Implement 3rd party controller feature detection
See original GitHub issueDescribe the bug
Currently DS4Windows uses a hardcoded VIDPID list for DS4-like controllers. However what PS4 did officially for those controllers is using the GET REPORT 0x03 to detect the controller presence and their features. The format is partially reversed (and mostly focusing on main controllers instead of steering wheels or guitars) and I’m still working on it. More info on that coming soon.
With this implemented, most licensed controllers (and their knockoffs) should be able to plug-and-play without a VIDPID list of what works and what does not.
To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
- Plug in a controller that has VID and PID DS4Windows doesn’t recognize (e.g. Raspberry Pi with this running)
- Start DS4Windows
- Controller is not recognized
Expected behavior
These controllers should be recognizable with the correct feature automatically used/avoided by DS4Windows.
Screenshots and Logs
Probably not necessary since there’s nothing useful in it.
Desktop (please complete the following information):
- Controller Make and Model: Other 3rd party licensed PS4 controller or their knockoffs.
- OS: Windows 10 20H2
- DS4Windows Version [e.g. 3.0.3]: 3.0.13
Issue Analytics
- State:
- Created 2 years ago
- Comments:8 (2 by maintainers)

Top Related StackOverflow Question
Users need to understand that it is not the responsibility of people like @Ryochan7 to provide free fixes for screwed up firmware of counterfeit hardware manufacturers who themselves couldn’t give less of a damn about helping community software flourish. They produce that ASIC crap as cheap as possible and invest into
scammingtricking customers into thinking it’s legit hardware and then offload all the issues to someone else, like us. No, just a big fat no. If you buy counterfeit hardware, you support these clowns and make our lives miserable by flooding pointless support requests. Stop giving these leeches your money and stop opening issues about it. My two cents.Well I mostly have a love-hate relationship with those bootleggers. Sure they cause a lot of problems and redirect the blames, but they also provided cheap 90% OK clones that I can potentially repurpose (swapping PCBs, etc.) or gave insights on how some “less known” parts of the controller really work. Ironically due to lack of quality control and thus security it’s sometimes easier to hack them and get the firmware than official controllers. Again this is uncertain since they are bootlegs but they more or less widen the attack surface.
But still bottom line: this has nothing to do with consumers. Consumers should be informed and stop buying knockoff peripherals.