HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact continues to be at the forefront of mobile gaming, and each new update is a testament to that. While a good chunk of the player base is still waiting for that Nintendo Switch release, some have instead made the Steam Deck their go-to device for playing GI. Although the Deck might not be as powerful as a mid-range PC, it’s still good enough to run GI at a stable FPS without compromising on performance. However, it seems like the game has some controller-related issues while running on the Steam Deck and that’s what we are going to help you with through this guide.
Like the Nintendo Switch, the developers at HoYoverse have yet to port the game to the Steam Deck. However, thanks to dual-booting, playing Genshin Impact on the Steam Deck is entirely possible. But this controller issue has become a frequent source of annoyance for many players. So, is there a fix for this one? Well, without much further ado, let’s go ahead and find out all about that.
Genshin Impact Steam Deck Controller not working: How to fix it?
Well, since there’s no official fix for this issue, players will have to make do with the following workarounds:
Set Controller in-game –
In case you didn’t know, you need to make the game use a controller via the in-game options. But first, you will need to set the Deck’s controls to Keyboard and Mouse by using the controller mapping. After that, launch the game and open the game’s Controller settings. You can now make Genshin Impact respond to a gamepad instead of a keyboard and mouse.
Add Genshin Impact as a Non-Steam Game –
For some players, adding Genshin Impact as a non-Steam game was what worked for them so try this. Basically, what you need to do is switch to Desktop Mode and then launch Steam. Click on the Add a Game option located at the bottom-left corner, then select Add a Non-Steam Game. Now all you need to do is browse and select Genshin Impact’s exe.
Use SWICD –
Another player suggested workaround is using SWICD to mitigate the problem. So what you need to do is head to this GitHub page and download the ViGEm Bus driver, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package, Steam Windows Controller Driver (SWICD), and Tetherscript Virtual HID Driver Kit. Once the download is complete, install all of them on the Deck. Don’t forget to close Steam during all of these. Next, head to Program Files (x86) > HID Virtual Device > Driver Signed. Now, uninstall both Joystick and Gamepad by running the uninstall bat file as admin.
You can now launch SWICD and then Genshin Impact. Once the game starts, head to Settings and change the controller type to controller/gamepad. Make sure to checkmark Mouse Movement Disabled and Button Disabled in SWICD’s Profile Settings. You can also set the touchpad’s emulated axis and activation button to none, as suggested by the player. And lastly, head to the button mapping section to set the Back buttons to none.
Use GlosSI –
Using GlosSI is also another workaround recommended by players. For this one, switch to Desktop Mode and then head to this website via your browser. Click on the Download Installer button and wait for the download to finish. After the download is complete, start the installation process. Once the installation is done, launch Steam and open Settings. Switch to Controller > General Controller Settings and enable Xbox Configuration Support. Now close the settings, click on Add A Game > Add a Non-Steam Game, and add GlosSI Target. Next, choose GlosSI-Target from your library and select Controller Layout. Edit your controller layout as you see fit and then close the window.
Now, type in GlosSI in the search bar and open it. Click the + button and select Add manually. You can now browse and add Genshin Impact. Save settings by clicking on Save and then click on the Add to Steam button. You will now be prompted to restart Steam. Do it and then once you launch Steam, you will find Genshin Impact for Windows 10/11 in your library. Set up your controller layout and start Genshin Impact.
Use Ayufan’s Steam Deck Tools –
Players can also make use of Ayufan to deal with this issue. Essentially, all you need to do is head to this GitHub page and download the latest version of Steam Deck Tools. After the download is complete, install SDT. Next, head to the SDT’s installation folder and find the controller.exe in there. Once you find it, install and run it. After that, right-click on the icon and change it to Xbox 360. Now, launch GI and change control to controller.
And that’s all the information we have on this issue. Additionally, if you want to know how to cook Energizing Bento in the game, take a look at this guide. And, for more such guides, keep following DigiStatement. Also read: Cassette Beasts Steam Deck controller not working: How to fix it?
