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The best PC gaming controller according to The Wirecutter is....

Wish the DS4 was supported more.

It's the main reason why I don't play anything other than KBM friendly games on PC.

Most PC games are so XB controller centric, so I don't even bother.
 
Someone find me an Xbox controller that keeps the dual analogs but still finds a way to squeeze in 6 face buttons for Mega Drive/Saturn bestness. That will be my COTF.

Dawg, this is literally what I want. I've been scouting online stores for some bootleg controllers and I've never come across six face buttons on a twin stick pad of any type. Why has no one done this yet?
 
Not sure what these no driver complaints are coming from literally just connect a DS4 to a PC (either via Bluetooth or micro USB cable) and Windows instantly recognizes it as a gamepad and installs the necessary drivers.

I use it for PCSX2 constantly and I have literally done nothing but plug it into a USB port. Shows up in control panel as a generic controller.
 
I've used both XB1 and DS4 and I'm honestly not sure I have a favorite. Actually, I primarily used my DS4 but then I spilled a glass of bourbon on it; now I use the XB1. It's at least as good because I haven't been able to tell a noticeable difference. Maybe I preferred the softer triggers on the DS4 but that's about it.
 
It's a nice controller but for PC? Yeah no sorry no dice.

360 controller if you want something cheap and don't care about the D-pad.

Elite if you want the best.
 
Lack of a Wii U Pro controller is pretty bad. It's certainly up there.

I'd say it's my favorite and I like the DS4 too, but best overall has to go to wired 360. Cheap, well built, native, correct prompts. Only glaring weakness is the d pad.
 
I love being able to use the touchpad on the DS4 to take Steam screenshots in-game. Fantastic little feature in DS4Windows.
 
Steam controller for functionality and customizability.

And leagues behind its DS4 for me for comfort. Elite feels great and as someone who gamed on PC with a 360 controller for years there is something about the DS4 that makes it a great controller. Not sure if its the button placement/size and responsiveness but something about it makes me think the xbox pad is a hunk of cheap derivative plastic.
 
DS4 is the best for me.

I don't like the Xbox One controller, the shoulder buttons are awkward to press. My fingers don't rest on them comfortably at all. Kinda surprising people think it's the best, imo.
 
Macros and it doubles as a mouse in a pinch.

How does the need to set up macros not make it objectively worse?

Most people just want to plug in a controller and go. It doesn't take a ton of time to set one up, but the lack of native prompts and inherent unreliability makes it a real hard sell as 'the best'.

Especially with something like the Elite on the market.
 
I wish more devs would allow selectable UI prompts in their games, it's a small feature, but makes it feel more PC like when you have a choice for that, games like Assassin's Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, Hotline Miami 2, etc, all allow this on PC to switch between Xbox and PlayStation prompts, and a lot of modders include the options for it in their work, but some studios just don't consider it.
 
Someone find me an Xbox controller that keeps the dual analogs but still finds a way to squeeze in 6 face buttons for Mega Drive/Saturn bestness. That will be my COTF.

Dawg, this is literally what I want. I've been scouting online stores for some bootleg controllers and I've never come across six face buttons on a twin stick pad of any type. Why has no one done this yet?

There was one a few years back. actually.
hori-pad-ex-turbo-2-xbox-360-wired-controller.jpg

Hori Pad Ex Turbo 2 <--- Best third party controllers in the market.
 
I'm going to let everyone in on a little secret: far fewer people would have paid attention to their little article if they had picked the obvious and correct answer: The Xbone controller.
 
DS4 with Xbox One controller sticks is pretty nice. Some games have native DS4 support with PS button maps. And when other games still display Xbox button maps on the screen, it really does not bother me. Remembering Square = X, Triangle = Y, Circle = B, and Cross = A isn't a big deal.
 
Extra drivers? Hard to set up? Come on people.

Download and install DS4Windows and you're up and running in under a minute. It's by far the most comfortable current gen controller which is why it was chosen.

C'mon son.

Xbox One standard or Elite IMO.
 
DS4windows makes using this controller on PC a breeze. After playing through Dark Souls 3 with it on PC, it has permanently replaced my Xbox360 PC controller.
 
There was one a few years back. actually.
hori-pad-ex-turbo-2-xbox-360-wired-controller.jpg

Hori Pad Ex Turbo 2 <--- Best third party controllers in the market.


My brother has this, but I don't really like the feel of it at all lol. Still, the layout is great for fighters, and my brother has no issues with it.
 
Even with driver issues, IMO the PS4 is definitely the best standard (ie not tricked-out) controller for PC. I keep falling in love with it again whenever I return to my ps4.

That said, the Xbox One Elite controller is - I would hazard to say - objectively the best mass-produced gaming controller ever made. If not certainly the best, it's definitely in the running.

So yeah, good picks for best controller and best upgrade (they usually give "best" to best bang-for-the-buck and "best upgrade" to all-round-best).
 
The Wirecutter doesn't run ads or do pay per click models.

They're interested in people visiting the site no matter what methodology they use for income. Hell, the site could operate at a pure loss as a hobby of a billionaire and they'd still want people to drive traffic to the site, otherwise they wouldn't make a website.
 
You plug it in. Still how it can be better than either Xbox controller when it's not natively supported is pretty suspect. Not to mention I think the Xbox controllers feels a million times better.

You literally plug it in and windows recognizes it as a generic gamepad. That's it.

DS4 Windows just adds extra goodies like Xbox controller mappings and using the touchpad as a mouse.
 
With that battery life? Lmao

Right?!

I liked the DS4 for my PC but once the X1 wireless receiver was released I swapped. Couldn't stand to charge it all the time, I ended up having a USB cable run across my living room. But I guess the average person doesn't play on the PC from their couch.
 
I still use a 360 pad for PC gaming, but I'll always break out the DS4 if I'm playing emulated Sony games or games that rely on the d-pad.
 
Seeing people shout at each other for apparently having the "Wrong" controller or that their opinion is wrong is funny, that's the joy of PC Gaming, you can use any controller you want as long as it connects, and luckily, current Xbox/PlayStation controllers connect fine, even the Wii U Pro Controller works! Let people use whatever controller they like, it's their freedom of choice here, people don't need to be told they're using the wrong one because you prefer a different option.
 
Right?!

I liked the DS4 for my PC but once the X1 wireless received was released I swapped. Couldn't stand to charge it all the time, I ended up having a USB cable run across my living room. But I guess the average person doesn't play on the PC from their couch.

off-topic, and I try not to do this to often, but


your avatar


lmao
 
It's an awesome controller, but there's no way it beats the X1 and especially the Elite.

What a marvelous feat of engineering that thing is.

I understand that it can double as a mouse, but in those situations I rather just use a mouse.
 
Agreed its the best, but I find myself using the Bone controller since I have the wireless adapter. If I could have it wireless it would be used exclusively.
 
Steam controller best by far. Best for gaming, best for HTPC, best for customization, most accurate and equal best battery life.
 
I use it but I would probably rather have something with a better battery life and proper prompts. The battery life on all my DS4s is maybe 4-5 hours. I usually have it plugged into a charger behind my chair it got so obnoxious. The prompts thing I am pretty much adjusted to but obviously would take actual button prompts.
 
It's funny how the DS4 is a better PC controller than a PS4 controller. Most PS4 games don't use the track pad for much, but you can set up all sorts of custom swipes and touches with it for games on PC. Never having to go into the radial menu in Witcher 3 to change signs is one example.
 
There was one a few years back. actually.
hori-pad-ex-turbo-2-xbox-360-wired-controller.jpg

Hori Pad Ex Turbo 2 <--- Best third party controllers in the market.
Nice. Sadly not wireless though, at least from that pic. Really surprised there hasn't been more, I'm kind of over the SNES-style 2x2 button layout... really messes with arcade games.
 
I love the DualShock 4 and all but when it comes to PC I'm all in on the Xbox One Elite Controller. If MS lets me macro keys to the thing instead of just other buttons it will be absolutely perfect.
 
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