Controllers

The short version

• Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series controllers work as they are, wired, with the Xbox wireless adapter or over Bluetooth. They're the easiest choice.
• PlayStation, Switch and generic controllers usually work once a helper makes them look like an Xbox controller, and once the original device is hidden from games.
• Each game page on the hub says whether its handler supports controllers, one keyboard and mouse, or several keyboards and mice.

Why Xbox controllers are easier

Windows games read controllers through two systems: XInput, used by Xbox controllers and most modern games, and the older DirectInput, used by most other pads. To give each player their own controller, Nucleus Co-op has to make each copy of the game see one controller only. That works best, and in far more games, with XInput: most handlers only restrict XInput controllers. A few handlers support DirectInput controllers too, and their notes say so.

So with a non-Xbox controller, the plan is: emulate an Xbox (XInput) controller, then hide the real device so games don't see it twice.

PlayStation controllers

Use DS4Windows, which supports DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers and presents each one as an Xbox 360 controller.

1. Install DS4Windows and the ViGEmBus driver it asks for.
2. Connect your controllers: each one should appear in DS4Windows.
3. Hide the real controllers with HidHide (below), or use the Hide DS4 Controller option of DS4Windows (less reliable).

Switch and generic controllers

XOutput and x360ce 4 turn DirectInput controllers into virtual Xbox 360 controllers for the whole system. Map each controller once, keep the tool running while you play, and hide the originals with HidHide.

Don't copy x360ce's own xinput*.dll files into the Nucleus Co-op folder or into a game folder: they conflict with the libraries Nucleus uses to restrict each controller.

Stop double input with HidHide

Many games read both XInput and DirectInput. If they see both the virtual Xbox controller and the real one, a controller can drive two windows at once, the camera spins, or buttons act twice. HidHide fixes this by hiding the real devices from every program except the ones you allow:

1. Install HidHide and open HidHide Configuration Client.
2. In Applications, add the emulator (DS4Windows, XOutput or x360ce), so it can still see the real devices.
3. In Devices, tick your physical controllers and turn on Enable device hiding.

Games, and Nucleus Co-op, now only see the virtual Xbox controllers. Untick a device to use it normally again. The HidHide guide has pictures.

Steam Input

Steam can turn any controller into a virtual Xbox controller for the games it starts. With Nucleus Co-op this often backfires: the virtual pad comes on top of the real one (double input), or Steam keeps one controller for the window that has the focus. If you see double input, turn off Steam Input for that game (in its Steam Properties › Controller), or close Steam when the handler notes allow it. Some handlers need Steam running, and their notes say so.

Steam Input can also block the controller shortcuts below.

Xbox One and Series controllers in DirectInput games

Xbox One and Series controllers don't send input to background windows in some games that only support DirectInput, and in older Unity games. If a handler's notes mention it, you can make Windows see these controllers as DirectInput devices, then emulate Xbox 360 controllers on top:

1. In Control Panel › Devices and Printers, right-click your controller, open Properties › Hardware, select the XInput device, then Properties › Change settings › Driver › Update driver.
2. Choose Browse my computer, then Let me pick from a list, and select HID-compliant game controller.
3. Map the controller in XOutput or x360ce 4 to get a virtual Xbox 360 controller, and hide the real one with HidHide.

To undo it, repeat the steps and pick the original XInput driver. This works over USB and with the Xbox wireless adapter. Over Bluetooth the triggers are lost with this driver. The paid app reWASD can do the same conversion without changing drivers.

In the lobby

• Joining. A free controller joins when you press Start or another button on it. If a controller doesn't show up, hold a button for a second, then use Rescan.
• Which one is which? Use Vibrate on a device to find it.
• By slot. Identify gamepads by slot places controllers by their controller number (1 to 4) instead of a button press. Some handlers ignore it. Settings › Players sets the default.
• Guests. Add a guest gamepad gives a player's copy of the game a second controller, for games that already support two players on one copy.

Navigating the app with a controller

The Nucleus Co-op window works with any controller: D-pad or left stick to move, A to select, B to go back, right stick to scroll. The hint bar at the bottom of the window shows what each button does on the current screen.

Controller shortcuts

During a session, hold the Guide button (the Xbox button) and press a second button. These work with XInput controllers, and you can change them in Settings › Gamepad shortcuts.

Still stuck? Controller problems goes symptom by symptom.