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Everything you need to know about the Stalker 2’s controller not working error on PC, including possible fixes, reasons, and more.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s PC launch was admittedly less than ideal, with the game shipping with a myriad of technical issues. Although developer GSC Game World did promise fixes in the future, currently the game is far from its best state. One of the biggest issues many players have been reporting since the game’s release is its lack of proper controller support. The controller issue is mostly experienced by players who are trying to play Stalker 2 with a non-Xbox gamepad, i.e., DualSense, Switch Pro Controller, etc. There are also a few reports of the same issue experienced by players using an Xbox controller, as such, it’s not an error entirely exclusive to third-party gamepads.
GSC Game World recently did announce that the first major update is due for arrival in a few days. The patch does include fixes for the myriad of controller and input-related issues in the game. However, until the patch is live, you can try these few fixes to potentially fix the controller not working issue in Stalker 2’s PC port.
Possible Fixes for Controller Not Working Error in Stalker 2
Surprisingly enough, Stalker 2 isn’t the only game in 2024 with controller-related issues. Recent PC releases like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 also shipped with controller issues on Steam. Thankfully, for a majority of players, the controller issues usually amount to either a faulty wireless connection or outdated drivers. Windows and Bluetooth, despite all the advancements in wireless technology, still don’t gel together all that well. If you’re using a wireless controller connected to your PC via Bluetooth, you should try using a wired connection to see if that fixes the issues you are facing with Stalker 2, or not.
Another major reason why controllers often don’t work with most PC games is due to driver mismatch. Both Xbox and PlayStation release regular updates for their controller firmware. While the easiest way to update those proprietary controllers is to pair them to their corresponding consoles, it’s also possible to do the same using just your PC. Another major reason for controllers not working on Steam games is Steam Input. While Steam Input is meant to make connecting controllers easier, sometimes it can also cause issues in games. This is especially true for games that ship with native controller support.
Here are a few things that you can try to potentially fix the controller issues in Stalker 2:
Update Controller Drivers
Updating controller drivers is a straightforward process, especially for Xbox and PlayStation controllers. For Xbox One or Series X|S controllers, you can simply download the Xbox Accessories app to update the drivers. The Xbox Accessories app also allows updating controller firmware wirelessly, albeit only with Microsoft’s proprietary Xbox Wireless connection. For DualSense controllers (PlayStation), you can download the DualSense Firmware Updater app from PlayStation’s website to update the drivers. It should be noted that the DualSense Firmware Updater on PC requires a wired connection for the update and installation process.
Use a Wired Connection
If you find your controller inputs to be laggy or not registering properly in Stalker 2, you should try connecting it with a wired connection. Do note that for most wireless controllers, it’s best to avoid the USB 3.0 ports. Faster USB speeds aren’t required for a secure and stable connection to a controller, and USB 3.0 usually causes issues when connected to peripherals like speakers, dongles, and controllers. Furthermore, it’s best to keep those faster ports free for devices like external drives, which require that extra speed.
Disable Steam Input
Disabling (or enabling) Steam Input is one of the easiest ways to fix controller-related issues in PC games. Steam Input is essentially a driver that makes it possible to use any controller in games, even if those titles might not natively support controllers. Furthermore, Steam Input also allows custom remapping for individual titles, making it a perfect tool for players who play their games primarily using controllers. However, Steam Input often also ends up causing issues in certain games. Thankfully, Steam Input isn’t mandatory and can be turned off at any time using Steam’s Controller settings menu. Here’s how you can disable Steam Input on PC:
- Launch Steam.
- Click on Steam on the top left and head to the Controller settings.
- Scroll down, locate the Steam Input option, and toggle it to disable.
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