Setting up the XBox360 controller - kpa32/retropie-wiki-cn GitHub Wiki

Automatic Configuration (Easiest)

Xpad Driver:

With the recent kernel issues of xboxdrv rendering images unusable, there is an updated xpad driver which will work just as well for xbox controllers, its possible it may also support xbox One controllers.

You access the driver through Manage Packages >> Manage Driver Packages >> Xpad Driver and you'll install it from source. Reboot for good measure, reconfigure your controllers and the lights should work properly.

A complete working config (that was generated from the emulationstation configuration) is listed below at /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads/Xbox360WirelessReceiver(XBOX).cfg

input_device = "Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver (XBOX)"
input_driver = "udev"
input_r_y_plus_axis = "+4"
input_l3_btn = "9"
input_r_x_minus_axis = "-3"
input_l_btn = "4"
input_load_state_btn = "4"
input_start_btn = "7"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "7"
input_l_y_minus_axis = "-1"
input_up_btn = "13"
input_r_y_minus_axis = "-4"
input_a_btn = "1"
input_b_btn = "0"
input_reset_btn = "0"
input_down_btn = "14"
input_l_x_plus_axis = "+0"
input_l_y_plus_axis = "+1"
input_r_btn = "5"
input_save_state_btn = "5"
input_r2_axis = "+5"
input_r3_btn = "10"
input_right_btn = "12"
input_state_slot_increase_btn = "12"
input_x_btn = "3"
input_menu_toggle_btn = "3"
input_select_btn = "6"
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "6"
input_l_x_minus_axis = "-0"
input_y_btn = "2"
input_left_btn = "11"
input_state_slot_decrease_btn = "11"
input_r_x_plus_axis = "+3"
input_l2_axis = "+2"

Xboxdrv Driver

Note! There are known incompatibilities with this driver and the latest kernel, xpad will work best currently.

Access the RetroPie Setup Script and navigate to Manage Packages >> Manage Driver Packages >> xboxdrv

1. Enable xboxdrv: This will install the driver and add a start-up configuration in /etc/rc.local
2. Disable xboxdrv: This will disable the driver and remove the start-up configuration in /etc/rc.local
3. Set Number of Controllers To Enable: Default number of controllers is 2 (If you have more than two controllers, set this first before you enable xboxdrv)
4. Set Analog Stick Deadzone: Smaller number = more responsive, Larger number = less responsive.
5. Set dwc_otg.speed=1 in /boot/config.txt: May help if controller is being glitchy.
6. Remove dwc_otg.speed=1 from /boot/config.txt: Removes the config.

Note that if you have wireless controllers you will need a wireless receiver plugged into your raspberry pi (Official Microsoft xbox360 receiver, or knock offs like zettaguard, VicTsing also work), then to connect:

• press the button on the receiver
• then press the tiny wireless button on the top of the controller
• you may need to repeat for each controller

Controllers need to be turned on before the Pi boots in order to configure properly.

After you have enabled the driver and rebooted you'll need to reconfigure your controller(s) in emulationstation as described on the first installation page

Alternatively if you prefer you can manually install it..

Manual Configuration

RetroPie 3.3 contains a newer xboxdrv at /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv - which is preferable over the older Debian package. On older RetroPie images you can install the Debian package.

install it by running

sudo apt-get install xboxdrv

Then you must choose one of the 3 methods below

1 - Multiples instances of xboxdrv

You have to launch multiple instances of xboxdrv (one for each controller)

For example we can edit the file /etc/rc.local to start instances of xboxdrv during boot

Here is an example of what to insert in /etc/rc.local for 4 wireless pads (put this just before exit 0):

xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 0 --led 2 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
sleep 1
xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 1 --led 3 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
sleep 1
xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 2 --led 4 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
sleep 1
xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 3 --led 5 --deadzone 4000 --silent &

(replace the --wid by --id if you use wired controllers) You must swich-on your pads before booting the raspberry.

Notice the sleep 1 between each instance: this prevents the RPi from setting random controllers with random led status; adjust timing if necessary.

2 - Single command line

Another way is to specify this single command :

xboxdrv -D i 0 --next-controller -i 1 --next-controller -i 2 --next-controller -i 3 --deadzone 4000 --dbus disabled &

3 - init script

The third possibility, you can use an init.d script with the daemon -D Option. Save the follwing content to /etc/init.d/xboxdrv:

#! /bin/bash
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          xbox-controller
# Required-Start:    $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop:     $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
# Short-Description: Start XBOX Controller Service
# Description:       Start the xboxdrv daemon with several options
#                    support up to 4 Controllers
### END INIT INFO

# Author: MasteRehm

PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin
DESC="XBOX Controller Service"
NAME=xboxdrv
DAEMON=/usr/bin/$NAME
DAEMON_ARGS="-D -d --deadzone 4000 --dbus disabled --detach"
PIDFILE=/var/run/$NAME.pid
SCRIPTNAME=/etc/init.d/$NAME

# Exit if the package is not installed
[ -x "$DAEMON" ] || exit 0

# Read configuration variable file if it is present
[ -r /etc/default/$NAME ] && . /etc/default/$NAME

# Load the VERBOSE setting and other rcS variables
. /lib/init/vars.sh

# Define LSB log_* functions.
# Depend on lsb-base (>= 3.2-14) to ensure that this file is present
# and status_of_proc is working.
. /lib/lsb/init-functions

do_start()
{
        if [ $CONTROLLER_NUM -gt 4 ] ; then
                echo -e "\n$CONTROLLER"; exit 1;
        fi
        start-stop-daemon -S -q -x $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS $CONTROLLER

# -- This workaround only works with 4 controllers connected.  It also is creating a name that
# does not match the minor device node.

#        # Workaround: xboxdrv daemon creates /dev/input/js[4-7] device files, if /dev/input/js[0-3] created on startup.
#        if [ -x /usr/bin/rename ]; then
#                sleep 1
#                if [ `ls /dev/input/js*` =~ /dev/input/js[4-7] ](/kpa32/retropie-wiki-cn/wiki/-`ls-/dev/input/js*`-=~-/dev/input/js[4-7]-); then rename 's/js4/js0/;s/js5/js1/;s/js6/js2/;s/js7/js3/' /dev/input/js*; fi
#        fi

# Rather than renaming files, it's better to clear the existing ones by stopping the driver
# and then when you start it again, everything will be correct.

	sleep 3
	do_stop
	sleep 3
        start-stop-daemon -S -q -x $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS $CONTROLLER
}


do_stop()
{
    start-stop-daemon -K -o -q -x $DAEMON
    sleep 1
}

case "$1" in
  start)
    log_daemon_msg "Starting $DESC" "$NAME"
    do_start
     status=$?
    log_end_msg $status
    ;;
  stop)
    log_daemon_msg "Stopping $DESC" "$NAME"
    do_stop
     status=$?
    log_end_msg $status
    ;;
  status)
    status_of_proc "$DAEMON" "$NAME" && exit 0 || exit $?
    ;;
  restart)
    log_daemon_msg "Restarting $DESC" "$NAME"
    do_stop
    case "$?" in
      0|1)
        do_start
        case "$?" in
            0) log_end_msg 0 ;;
            1) log_end_msg 1 ;; # Old process is still running
            *) log_end_msg 1 ;; # Failed to start
        esac
        ;;
      *)
        # Failed to stop
        log_end_msg 1
        ;;
    esac
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: $SCRIPTNAME {start|stop|status|restart}" >&2
    exit 3
    ;;
esac

sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/xboxdrv
sudo update-rc.d xboxdrv start 90 2 3 4 5 stop 90 0 1 6
You will also need a default configuration file. Save the following content to /etc/default/xboxdrv:

# How many Controllers? (support up to 4 Controllers)
CONTROLLER_NUM=2

case $CONTROLLER_NUM in
    1) CONTROLLER="-w 0 -l 2 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button"
    ;;
    2) CONTROLLER="-w 0 -l 2 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 1 -l 3 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button"
    ;;
    3) CONTROLLER="-w 0 -l 2 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 1 -l 3 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 2 -l 4 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button"
    ;;
    4) CONTROLLER="-w 0 -l 2 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 1 -l 3 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 2 -l 4 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button --next-controller -w 3 -l 5 --trigger-as-button --dpad-as-button"
    ;;
    *) CONTROLLER="incorrect amount of controller specified"
    ;;
esac

To specifiy the amount of controller, edit the variable CONTROLLER_NUM. If you have a wired controller, replace all "-w" occurences with "-i".

It is generally advisable to use the daemon mode, 'cause it uses less CPU and RAM instead of several xboxdrv processes for each controller.

Xbox 360 controller glitchy?

According to this post it might help to add the line dwc_otg.speed=1to the file /boot/cmdline.txt.

Outdated optional manual configs

---

Xbox 360 Controller button configuration for retroarch and final burn alpha

/home/pi/RetroPie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg

#Player 1
input_player1_joypad_index = 0
input_player1_b_btn = 6
input_player1_a_btn = 4
input_player1_y_btn = 7
input_player1_x_btn = 5
input_player1_l_btn = 10
input_player1_r_btn = 11
input_player1_start_btn = 13
input_player1_select_btn = 12
input_player1_up_btn = 0
input_player1_down_btn = 1
input_player1_left_btn = 2
input_player1_right_btn = 3
input_exit_emulator_btn = 15
input_menu_toggle_btn = 16

#Player 2
input_player2_joypad_index = 1
input_player2_b_btn = 6
input_player2_a_btn = 4
input_player2_y_btn = 7
input_player2_x_btn = 5
input_player2_l_btn = 10
input_player2_r_btn = 11
input_player2_start_btn = 13
input_player2_select_btn = 12
input_player2_up_btn = 0
input_player2_down_btn = 1
input_player2_left_btn = 2
input_player2_right_btn = 3

input exit emulator to exit the emulator and return to emulationstation.input menu toggle to show the retroarch menu (e.g. to set the aspect ratio, save/load the game, etc.)

/home/pi/RetroPie/emulators/pifba/fba2x.cfg (or /opt/retropie/emulators/pifba/fba2x.cfg in some versions)

[Joystick]
A_1=4
B_1=5
X_1=6
Y_1=7
L_1=10
R_1=11
START_1=13
SELECT_1=12
#Joystick axis
JA_LR=0
JA_UD=1

#player 2 button configuration
A_2=4
B_2=5
X_2=6
Y_2=7
L_2=10
R_2=11
START_2=13
SELECT_2=12
#Joystick axis
JA_LR_2=0
JA_UD_2=1

Up to now, I didn't figure out, how to change the configuration from the analog sticks to the digipad. To exit the emulator, press START and SELECT together.

Alternate Controller Configurations

This is what makes the Xbox 360 controller the best for this project.

xboxdrv_player1.cfg

xboxdrv_player2.cfg

mouse.cfg

1. Copy necessary files: First, copy the files above to your pi. (Remove the .txt extension first of course.) I placed them in /usr/local/ but they could go anywhere.

2. Edit rc.local: Next, you need to edit rc.local so that xboxdrv uses the config files. There a few different possibilities depending on how you are instantiating xboxdrv, so be careful.

   2a. If you have this line:

    xboxdrv -D i 0 --next-controller -i 1 --next-controller -i 2 --next-controller -i 3 --deadzone 4000 --dbus disabled &
   

   change it to this:

    xboxdrv -D i 0  --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg --alt-config /usr/local/mouse.cfg --next-controller -i 1 --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player2.cfg --next-controller -i 2 --next-controller -i 3 --deadzone 4000 --dbus disabled &
   

   2b. If you have this line (generated by the xboxdrv install from retropie_setup.sh):

    "/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv" --daemon --detach --wid 0 --led 2 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button ---next-controller --wid 1 --led 3 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button --dbus disabled --detach-kernel-driver
   

   change it to this:

    "/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv" --daemon --detach --wid 0 --led 2 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg --alt-config /usr/local/mouse.cfg --next-controller --wid 1 --led 3 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player2.cfg --dbus disabled --detach-kernel-driver
   

   2c. Or, if you are using separate lines like this:

    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 0 --led 2 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 1 --led 3 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 2 --led 4 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 3 --led 5 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
   

   Edit them so that they look like this:

    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 0 --led 2 --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg --alt-config /usr/local/mouse.cfg --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 1 --led 3  --alt-config /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 2 --led 4 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
    sleep 1
    xboxdrv --trigger-as-button --wid 3 --led 5 --deadzone 4000 --silent &
   

3. File Permissions: The very last step is to make the .cfg files executable. So run these commands, changing them to reflect the location you placed the .cfg files.

    sudo chmod 754 /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg
    sudo chown pi:pi /usr/local/xboxdrv_player1.cfg
    sudo chmod 754 /usr/local/xboxdrv_player2.cfg
    sudo chown pi:pi /usr/local/xboxdrv_player2.cfg
    sudo chmod 754 /usr/local/mouse.cfg
    sudo chown pi:pi /usr/local/mouse.cfg
    sudo reboot
   

Now, whenever you press the xbox (guide) button on either controller 1 or 2, it will change the control scheme. For player 1, the controller starts up in normal mode. Hitting the xbox button will change to player1.cfg. Hitting it again will enable mouse emulation. One more time will bring back normal operation. Controller 2 cycles between normal operation and player2.cfg. Controllers 3 and 4 are uneffected.

Here's a little explanation of xboxdrv_player1.cfg (player2 is similar):

Interface    | Mapped to   | Atari 800/5200 |    Commodore   |
-------------------------------------------------------------
Right Analog | Arrow Keys  | Menu Nav       | Menu Nav        
Left Analog  | Mouse       | Movement       |                 
D-Pad        | Joystick    |                | Joystick port 2 
-------------------------------------------------------------
A Button     | Right Ctrl  |                | Fire            
B Button     | Num Pad 0   | Fire           | Fire            
X Button     | Enter       |                | Return          
Y Button     | Space       | Space          | Space           
-------------------------------------------------------------
L1 Button    | F4          | Start Game     |                 
R1 Button    | F7          |                |                 
L2 Button    | PAGEUP      |                |                 
R2 Button    | CAPSLOCK    |                | Start Game      
--------------------------------------------------------------
Start        | F1          | Menu           | Menu            
Back         | Esc         | Esc            | Esc  

---