Dualsense not recognized in Games when connected via USB cable

steamopen Distro Family: DebianGeneral controller / Steam InputProton

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#8147 · opened 2021-10-14 by ri0t · updated 2025-06-28 · 5 comments · github

Rri0t 2021-10-14 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): steam-runtime_0.20210906.1 (just had an update, didn't help :cry: )
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Debian Testing (with some unstable/experimental)
Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] Yes
Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Steam Client yes, Kernel could be updated

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Dualsense controller works fine here, when being used via Bluetooth.
As soon as i connect the usb cable to charge, it only works in Big Picture mode, but not the games anymore.

I have no hid-playstation loaded (Kernel 5.9), only had hid-sony which i removed (didn't change anything).
I checked the inputs in a proton game prefix via wine control and disabled a xbox controller that wasn't sending data, the listed Dualsense controllers (multiple actually!) were all display correctly in the joystick test - didn't help.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Plug in Dualsense controller via USB-C cable
Controller lights up as normal, same Steam-client log appears as when connecting via BT, but it stops working/being recognized in games (doesn't affect Steam-client's Big Picture mode, and it's also listed in the client's controller settings)
Disconnect controller cable, reconnect it via BT, everything works as normal again

Thanks in advance!

Rri0t 2021-10-15 github

FWIW, i just observed this curiosity:
When playing Metal Gear Solid 5, the controller is (as above) not usable when plugged in via cable, so i play with mouse/keyboard. But the Dualsense still rumbles now and then, and when it does so during cutscenes, the whole game (graphics, sound) becomes choppy, until i disconnect it.

Rri0t 2021-10-15 github

Oh, and btw. my flatmate is playing with a very similar setup - she's not having this issue. I suspect a different kernel and maybe some libs running over there. Can collect version info, if it's of interest.

Rri0t 2022-10-02 github

This is still veeery much borked. I tried playing Need for speed Heat today, some buttons work, but e.g. the bumpers not, which makes the controller very useless. Am now going to try that with the newly arrived SteamDeck...

Rri0t 2022-10-02 github

Yep, works on the deck. Now i'd really like to know the difference between these three machines, here.

On this machine, the pad works in all (native non-steam-installed) applications, too! Including webbrowsers. I can even use the touchpad to control the mouse, but as soon as steam comes into contact with the pad, nothing really works right.

I'm not running KDE, Gnome, Xfce or anything, if that helps.

Rri0t 2022-10-02 github

Uhm. Switched to Generic Controller profile and started it via big picture mode, it works... Weeeeird!

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