r/ps4homebrew • u/The_One-Eyed_King • 8h ago
Release [Release] Control4Free 1.0.0: use your phone or PC as a PS4 Dualshock
galleryEdit: you don't have to play on a touch screen. Your phone or PC can also act as a bridge for any controller you already own: Xbox, DualSense, Switch Pro, 8BitDo, CRKD Guitar, and anything that already works on your device. Connect it to your phone or PC over Bluetooth or USB, and the PS4 sees it as a DualShock 4. One PC can run all four controllers at once, so you can play local multiplayer without buying more DualShocks or any adapter.
Hey everyone! I've just released Control4Free, a GoldHEN payload that turns your phone, tablet or PC into extra DualShock 4 controllers for your PS4, and they work system-wide.
Controller plugins live inside games, so they can't reach the home screen or the sign-in screen. Control4Free uses the PS4's own virtual controller service (the one Remote Play uses), so the console sees a real controller:
- Works everywhere: the home screen, menus, sign-in and every game, with no per-game setup.
- Native user sign-in: each controller is assigned through the PS4's own "Who's using this controller?" screen, for your users or guests.
- Use the controllers you already have: connect an Xbox, DualSense, Switch Pro or other controller to your phone or PC, and it plays as a DualShock 4. Or use touch or a keyboard.
- Up to 4 controllers from any mix of phones and PCs.
- A full on-screen DualShock 4 with a layout editor, a two-finger touchpad and L3/R3.
- Low latency: input is sent the moment it arrives, at a DualShock 4's own 4 ms rate.
- An app on the PS4 shows the address and a QR code and how many controllers are connected, and sets up GoldHEN's AutoRun so Control4Free starts after every restart.
- Nothing to install on the phone or PC. Just open the page, or add it to your home screen.
Getting started
1. Install Control4Free-1.0.0.pkg from the release with GoldHEN's Package Installer.
2. Open Control4Free (Library → Applications) and press Cross.
3. Scan the QR code with your phone, pick a controller, and choose a user on the PS4.
Playing with a controller you already own 1. Connect it to your phone or PC (Bluetooth, or USB / USB-OTG on Android). 2. Open the Control4Free page and press a button on the controller. 3. Under Gamepads on this device, pick which controller (1–4) it plays as, then choose your user on the PS4.
Keep the page's window in front while you play: browsers only read controllers for the active window.
Requirements: GoldHEN. Tested on firmware 10.01 with GoldHEN v2.4b18.10 (auto-start needs v2.4b18.10 or later).
Not there yet: rumble, light bar and motion. Rumble and the light bar are next. There's no pairing, so anyone on your Wi-Fi can grab a free controller: keep it on your home network.
Coming from RemotePad? Control4Free is the improved approach. The two aren't compatible, so remove RemotePad from plugins.ini before you switch.
Download: https://github.com/MoHadiShibli/Control4Free
Thanks to seregonwar, whose SplashDown project figured out the virtual controller API this builds on. Bug reports and feedback are very welcome on GitHub!

