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

Still rocking my wired 360 pad. It's light, comfy to hold, good length cable and is damn near indestructible.

Tried the Steam Controller, realised it can't even compare, then went back to the 360 pad.
 
SpotAnime said:
Steam controller is good but only for Steam games. I think it was promised there would be support outsode of Steam but it hasn't been implemented yet. Try playing Battlefront or BF4 with a Steam Controller, it doesn't work. That's why for now it isn't the preferred option for me.
Click to expand...

Then what was I playing BF4 with last night?

You are mistaken, steam controller plays nicely with Origin, uPlay etc now. Not 100% sure about UWAs but that's pretty much a niche case.

Soren01 said:
Steam Controller works in all games?
Click to expand...

There's probably a few outliers that require workarounds but largely speaking, yes.
 
I got the Steam controller and never use it. I'm still waiting for a game that works perfectly with it. I use it then think to myself "I'd so so much better with a 360, PS4, or XBone controller". Yet I always have the urge to try the Steam controller.
 
No way.

Even as someone whos overwhelming majority of time is spent on a ps4, I always use xbox controllers on PC because 1) its completely hassle free, and 2) most games have its button prompts built in, devs expect you to use it.

The only way I could possibly see DS4 winning that comparison is if you just really cant stand the feel of the xbox controller. Feels fine to me, at least now that the bumpers are fixed. Before that though I prefered the 360 pad, so DS4 still didnt win my vote.
 
Lol no.

I would struggle to put the DS4 in a top 10 list whilst keeping a straight face. Nevermind it being the best.

Xbox Elite is by far the best gamepad on the market, with it's cheaper standard option being number 2. And the old 360 pad securing 3rd place.

For all the things Sony get right, they are hopeless when it comes to controllers.
 
Dee Dah Dave said:
Lol no.

I would struggle to put the DS4 in a top 10 list whilst keeping a straight face. Nevermind it being the best.

Xbox Elite is by far the best gamepad on the market, with it's cheaper standard option being number 2. And the old 360 pad securing 3rd place.

For all the things Sony get right, they are hopeless when it comes to controllers.
Click to expand...
Idk. I think the PS4 controller would come in third. That 360 dpad is atrocious.
 
Still rocking my wired 360 controller after all these years, and the Steam controller has grown on me but I only use it with the Link right now.
 
I love my DS4 and I use it for PC. If I had an Xbox one controller or Elite controller I would use it without question for PC games.
 
PS4 controller on PC here also. That said I don't play a lot of games on PC that require a controller (Dark Souls 1 PC sometimes is the most frequent)l, and emulated games.

Touchpad makes a good mouse substitute, d-pad is workable.

For the 360 crowd, are you not annoyed by the terrible d-pad? Or are you not playing games that need it?

I don't like the bumpers on the XBO controller much at all, and the d-pad is way too stiff/clicky.
 
To be honest, the DS4 wins for me not only because it has a real Dpad, but DS4Windows allows for a lot of customization with macros and such. In my eyes it's a weird mix of the Steam Controller (touchpad, macros), Xbox controller (xinput wrapper), and emulator controller (once again, because of the Dpad). It's so versatile, I love it.
The fact that it's an Anniversary Edition makes it even sweeter.
 
Smokey said:
Nope. X1 Elite controller is supreme.

Not having PS prompts in most games is enough to knock the DS4 down.
Click to expand...

They really like the Elite, but it's not something they'd recommend for most people due to the price.

It's the top upgrade pick.
 
Yup, it really is. The touch pad works wonders on PC. It's seriously an underrated gem that makes it blow any other controller out of the water.

Installing drivers is as easy as downloading DS4Windows and doing a simple install. It's just great all around.

The whole prompts thing is a non issue tbh. It's extremely easy to know what button means what on the DS4. It aint rocket science.
 
Wii U pro and Steam controller are both better options for me personally (have never tried xb1 elite), but any of the three major console controllers are great pc controllers. My main issue with ds4, ds3, besides the need for extra drivers and 360 prompts, is the same as for all the dual shocks - really poor d-pad. Dpad on 360 is unusable.
 
Salsa said:
* when it works easily sure

extra drivers, fuckin up on some multiplayer, 360 controller prompts?

makes it a nope
Click to expand...

When we were using both DS4s and XBOX ONE controllers for tournaments at my local scene, it's always been the XBOX controllers that have issue syncing. Last time we had to replace two XBOX controllers with DS4s while playing brawlhalla.

The DS4 tool app seems a lot better now, provided you have it running it's near enough a simple plug and play affair.
 
DS4? Is fine here and there for PC gaming but being it is not native it doesn't fall on my list.

I vote X1, X360 both mixed with Controller Companion to use them for mouse and keyboard features. Followed by the Steam Controller.
 
I tried the wired 360 controller and I just couldn't do it after getting used to the DS4, so I went and bought a Bluetooth dongle to make it more convenient.
 
The DS4 is the best overall controller I've ever used, but the ease of use on PC makes the XBO controller my practical pick. I wish I had $150 to spend on an Elite.
 
My personal favourite as well. I own a Steam Controller too but only tried it once and switched back to my DS4. It was just awkward to control third person games with that thing.

TatorTots said:
I can plug & play with the XB1 controller. That automatically makes it the best option.
Click to expand...

I can plug in and play with a DS4 too. Both wired and wireless. It's just as simple. Only thing I need is having DS4Windows running in the background (which is set to start minimized when my PC boots up).
 
Smokey said:
Nope. X1 Elite controller is supreme.

Not having PS prompts in most games is enough to knock the DS4 down.
Click to expand...

Why is this an issue? The buttons are all in the same place. This is only a problem if you need to look at the controller to know where the buttons are, and I seriously doubt any of us have to do that.
 
I'm finding that my DS4's constantly bend the end of USB leads and eventually my PC starts disconnecting the pad contantly if I move an inch, or sometimes for no reason at all. I've been through 15 leads, no exaggeration. Also had 5 DS4's in total so it's not been just the one that's faulty

Smokey said:
Nope. X1 Elite controller is supreme.

Not having PS prompts in most games is enough to knock the DS4 down.
Click to expand...

Took me about 3 months to get used to the promts, now it's like a sixth sense. Also most high profile games have mods for DS4 prompts within days
 
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