Thanks. Although I have a Warthog/CH + pedals setup, I sometimes fire ED up on a gaming laptop on the couch doing simple trading runs etc. I have an Xbox One Elite controller that I have been configuring to use for this couch flying. These pop up menus will be a godsend as so far I have been using the buttons as a shift key and struggling to remember all the options. I just hope it works with the Elite version of the controller. I like this controller as it has optional extensions on the thumb sticks making things a lot more controllable. Still hate taking off from a station or landing using it though. I am so used to hotas and pedals. Does it get any easier using an xbox controller?