Awesome
XOutput
If you have an older or not supported game controller (gamepad, wheel, joystick, etc.), but XBox 360 controllers are supported you can use this software and enjoy gaming with your controller.
XOutput is a software that can convert DirectInput into XInput. DirectInput data is read and sent to a virtual XInput (Xbox 360 Controller) device. XInput is the new standard game controller input on windows, and DirectInput can no longer be used with Universal Windows Platform software, but with this tool you can use DirectInput devices as well.
General information
To join the discussion or just say hi, there is a discord channel.
This application is deprecated as the emulation softwares it used are no longer supported. This version is unreleased. Please use 3.x version for the latest version
Version | State | Support |
---|---|---|
4.x | No releases | Unreleased |
3.x | Unsupported | Expired at Dec 3 2024 |
2.x | Old version (superseeded by 3.x) | Expired at Mar 7 2018 |
1.x | Old version (superseeded by 3.x) | Expired at Mar 7 2018 |
How to install
Install emulation software
Install one of the two libraries. ViGEm (preferred) or SCPToolkit (unsupported, legacy)
Software | State | Download |
---|---|---|
ViGEmBus | Deprecated since Nov 2, 2023 | ViGEmBus |
ScpToolkit | Deprecated since Mar 20, 2023 | ScpToolkit |
Install dependencies
Install:
- DirectX (any version that contains dinput8.dll)
- all the drivers for your controllers
- .NET 7 ASP.NET and Desktop runtime
- if you have issues, install the official XBox 360 controller drivers.
Download XOutput
- Download the latest stable release
- Unzip to any directory
How to upgrade
Download the application:
- Download the latest stable release
- Unzip to the same directory as before
- If there are errors, remove the existing
conf
directory
Hiding original input (exclusive mode)
Software | State | Download |
---|---|---|
HidHide | Active development | HidHide |
HidGuardian | Deprecated since Jul 27, 2023 | HidGuardian |
HidGuardian setup
Affected devices and whitelist can be managed by the application, but it needs administrator priviledges.
- Enable HidGuardian initialization in the settings.
- Restart the application as administrator.
- Add device to affected devices in the input settings.
- Reconnect device or reboot PC
Add affected device manually (use this method only, if you want to hide non recognized HID devices):
- Run
regedit
and go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidGuardian\Parameters
- Create
multi-string
value with the nameAffectedDevices
- Open Device Manager, find your input device and open properties
- Go to details, select
Hardware ID
and copy string that looks likeHID\VID_046D&PID_C219&REV_0200
andHID\VID_046D&PID_C219
- Paste the values into
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidGuardian\Parameters
- Reconnect devices or reboot PC
Manage process whitelist manually (use this method only, if you want to use HidGuardian for other applications):
- Start XOutput (or any other application)
- Open Task Manager, find your application, then go to details.
- Remember the value of the PID column.
- Run
regedit
and go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidGuardian\Parameters\Whitelist
- Create subkey with the PID you found before.
Technical problem
Problem visualisation
graph TD
subgraph XInput
X1(Xbox controller 1) -->|Read hardware input| XD[Xbox controller driver - xusb22.sys]
X2(Xbox controller 2) -->|Read hardware input| XD
XD -->|Read input| XR[XInput handler - xinput1_3.dll]
end
subgraph DirectInput
D1(fa:fa-gamepad Older controller) -->|Read hardware input| D1D[Controller driver]
D2(Joystick) -->|Read hardware input| D2D[Joystick driver]
D3(Gaming wheel) -->|Read hardware input| D3D[Gaming wheel driver]
D1D -->|Read input| DR[Direct input handler - dinput8.dll]
D2D -->|Read input| DR
D3D -->|Read input| DR
end
subgraph Games
XR -->|Read XInput| NG[Newer games]
XR -->|Read XInput| CG[Compatible games]
DR -->|Read DInput| CG[Compatible games]
DR -->|Read DInput| OG[Older games]
end
Offered solution
graph TD
subgraph XInput
X1(Xbox controller 1) -->|Read hardware input| XD[Xbox controller driver - xusb22.sys]
X2(Xbox controller 2) -->|Read hardware input| XD
XD -->|Read input| XR[XInput handler - xinput1_3.dll]
end
subgraph DirectInput
D1(fa:fa-gamepad Older controller) -->|Read hardware input| D1D[Controller driver]
D2(Joystick) -->|Read hardware input| D2D[Joystick driver]
D3(Gaming wheel) -->|Read hardware input| D3D[Gaming wheel driver]
D1D -->|Read input| DR[Direct input handler - dinput8.dll]
D2D -->|Read input| DR
D3D -->|Read input| DR
end
DR -->|Read DInput| XOA[XOutput.App]
subgraph Solution
DR -->|Read HTML5 gamepad API| B[Browser]
B -->|Browser| XOS[XOutput.Server]
XOA -->|Sends input| XOS[XOutput.Server]
XOS -->|Control emulation| V[ViGEm]
end
V -->|Emulate controller| XD
subgraph Games
XR -->|Read XInput| NG[Newer games]
XR -->|Read XInput| CG[Compatible games]
DR -->|Read DInput| CG[Compatible games]
DR -->|Read DInput| OG[Older games]
end
How it works
Component | Implementation | Description |
---|---|---|
Device emualation | ViGEm | External software that emulates XBox and DS4 controllers |
Device emualation | SCP toolkit | Legacy external software that emulates XBox controllers |
Backend | XOutput.Server | Server that collects data from clients and sends to the emulation software |
Client | XOutput.App | Desktop application that collects data from the devices and sends to the backend |
Client | Web controller | Web application that allows to emulate a device |
Client | Web client | Web application that uses the Gamepad API |