I recently switched from Windows 11 to CachyOS about two weeks ago, hoping to repurpose my gaming setup entirely for Linux. Initially, everything was going well—I managed to play Zenless Zone Zero using the HoYoPlay Launcher after figuring out Wine and Proton. But out of the blue, my controller stopped getting recognized by the game. It's odd because I can't remember changing any settings or configurations. Despite my background as a web developer with 30 years of experience building and using computers, I'm stuck and could really use some guidance.
My setup includes an AMD 5800X3D processor, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and an Nvidia 3080TI, and I'm using an MSI Force GC30 V2 controller, which Linux detects as an Xbox 360 controller when plugged in. Here's what I've already tried: I confirmed in the Game Controller app that the signals from my controller are detected by Linux, I tried a different Xbox and PS4 controller with no luck in-game, I switched between different Wine and Proton versions, ensured I'm in the input group, and even reinstalled the game multiple times. I'm exhausted after trying all this—any suggestions?
4 Answers
You also mentioned that the controller was recognized initially. Sometimes simply resetting the game or the system can help if it suddenly stopped working. Have you given that a go?
Have you tried connecting your receiver to a different USB port? I recommend using one of the ports on the back of your PC. Sometimes the front ones can act up with certain devices.
Funny enough, I found that a native Linux game I played, Asteroid Shooter, had no controller issues at all. Maybe the problem is specific to how the other games are set up rather than your controller hardware?
Have you considered the possibility that Flatpak permissions might be affecting your game's ability to recognize the controller? It could be worth checking if you launched the game through Flatpak and adjusting the permissions accordingly.
That’s a good point! I’m not entirely sure if Flatpak is being used since I originally installed the game through Heroic. I've since added it through Steam as a Non-Steam game, but I can get input feedback in Steam settings. How do I check those permissions?
I did try moving the receiver to another port, but I noticed the same issue. I get feedback in the Game Controller app, but it doesn’t work in any games. Thanks for the tip!