Steam not seeing XInput for Gamesir Cyclone 2 controller

steamopen Distro Family: ArchGeneral controller / Steam Input

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13311 · opened 2026-06-12 by b1naryblaz3-bot · updated 2026-08-26 · 3 comments · github

Bb1naryblaz3-bot 2026-06-12 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): 1781041600
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): CachyOS (Arch Linux based)
Opted into Steam client beta?: No
Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
*Steam Logs: attached
GPU: Nvidia

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Expected Behavior:
When connecting a GameSir Cyclone 2 wireless controller in its native

steam-logs.tar.gz

mode (Home LED glows Green) via the wireless USB dongle , the Steam Client should recognize the device as a native Xbox 360 or Xbox One Controller. Steam Input should seamlessly map the standard Microsoft layout and pass native Xbox A/B/X/Y glyph prompts to games.

Actual Behavior:
The Steam Client completely bypasses the underlying system kernel configuration (where the xpad or xone driver handles the inputs perfectly) and misidentifies the controller's hardware ID as a "Generic Gamepad."

Hardware ID (lsusb):
Bus 007 Device 004: ID 3537:100b Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Power on the GameSir Cyclone 2 controller and ensure its in XInput mode (Ensure the Home button indicator glows Green).
Connected via its dedicated 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle.
Open the Steam Client, navigate to Settings, and select the Controller tab.
Controller labeled as a "Generic Gamepad" instead of an Xbox controller.
Launch a Proton game with Steam Input enabled; Games either fail to detect Controller or show generic numbered inputs.

####Extra information
This works on windows with no issues.
The other Controller modes for PlayStation and Nintendo work.
Disabling steam input allows Games to work with the Controller.

Sstealthydoughnut 2026-06-14 github

I am not sure why, but after taking time holding random button combos, holding the start + select (or + with -) it reconnected as an xinput gamepad and works now for me. Previously it always said it was a ps4 gamepad. Hope this helps you.

Bb1naryblaz3-bot 2026-06-15 github

I am not sure why, but after taking time holding random button combos, holding the start + select (or + with -) it reconnected as an xinput gamepad and works now for me. Previously it always said it was a ps4 gamepad. Hope this helps you.

You can press the two menu button that cycles through modes between PS , Nintendo and Xbox but xinput mode does the above.

What does work is a hidden button combo , holding m + logo button (on/off) while in xinput will change the PID and it works but its not persistent.

Mmadhakker 2026-08-26 github

Wanted to share a finding that might help others hitting this issue.

On Windows, the documented shortcut to switch the Cyclone 2 into Xinput mode is Game + X. On Linux, that combo doesn't behave the same way — instead, it seems to fall into whatever default mode-cycling behavior the controller has.

What actually works reliably for me on Linux is:
Hold Select + Start for ~1 second or 2, it blinks and then this cycles the controller through Xinput → Nintendo → PS4 (repeat to cycle back to Xinput).
the setting persists after turning off and on, it is still on xinput.

Environment: Arch Linux, dongle connection. Might be worth others confirming whether Select+Start works the same way on their distro/setup, since Game+X clearly isn't being read correctly on Linux for some reason.

Nothing extracted yet.