Disclaimer

The original repo was made by ChatGPT but this fork has been modified using Copilot. Sorry if it's messy.

This fork has been modified for multicontroller support and hotplugging.

Description

I wanted a tool that works systemwide for any game so I don't always have to rely on SteamInput/Bottles/Lutris. Works wired and via Bluetooth. Works for PS4 and PS5 controller.

It in general reads the raw input from the PS controllers and sends it as a virtual controller in uinput (xinput), which I needed especially in older games which don't support DirectInput at all.

It only works for one active controller!

It works with multiple active controllers. Tested on two.

Requirements

packages

• python3
• python3-dev
• python3-venv
• python3-pyudev (for hotplug support)

pip

• python_uinput
• evdev

system

• bluetoothctl
  • for disconnecting the controller via (PS + Start) combination

dependency installation

Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-dev python3-venv python3-pyudev

Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
sudo dnf install python3 python3-pip python3-pyudev sbctl zstd

Arch

sudo pacman -S python python-pip python-pyudev

Installation

Regular distros

Clone repo

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/alphaxleonidas/DualShock-uinput.git

Create a python virtual environment

python3 -m venv ~/.venv

Update pip

~/.venv/bin/pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel

Install the dependencies manually or with the requirements.txt file

~/.venv/bin/pip install -r ~/DualShock-uinput/requirements.txt

Create udev rules file

sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/99-psinput.rules

and add

KERNEL=="uinput", MODE="0660", GROUP="input"

Add user to input group

sudo usermod -aG input $USER

Load uinput module

sudo modprobe uinput

Reload udev rules

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger

For NixOS

---------------------------

Add these to your flake module or configuration.nix (no arguments needed in the module function header for either except { ... } at the top.

Add udev rules:

  services.udev.extraRules = ''
    KERNEL=="uinput", MODE="0660", GROUP="input"
  '';

Add "input" to extraGroups of your user. Replace <username> with our username:

  users.users.<username> = {
  
    extraGroups  = [
      "input"  
    ];
  };

Rebuild

Go to requirements.txt and comment the line evdev==1.9.2. It is being declared in shell.nix.

Commands to Run:

cd ~/DualShock-uinput
nix-shell
python ds4-uinput.py

For desktop entry:

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/applications
nano ~/.local/share/applications/ds4-uinput.desktop

Add this:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=DualShock Multiplayer
Comment=Run DualShock uinput multiplayer script
Exec=nix-shell --run "python ds4-uinput.py"
Path=/home/<username>/DualShock-uinput
Terminal=false
Categories=Game;Utility;

Replace <username> with your username

chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/ds4-multiplayer.desktop

To make it an executable. Run from the AppMenu

---

Usage

Steps:

• Connect you PS4/PS5 controller first via USB or Bluetooth, then run the script

~/.venv/bin/python ~/DualShock-uinput/ds4-uinput.py

as the script looks for the controller directly on start else the script will just stop with an error. Now supports hot plugging.

Disconnect

To disconnect from bluetooth, use (PS + Start)

Creating an App Entry

Steps:

Instead of running the command, you can create a launch script which will appear in the App Menu.

nano ~/.local/share/applications/ds4-uinput.desktop

Add this to the file:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=DualShock Multiplayer uinput
Comment=Run DualShock DS4 input script with Hot plugging support
Exec=/home/YOURUSERNAME/.venv/bin/python /home/YOURUSERNAME/DualShock-uinput/ds4-uinput.py
Type=Application
Icon=input-gaming
Terminal=false
Categories=Utility;Game;
Keywords=ds4;dualshock4;controller;dualsense;sense;

Replace YOURUSERNAME in the Exec line with your username, so both the paths becomes correct.

Now make this desktop entry an executeable:

chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/ds4-uinput.desktop

Now logout and relogin into a new session. You will see DualShock Multiplayer uinput in the appmenu. Now connect your DualShock or DualSense and run the DualShock Multiplayer uinput from the appmenu.

Autostart on login

cp ~/.local/share/applications/ds4-uinput.desktop ~/.config/autostart/

Additional Infos

• No vibration / force feedback
• The PS button is a separate button that you can map, for example in AntiMicroX
• In the config.py file you can change the deadzone of each stick, the name of the controller and if you want to be able to use the (PS + Start) combo to disconnect the controller.
• ds4-uinput.py is for hotplugging support.

Issues

• After first connecting, the system automatically registers up+forward input from the controller. Which resolves after moving the Left and Right Analogue Sticks.
• The kernel module needs to be signed each time you update your kernel. Only for secure boot

Signing the Module: Guide