Mintrocket’s Dave the Diver is making waves and garnering positive reviews. The game is simple; you get to explore the depths of the sea and hunt for resources. But that is not all; after you are done with it, you get to run your very own restaurant, serving sushi and all kinds of delicacies. The game was released on June 28, 2023, for PC after being in early access since October of 2022. Now, the Steam page for the game mentions “Full Controller Support”. Seeing this, you might have thought of playing the game using your controllers. After all, a game so addictive will require a couch for you to sink in. And if you are to do that, you will need to use a controller to play the game. But what if the controller stops working? No wonder your gaming session will be halted. The next logical step is to look for a fix. But are there any available yet? Well, that is what we will be discussing in this article.
Now, let us talk about the issue a little. So, players have reported that their controllers are not working in the game, as the device is not even being detected. And that is not all; this issue is not limited to one platform. Yes, you heard that right! It is affecting players on both Mac and PC. What’s even worse is that players have tried different workarounds, all to no avail. This, of course, has left the players frustrated and in search of a fix. So, what is next? Well, keep reading to find out if any potential fix exists for this issue.
Dave the Diver Controller/Gamepad Not Working Issue: Is there any fix yet
To begin with, the good news is that the developers have actually acknowledged the issue! If you did not know, a hotfix was released recently for Dave the Diver, which, according to the developers, has addressed all the issues related to controller support. But what if the issue still persists in your system? Well, in that case, you can try some of the potential workarounds that worked for a lot of players before the hotfix was released. But before you move ahead with the potential fixes, just keep in mind that they are potential workarounds and therefore not guaranteed to work for everyone.
Update the game
As we mentioned earlier, the devs did release a hotfix for the issue, and fortunately, it solved the problem for a lot of players. So, if you have not updated your game yet, now is the correct time to do so. Just visit the Downloads tab in Steam and check if an update is available for Dave the Diver. Download and install the latest update, and then launch the game. Hopefully, the hotfix will work for you as well, and you’ll be able to enjoy the game with your gamepad or controller. If updating the game doesn’t solve the issue for you, then move on to the other fixes mentioned below.
Check Steam Input settings
This is another popular workaround for this error. Some players have found success by disabling Steam Input in the Steam client settings. By turning off this feature, they were able to play the game using their controllers. So consider doing the same. This workaround was also suggested by the developers.
Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode
This is yet another effective workaround that you can try. To do this, just open the Steam Client on your PC. Now, click on the “View” menu at the top of the Steam client window. From the drop-down menu, select “Big Picture Mode”. Now, in Big Picture Mode, launch the game and check whether the controller works. The idea is that big picture mode provides a more console-like interface optimized for controller input. So, try this and see if your controller starts working in the game.
For Xbox controller users
If you are using an Xbox controller to play the game on your PC, install the “Xbox Accessories” app from the Microsoft Store. After that, connect your Xbox controller to your PC using a USB cable. Now, open the Xbox Accessories app, click on the three dots at the bottom, and check for controller firmware updates. If any such updates are available, make sure to download and install them. You can then start the game and see if the controller starts working.
For PlayStation and other controllers
PS5 controller users on PC can try using software like “reWASD” or “DS4 Windows” to fix any incompatibility issues with the game. Installing and configuring the controller via these applications will hopefully get rid of any errors restricting the controller’s functioning in the game. However, keep in mind that using a third-party application can sometimes do more harm than good. So, if this does not solve the issue, don’t forget to uninstall the application from your system.
Disconnect other peripherals
Now, if you have multiple devices connected to your PC, e.g., if you have any extra joysticks, controllers, keyboards, or racing wheels connected, make sure to disconnect them. Also, unplug any unused USB adapters. If you have any virtual controllers connected, consider disabling or uninstalling them before launching the game. Try these steps and then launch the game to see if that solves the issue for you.
Reinstall
Last but not least, if none of the above-mentioned workarounds work for you, all that is left to do is uninstall the game completely and then reinstall it again. Hopefully, a fresh installation will address all the underlying issues.
Steam Deck has problems too
The same issue was reported by another player playing Dave the Diver on Steam Deck. According to the player, the controller they used worked in every game on the Steam Deck except Dave the Diver. The workaround suggested was to access the controller settings by clicking on the controller icon located to the right of the “PLAY” button in the Steam library. From there, selecting the recommended template and applying the layout fixed the issue, allowing the controller to work properly in the game.
And there you have it, that is all the information we have on the controller not working issue in Dave the Diver. We hope this guide was of some assistance. For more helpful guides like this, make sure to follow Digistatement. Read more: Dave the Diver Best Taste Ranking: How to Get it?
