Gaming on a Mac is not what Apple is historically known for. However, with Apple delving into the fledgling virtual and augmented reality space, some traditional game interfaces and not so traditional interfaces (think HTC wands or Valve's knuckle controllers) now need to be supported on macOS to reap the VR/AR benefits to their fullest.
Sep 13, 2016 The Game Controller framework makes it easy to discover game controllers connected to a Mac, iOS device or Apple TV. Your game discovers and configures a controller, and then reads the control inputs as part of its normal gameplay. Mar 23, 2020 Hi, I'm a casual gamer and mainly play games dowloaded via Steam – though Apple Arcade also looks interesting. In the past, I've only used my keyboard but now want to upgrade to a game controller. The HORIPAD ULTIMATE wireless game controller gives you an exceptional playing experience with MFi-compatible games on your iOS devices, Apple TV, and Mac. More than a standard, classic game-style controller, HORIPAD is the result of an intensely focused design process.
Game Controller Mac Os
To ready you for some amazing VR pilot games such as Eve: Valkyrie that utilize a traditional game Xbox game controller, we're here to show you how to connect one to your Mac! In the past this method only applied to the Xbox 360 controller, but the latest version of the software you'll be using also now supports the Xbox One controller.
How to download and install the drivers
We're assuming that you already own a wired Xbox controller, but if you're needing to buy, a standard controller is about $50. You'll need to connect it to your Mac using a microUSB cable which, sadly, isn't included. If you buy a third-party wired controller you won't have to worry about this.
Next, follow these steps.
- Launch Safari.
- Navigate to https://github.com/360/Controller/360Controller/releases.
Download the latest release of the 360Controller driver. As of this writing, the latest release is 0.16.5.
- Go to your Downloads folder in Finder.
- Double-click the 360Controllerinstall_*.dmg file.
Double-click the Install360Controller.pkg that pops up in Finder.
- Click Continue.
Again, click Continue.
- Select to Agree the license agreement.
- Click Install.
Agree to allow a restart of the computer by clicking Continue Installation.
- Click Restart.
You can optionally have the downloaded file Moved to Trash.
- Upon restarting the computer start System Preferences from the dock or the menu.
- Click on Xbox 360 Controllers.
How to connect your Xbox 360 controller
Mac Os Game Controller
Once you've installed the drivers, you'll now logically see that there are No devices found, since we have yet to physically connect the game controller to the Mac.
- Plug in your controller to your Mac. If you have a current model MacBook or MacBook Pro, you'll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
- Click OK when the System Extension Blocked warning message pops up.
- Go into System Preferences via the dock or menu.
Click Security & Privacy.
- Under the General tab click the Lock at the bottom left.
Enter your password and click Unlock.
- Click Allow.
Your Xbox wired controller should now be connected!
Final thoughts
I am super stoked about developers climbing aboard the VR/AR hype train. As a mere consumer of VR, I can only hope for more and more creative minds to get on board. If you're a VR/AR developer, or even better yet, a macOS VR/AR developer, what other ways can Apple help promote virtual reality on their platform? Let us know in the comments!
Updated April 2018: Updated to reflect that this method also now supports the Xbox One controller.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
(PRODUCT)RED
Apple is now redirecting (PRODUCT)RED purchases to COVID‑19 relief fund
Now through September 30, Apple is redirecting 100% of a portion of (PRODUCT)RED purchases to the Global Fund’s COVID‑19 Response.
Mac OS X has limited support for playing games , thus the support for Game controllers i.e Gamepad & joysticks is limited too. But you may want to connect your PS2/PS3 or Xbox 360 gamepad / joystick controller to Play games on Mac for playing games or performing mouse or keyboard actions. Here are the Top 3 Best Free Gamepad / Joystick controller app software for Mac OS X which let you play any game via your Joystick or gamepad even if the game doesn’t support it.
Gamepad / Joystick Controller App # 1 – Enjoyable
Enjoyable can be classified as the Best Gamepad or Joystick mapper for Mac OS X . Its so good that its even better than the paid ones.
Enjoyable lets you use your any game controller (Wii Mote, PS2 / PS3 / xBox controller) on Mac OS X by mapping keyboard keystrokes & mouse movements to your Joystick.
Thus, you can easily simulate keyboard keypresses & mouse-movements directly via your gamepad, to play virtually any game using your joystick on Mac OS , even if the game doesn’t support Joystick input.
Incase, if you need to know how exactly does Enjoyable work – You can check the Enjoyable configuration tutorial for Gamepad here
Gamepad Controller App # 2 – USB Overdrive
USB Overdrive is yet another good app to control & map any external usb device to Mac OS X, and not just gamepads & joystick controllers.
USB Overdrive is thus an ideal alternative for Xpadder for Mac OS X, and thus can be used to connect your Bluetooth PS4 Controller as well.
Plus, the best thing is that USB Overdrive is actively developed & supported and is compatible with all Mac OS X variants such as Mavericks, Yosemite, Snow Leopard, Mountain Lion, El Capitan and even Mac OS Sierra too.
Joystick Controller App # 3 – Enjoy2
Mac Os Gaming Controller Free
Enjoy2 is an alternative to Enjoyable for Mac OS C and is fairly good & capable as well.
Its perhaps more easier to use than Enjoyable & USB Overdrive and is very user friendly.
Plus it also supports pre-loaded configurations so that you don’t need to configure & map each button & analog of your joystick to keyboard/ mouse input.
The app too is actively developed & works on all Mac os x Variants.
Thus, these are the Best Top 3 free gamepad / joystick controllers for Mac OS X, incase if you now any other good app or have some query feel free to comment.