DSAdvance is an open-source application designed for advanced Xbox controller emulation on Windows 10 and 11 PCs, enabling the use of Sony DualSense, DualShock 4, Nintendo Pro Controller and Joy-Con controllers with enhanced functionality.

It uses the ViGEmBus driver to create a virtual Xbox controller, recognized by most PC games, and offers numerous customization options to enhance your gaming experience.

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Characteristics

DSAdvance stands out for its ability to take full advantage of the features of Sony and Nintendo controllers, integrating advanced options such as gyroscope control, keyboard and mouse emulation, and support for external devices such as pedals.

Support gyroscope control:

Allows you to use the controllers’ built-in gyroscope to aim or steer by tilting the device, without the need for additional setup. This is especially useful for games that require precision (e.g. aiming in FPS or driving in racing games).
You can easily switch between driving and aiming modes, maximizing your motion-based gaming experience.

Stick emulation on touchpad:

The touchpad on the DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers can be used to emulate analog sticks, useful for games that require precise inputs or for controlling the Windows desktop.

Keyboard and mouse emulation:

DSAdvance allows you to map controller commands to keyboard and mouse inputs, ideal for games that don’t natively support controllers or for controlling your Windows operating system.

Support for external pedals and Digispark joysticks:

Supports modified racing pedals (DInput) with up to 16 customizable buttons, assignable to any button on the virtual Xbox controller.
Compatible with Arduino Digispark based devices to emulate additional buttons.

Battery management and indicator lights:

Displays battery level via light bar (green: 30-100%, yellow: 10-29%, red: 1-9%) and player LEDs on DualSense (1 LED: 0-25%, 2 LEDs: 26-50%, etc.).
You can disable this feature via the ShowBatteryStatusOnLightBar parameter in the configuration file.

Support for two controllers:

Supports a second controller with simplified functionality, which can be enabled by changing the Enabled parameter in the SecondaryGamepad section of the configuration file.

Advanced customization:

The colors of the light bar and touchpad areas can be changed in the configuration file (Config.ini).
Supports multiple emulation modes to accommodate games with adaptive triggers (e.g. DualSense).

Windows Control:

Allows you to adjust the volume, take screenshots (Win + Alt + PrtScn) and record videos (Win + Alt + R) directly from the controller.
Support desktop control via touchpad or gyroscope.

Turning off the controller:

To turn off the DualSense or DualShock 4, press and hold the PS Button. For Nintendo Pro Controllers or Joy-Cons, press and hold the Capture or Home Button for 10-15 seconds.

Shooting and Vibration Modes:

Supports screenshot mode via Xbox Game Bar, Steam or custom keys.
The vibration strength can be adjusted or deactivated via key combinations (e.g. PS + Options or Alt + <>).

Operating modes

DSAdvance offers several operating modes to suit different gaming or usage scenarios. These modes can be switched via key combinations or touchpad presses:

Simple Xbox Controller Emulation:

Emulates an Xbox 360 controller with extended functionality, ideal for most PC games that support XInput.

Xbox emulation for driving and mouse aiming only:

Designed for games that support adaptive triggers (e.g. DualSense), limiting emulation to gyroscopic driving and aiming.

Mouse only:

The controller exclusively emulates a mouse, useful for games or applications that require pointing input.

Keyboard and mouse emulation:

Supports customizable profiles for games that do not support controllers or for controlling Windows. Profiles can be changed with Alt + ↑/↓ or PS/Home + ↑/↓.

Change mode:

Sony DualSense/DualShock 4: Press the touchpad or use Alt + 1/2. For controllers compatible with DualShock 4 but without a touchpad, enable ChangeModesWithoutAreas = 1 in the config file.
Nintendo Pro Controller/Joy-Con: Press Capture/Home. Press Home again to toggle aiming mode (always on or with L2).
Hotkeys: Alt + 1 (disable driving mode), Alt + 2 (toggle aiming mode).

Configuration

To use DSAdvance , you need to follow these configuration steps:

System Requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 or 11.
Required drivers: ViGEmBus (for Xbox controller emulation) and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 or later.
Optional: HidHide, to hide the physical controller and prevent double input issues in games.

Installation

Download and install ViGEmBus from vigembusdriver.com.
Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 or later.
Connect your controller (DualSense, DualShock 4, Nintendo Pro Controller, or Joy-Con) via USB or Bluetooth.
Download DSAdvance, unzip it and launch DSAdvance.exe.
(Optional) Add Launcher.exeto Windows startup to run from the system tray.
(Optional) Install HidHide, add DSAdvance.exeto the exceptions list, and enable the “Enable device hiding” parameter to ensure that games only see the virtual Xbox controller.

Customizing the configuration file ( `Config.ini`)

Dead zone: Modify the dead zones of the sticks and triggers for greater accuracy.
Colors: Change the default color of the light bar or touchpad areas.
Aim with L1: Set AimingWithL2 = 0to use L1 instead of L2 for aiming.
Touchpad: Enable the sticks on the touchpad with TouchSticksOn = 1.
External Pedals: Set DInput = 1in the section ExternalPedalsand specify the COM port for Arduino devices.
Second Controller: Enable support for a second controller with Enabled = 1in the section SecondaryGamepad.

Use with Steam

Disable custom PlayStation controller settings in Steam settings to avoid conflicts.

Hotkeys

DSAdvance offers several key combinations to control its features. Here is an overview:View102550100elementsNear:

Action	Sony Buttons	Nintendo Buttons	Windows
Open Xbox Game Bar		Capture + Home	–
Adjust Windows Volume	+ (lower), + (raise)	Capture + (lower), Capture + (raise)	–
Screenshot	Microphone or +	Capture +	–
Record video	Press and hold Microphone or +	Press and hold Capture +	–
Aim mode (mouse or right stick)	+	Capture +	Alt + A
Mode change (driving/aiming)	Touchpad or touchpad pressure	Capture/Home	Alt + 1/2
Adjust aim sensitivity	+	Capture +	–
Reset Aim Sensitivity	+	Capture +	–
Adjust/disable vibration	+	Capture +	Alt + <>
Enable/disable touchpad mode switching	+	–	Alt + W

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External pedals mode

DSAdvance supports racing pedals (DInput) or Arduino Digispark-based devices with two operating modes:

Always Pedals: Pedals are always mapped to the virtual Xbox controller triggers.
Dependent (drive/aim): In drive mode, the pedals control the triggers; in aim mode, the pedals can be mapped to buttons (the strength is regulated by the parameter PedalValuePress).
Change mode: Use Alt + E.
Configuration: Set DInput = 1and specify the COM port in the configuration file.
Custom Buttons: Up to 16 buttons can be mapped by changing the parameters Button1..16.

Possible problems and solutions

Game detects two controllers at once:
Solution: Disable Xbox emulation with Alt+Q, use HidHide to hide the physical controller, or try wireless mode.

Keyboard/controller icons keep changing:
Solution: Switch to “Mouse-Joystick” mode or use left trigger (L2) aim.

Adaptive triggers or light bar not working:
Solution: Add the game to HidHide’s exceptions list and switch to “Mouse only” or “Xbox gamepad (driving only) and aim with mouse” mode.

Driving does not work in games with DualSense support:
Solution: Launch DSAdvance before playing, or enable “Driving and Aim Only” mode.

Keyboard emulation not working in some games:
Known issue in games like Max Payne or Crysis 2; no fix yet.

Vibration not working on Nintendo Pro Controller:
Not yet supported, but research is underway for a fix.

Changelog

Website: https://r57zone.github.io
Discord: https://discord.gg/TgnvsfFnt3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/r57zone
Telegram: https://t.me/+kdN2a9oy7TNhZTM6 (personal blog in Russian)

Added support for two controllers. To enable it, set the parameter Enabledto 1in the section SecondaryGamepad.
- In this section you can also adjust the dead zones of the sticks, triggers and default color. This feature is experimental and is disabled by default. The second gamepad is supported in “simplified” mode.
Added video recording via Xbox Game Bar , holding down the screenshot button or key combinations.
Added the ability to switch modes on DualShock 4 compatible gamepads without a touch panel by pressing the touchpad. To enable this feature, set the parameter ChangeModesWithoutAreasto 1.
Added the ability to switch modes using the ALT+1 and ALT+2 keyboard shortcuts . The first combination resets on the second press, the second toggles aim mode (always / L2 only).
Left stick mode is now always displayed (previously hidden when controlling the desktop).