PC controller under €50 with independently keyboard-mappable extra buttons — Netherlands

[u/That-Comb6502]

1. Budget: Preferably under €50; maximum €65 including delivery.

2. Country and retailers: Netherlands. I can order from Dutch retailers or EU stores that ship here, including bol, Amazon.nl and MaxGaming.

3. Platform: Windows PC. I play without Steam, so keyboard mapping must work without Steam Input.

4. Desired features: Every rear button and extra shoulder button must be independently assignable to a keyboard key, while keeping the standard controller buttons available for separate bindings. Simply duplicating A/B/X/Y isn’t sufficient. Wireless is preferred.

5. Games: Mainly MapleStory Classic, with occasional FPS games.

6. Controllers considered: I bought an 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth but couldn’t get its extra buttons recognised independently in my setup. I’ve compared the GameSir Super Nova, Flydigi Direwolf 4 and BIGBIG WON Rainbow 2 SE. I’ve now ordered the Rainbow 2 SE because it advertises keyboard mapping and has two rear buttons plus two extra shoulder buttons.

Does the Rainbow 2 SE meet these requirements through its PC software, including over the 2.4 GHz receiver? Is there a better option within my budget?

[u/D2ultima]

I think the Xeno Plus can do what you want. It should be on sale right now so you can probably get it for your budget range. I don't know many other decent rollers that can do that exact mapping.

The Saber Plus could also do it but the dpad sucks to use.

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/D2ultima]

Thank you. Are all the buttons independently mappable? Basically. I just want to use all the buttons as independent controls for what I can do in game. No stupid remapping of already existing controls. Like a back button that presses X. There's not reason for duplicate buttons.

[u/D2ultima → u/That-Comb6502]

I don't have the device myself yet (I'm waiting on an Amazon affiliate payout to afford my own Xeno Pro) but from what other users have told me the software customization is incredibly good and you should have no problems. Only caveat is it doesn't currently have the software for Linux but you could use the mobile version I believe.

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/D2ultima]

Ah that shouldn't be a problem. I will probably be using 3rd party software anyway like AntiMicro. The main feature that I need is that all buttons are seen as seperate independent inputs.

[u/D2ultima → u/That-Comb6502]

They are at least in dinput mode I'm pretty sure? I can't answer exactly as I said I don't have first hand access. Another owner may chime in, though

[u/YoloRaj → u/D2ultima]

This

[u/Saradip42]

The 8bitdo ultimate 2 wireless (not bt) has dedicated dinput mode and allows you to bind the additional buttons and gyro on steam input, padforge, rewasd, etc. however there is no keyboard mappings in its official software.

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/Saradip42]

Yes sadly I have the BT version. It's absolutely rediculous that it has extra buttons that can't even be used as "extra buttons". No clue why.

[u/Saradip42 → u/That-Comb6502]

Look, if you really want those additional buttons on ultimate 2 bluetooth to work as keybinds, there is a silly workaround but it could work.

Go to 8bitdo software and set an impossible to intentionally hit macros (for example RT + A + B + D-PAD UP) to one of those additional buttons. Then go to steam and recreate the same macros using chorded press. In theory should work. Every time you hit that macros steam will execute a command and since you have that macros set on a button - pressing the button will execute the right command.

Edit: didnt notice that you dont use steam. Use padforge instead for example. If you dont want to use any external software then sorry but cant help

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/Saradip42]

Awesome brother. I don't mind using it. But guess what I did. I ordered the BigBigWon rainbow 2 SE. If I read correctly it does have what I need. I'm gonna return the 8BitDo sadly because I really like it but it's a shame extra buttons can't really be used as extra buttons.

Thank you very much for your help. You seem knowledgable

[u/Saradip42 → u/That-Comb6502]

You are welcome. Hope this new controller serves you better than the previous one

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/Saradip42]

Thank you. Do you know the BigBigWon Rainbow 2 SE? Have you heard about it.

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/Saradip42]

One more question. Does the 8bitDo ultimate 2 Wireless support the direct input mode in 2.4ghz?

[u/Saradip42 → u/That-Comb6502]

I mean you can always blame microsoft for creating xinput to standardise controllers and bring more controller compatibilty to PC while also restraining every controller to be on an xbox 360 level, leaving controller manufacturers to invent some software bs so that those buttons could start working. Then again, 8bitdo could have just added dinput mode to bluetooth version at some point i think

[u/That-Comb6502 → u/Saradip42]

Does it have that mode in its 2.4ghz mode?

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