Controller Support Overview

What is RetroDev.Controller?

RetroDev.Controller is a unified game controller input system for Unity. It provides pre-mapped input configurations for PlayStation, Xbox, and generic controllers, making it incredibly easy to add professional controller support to your game.

Get RetroDev.Controller here:

Download Controller →

Why RetroDev.Controller?

Unity’s input system requires manual button mapping for every controller type. RetroDev.Controller comes with pre-built input maps for all major controllers, letting you add controller support in minutes instead of hours.

The Problem It Solves

Supporting multiple controller types means dealing with different button layouts and input names:

Before RetroDev.Controller:

// Different input names for each controller type
if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.JoystickButton0)) { // What button is this??
    // PlayStation Circle? Xbox A? Generic Button1?
}

// You need to manually map each controller's buttons
// And handle platform-specific differences

With RetroDev.Controller:

// Clear, semantic button names
if (Input.GetKey(PlayStation.Circle)) {
    Debug.Log("Circle pressed on PlayStation");
}

if (Input.GetKey(Xbox.A)) {
    Debug.Log("A pressed on Xbox");
}

Key Features

Pre-Mapped Controllers

Built-in support for PlayStation, Xbox, and generic controllers with semantic button names.

Auto-Detection

Detect which controller is connected and initialize the appropriate button mappings automatically.

Readable Code

Use PlayStation.Cross, Xbox.A, or Generic.ActionSouth instead of cryptic JoystickButton0.

Cross-Platform

Works consistently across Windows, Mac, Linux, and consoles.

Supported Controllers

PlayStation Controllers

All PlayStation button names:

• PlayStation.Cross, Circle, Square, Triangle
• PlayStation.L1, L2, R1, R2
• PlayStation.DPadUp, DPadDown, DPadLeft, DPadRight
• PlayStation.Options, Share, PS, Touchpad

Xbox Controllers

All Xbox button names:

• Xbox.A, B, X, Y
• Xbox.LB, LT, RB, RT
• Xbox.DPadUp, DPadDown, DPadLeft, DPadRight
• Xbox.Menu, View, Xbox

Generic Controllers

Universal button names for any controller:

• Generic.ActionSouth, ActionEast, ActionWest, ActionNorth
• Generic.ShoulderLeft, TriggerLeft, ShoulderRight, TriggerRight
• Generic.Start, Select

How It Works

1. Detection

bool controllerConnected = Controller.DetectConnectedController();
if (controllerConnected) {
    Debug.Log("Controller detected and mapped!");
}

2. Get Button Names

// Get the Unity input name for a button
string crossButton = Controller.GetButtonName("Cross");
// Returns the actual Input name Unity uses

3. Use Pre-Mapped Inputs

// Direct button checks with semantic names
if (Input.GetKey(PlayStation.Circle)) {
    Jump();
}

if (Input.GetKey(Xbox.A)) {
    Jump();
}

Common Use Cases

Multi-Platform Support:

void HandleJumpInput() {
    if (Input.GetKeyDown(PlayStation.Cross) ||
        Input.GetKeyDown(Xbox.A) ||
        Input.GetKeyDown(Generic.ActionSouth)) {
        player.Jump();
    }
}

Dynamic Button Prompts:

void UpdateButtonPrompts() {
    if (Controller.DetectConnectedController()) {
        string jumpButton = Controller.GetButtonName("Cross");
        promptText.text = $"Press {jumpButton} to jump";
    }
}

Controller-Specific Features:

void CheckControllerType() {
    // PlayStation-specific features
    if (Input.GetKey(PlayStation.Touchpad)) {
        OpenMap();
    }

    // Xbox-specific features
    if (Input.GetKey(Xbox.Menu)) {
        OpenMenu();
    }
}

When to Use RetroDev.Controller

Perfect for:

• Games with gamepad support
• Cross-platform controller compatibility
• Console game ports
• Couch co-op games
• Any game better with a controller

You might not need it if:

• Your game is keyboard/mouse only
• You’re using Unity’s new Input System package
• You only support one specific controller type

Platform Differences

Input Variations

Controller input names can vary slightly between platforms (Windows vs Mac vs Linux). RetroDev.Controller handles these differences automatically, but always test on your target platforms.

Combining with Keyboard

RetroDev.Controller works alongside keyboard input:

void HandleInput() {
    // Keyboard
    if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.Space)) {
        Jump();
    }

    // Controller
    if (Input.GetKey(PlayStation.Cross) || Input.GetKey(Xbox.A)) {
        Jump();
    }
}

Generic vs Specific

Use Generic mappings when you want controller-agnostic code:

// Works with any controller type
if (Input.GetKey(Generic.ActionSouth)) {
    // This is Cross on PlayStation, A on Xbox, Button0 on others
    ConfirmAction();
}

Use specific mappings when you need brand-specific features or prompts.

Getting Started

Ready to add professional controller support? Check out the Quick Start guide for complete setup instructions and examples.