It's no secret that many gamers who are fans of the Xbox game console quite often cannot afford to buy an original branded gamepad, preferring to do with cheaper devices, for example, Chinese-made ones. But the main problem, lurking for all users without exception, is that such devices may simply not work, and reflashing them is a matter that is obviously doomed to failure. Here questions arise about how to programmatically replace the Xbox One gamepad for PC in order to use a completely different device for comfortable passing games. To do this, you can use a special emulator program, which is known on the Internet as the Xbox 360CE (CE - Controller Emulator).
The essence of using the Xbox 360 gamepad emulator for PC
This software, as its name implies, is a software environment that, as it were, deceives both the system and the game that is started when a non-original device is connected. Allegedly, almost all well-known devices of even unknown manufacturers can work with the Xbox gamepad emulator for PC. But the main emphasis in the program itself is on ensuring that the user has the opportunity to configure all the buttons independently, determining for them the implementation of the necessary actions. However, when setting up the connected device, you will have to pay attention to some important points, which will be described below. But to change the purpose of the buttons in the case of connecting the original gamepad or joystick in this program does not work, so you can not even try. In addition, if the games themselves have a predefined Denuvo protection, emulation may not work. Finally, the described utility does not support wireless devices working via Bluetooth, and the emulator cannot be used for gamepads based on the Unity engine or for connecting joysticks from Playstation consoles, and of any modification.
Download emulator
Of course, you can download the Xbox 360 gamepad emulator for PC on the Internet (not even on official resources). Keep in mind that the Russian-language version of the program does not exist at all, and the downloadable distribution package itself is usually downloaded as an archive, after unpacking which you do not need to install the application (it is made as a portable version). Another mandatory requirement is that the system has the latest version of the .NET framework and the Visual C ++ platform (depending on the modification of the operating system), as well as the DirectX End-User Runtime executable environment. If these components are not installed, the emulator will give an error and will not function.
After downloading the archive with the main program for emulating the Xbox One gamepad for PC, you need to unpack it to any place, but not to the folder with the game that you intend to run! In addition, for systems with a bit capacity of 64 bits, it is completely unnecessary to download software with the same architecture, since it is possible to get by with the 32-bit version, which, according to users, works much more stable. However, in some cases, you can use the Xbox 360 gamepad emulator for PC 64 bits and try experimenting with the settings (especially since for 32 bits the parameters are also there).
First start
So, the archive is unpacked. Now is the time to start the main software.
Immediately, note that it is built in such a way that the executable requires mandatory launch on behalf of the administrator. Even if you disable the built-in super-administrator account in the system.
Do I need to install the original Xbox 360 gamepad driver for the PC or device used instead?
At the first start of the program, it will immediately automatically detect the connected device and, if necessary, require the installation of its driver. In principle, you can download the appropriate control software for it in advance (for example, if the operating system does not detect the device on its own when connected even before using emulation of the Xbox One gamepad for PC). A driver is not needed for the original device, since it is already in the system in a predefined form. But keep in mind that using the described application for both original and third-party devices is simultaneously impossible in principle.
We assume that the driver is installed and the gamepad itself is connected.
In the main window of the program, the correct connection will be indicated by the presence of a green square on the tab of the first controller (Controller 1). The presence of gray indicates that the device is not connected, red indicates a connection error. If the window for defining a new device appears, click the Cancel button.
Button and sensitivity settings
Below are the buttons for reconfiguring the buttons. They are “tied” to a virtual controller in the center of the window.
To configure, use the Record drop-down menu item, and then perform the desired action on the selected button or turn the stick in the desired direction. In the Thumb (Left / Right) sections of the menu, the Xbox One PC Gamepad emulation program allows you to configure the desired sensitivity.
For more comfortable use of buttons and sticks, set the Sensitivity to about 50%. In the Force Feedback section, you can experiment with vibration feedback settings, however, using this effect very often leads to freezing of games. In this case, it is better to uncheck the checkbox from the point of using this parameter.
Configuring the launch of the game in different versions of the emulator
Finally, we come to the most important moment. To configuring the replacement of the original game call files.
In earlier versions of the emulator and the unpacked archive, you must copy x360ce files of the EXE and INI formats directly to the directory with the game being launched. As well as the dynamic-link library xinput1_3 of the DLL format
In a later modification, in addition, you need to specify the path to the executable file for starting the game directly in the emulator application, for which the Add ... button on the top panel is pressed, and the desired EXE-format object is specified for the path. The game will appear on the list. If this did not happen, most likely you selected the wrong folder or indicated a link, for example, to a shortcut, instead of the executable file. Then, on the right, select all the items corresponding to the 32-bit settings, and be sure to save the changes by clicking the Save button. After that, you can start the game. If at first you hear the characteristic greeting sound, it means that everything works as expected, and the settings are set correctly. In case of errors with setting 32-bit parameters for the 64-bit version, change them accordingly and restart the game.
If something doesn’t work, try changing the settings in the upper right block one by one, remembering to save the changes and restart the game each time.
Note: for convenience, in the emulator on the Default Settings for Most Popular Games tab there are parameters for most popular games (as the name of the tab implies), therefore, in order not to deal with their installation manually, you can simply select the game you need.