DualSense Bridge

A small, free Windows app that makes a PS5 DualSense (or PS4 DualShock 4) controller show up as an Xbox 360 controller, over USB or Bluetooth, with HD haptics on PC, sound-to-vibration and adaptive-trigger profiles. An open-source alternative to DS4Windows and DSX.

• Analog triggers in every Xbox game (L2/R2 go 0–255, not just on/off)
• Rumble from the game goes to the DualSense, over USB and Bluetooth
• No double input: the real DualSense is hidden from games while Xbox mode is on (HidHide)
• One click to switch back: turn Xbox mode off and the DualSense is a normal DualSense again, with full native support in games like Silent Hill 2 or Sony's PC ports
• Trigger profiles (experimental): adaptive-trigger feel (resistance, weapon click, buzz) for 50+ games, with several feel presets
• Sound to vibration (experimental): feel the game's audio.
  • HD haptics (DualSense over USB): the sound itself drives the DualSense's haptic actuators, like on a PS5; the game's rumble is mixed in.
  • Rumble motors (USB and Bluetooth): bass on the left motor, high sounds on the right. HD mode falls back to this over Bluetooth.
  • Pick which speakers/headphones to listen to (e.g. SteelSeries Sonar), with a built-in test sound
• Trigger kick: optional short kick in the triggers when the game rumbles (shots, hits)
• Light bar: automatic color by mode (green = Xbox mode, blue = off, red = low battery), your own color, or off
• DualShock 4 works too (mapping, rumble, light bar; adaptive triggers are DualSense-only)
• Automatic per game: when a game comes to the front, its trigger profile and Xbox mode switch on their own (built-in list for many games; "Remember for this game" for the rest). Native DualSense games switch Xbox mode off
• Auto-reconnect, battery level and low-battery warning, tray icon, start with Windows, update check

Controller tab	Settings tab

Install

1. Download DualSenseBridge-Setup.exe from the Releases page and run it.
2. The setup installs the app and, if they are missing, the two drivers it needs:
   • ViGEmBus: creates the virtual Xbox controller (required)
   • HidHide: hides the real DualSense while Xbox mode is on (recommended)
3. Restart your PC if the setup asks (after installing HidHide).
4. Start DualSense Bridge from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.
5. (Bluetooth only) Pair the DualSense once: hold PS + Create until the light bar flashes, then add it in Settings → Bluetooth & devices.

Windows asks for administrator rights on every start because HidHide needs them. Uninstall it from Settings → Apps like any other program.

No installer wanted? Download DualSenseBridge-portable-x64.zip, unzip it and run DualSenseBridge.exe. Then install ViGEmBus and HidHide yourself from their release pages.

ViGEmBus is retired by its author. It still installs and works, but gets no new updates.

Some antivirus programs flag new, unsigned apps by mistake. The source is all here, and every release is built by GitHub Actions from this code.

Run from source (optional)

Requires Windows 10/11 and Python 3.10+.

1. Download this repository (green Code button → Download ZIP) and unzip it.
2. Double-click scripts\setup.bat. It creates a private Python environment, installs requirements.txt and puts a DualSense Bridge shortcut on your desktop. To use a specific Python: scripts\setup.bat "C:\path\to\python.exe"
3. To build it yourself: scripts\build.bat → dist\DualSenseBridge.exe, plus dist\DualSenseBridge-Setup.exe if Inno Setup is installed.

Use

Start DualSense Bridge from the Start menu or desktop shortcut and accept the administrator prompt.

Part of the window	What it does
Controller	Connection (USB / Bluetooth) and battery. Reconnects on its own.
Xbox mode	ON: games see an Xbox 360 controller, the DualSense is hidden. OFF: games see the DualSense as it is.
Trigger profile	Pick your game (type to search). Effects apply while Xbox mode is on.
Test trigger effects	Plays every effect for a few seconds; press L2/R2 to feel them.
Per game	Shows the game in front. With auto-switch on, its profile and Xbox mode are applied automatically. Remember for this game saves the current profile + Xbox mode for it; Forget removes that.
Live	Trigger values and the rumble the game is sending.

The Settings tab has the light bar (automatic / your color / off, brightness), the trigger kick, sound to vibration (HD haptics or motors, which output to listen to, strength, sensitivity, test sound), start with Windows, the low-battery warning and the update check.

Closing the window keeps the app in the tray. Right-click the tray icon to toggle Xbox mode or quit. The icon is green when Xbox mode is on, grey when off and red when no controller is connected.

Rule of thumb: game expects an Xbox controller → Xbox mode on. Game supports DualSense natively → Xbox mode off, and play over USB.

Trigger profiles (experimental)

These profiles are first guesses. They are based on each game's default controls and have not been tested in every game. If a profile feels wrong, edit profiles.json and please send a pull request.

Profiles live in profiles.json. Each game points to a shared preset and can override L2 or R2:

"dead_space": {"_controls": "L2 Aim, R2 Fire", "preset": "shooter_heavy"}

Preset	Feel	Games
gun_semi	L2 aim: light tension. R2: short pull, crisp click right when the shot fires	Atomic Heart, Control, Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Requiem, Resident Evil Village
gun_heavy	L2 aim: firm. R2: longer, heavy pull, then a hard break (shotgun, plasma cutter)	Dead Space
gun_auto	L2 aim: light. R2: light resistance with a rapid-fire rattle	Apex Legends, Fortnite, Metro 2033 Redux, Metro Exodus, Metro Last Light Redux, Stalker 2, Titanfall 2
gun_heavy_auto	R2: heavy machine gun, slow strong pulses	Doom Eternal
melee_swing	R2 heavy attack: tension builds early, then snaps back like committing to a swing	Control Resonant, Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Sekiro, Silent Hill f
melee_light	R2 attack: short, light tap of resistance that releases quickly	Silent Hill f Soft
melee_hits	R2 attack: quick, solid click (blunt weapons, kicks)	Dying Light, Dying Light 2, Dying Light The Beast
charge_hold	R2 held to charge: resistance grows the deeper you press	Black Myth Wukong, Silent Hill f Charge
bow	L2 aim: light. R2: string tension rising to the end	Skyrim
force_powers	Both triggers: smooth resistance that grows, like pushing against a force	Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi Survivor
power_and_gun	L2 power hand: crackling buzz. R2 gun: crisp click	BioShock, BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite
flashlight_and_gun	L2 aim / flashlight: steady tension. R2 gun: crisp click	Alan Wake 2, Alan Wake Remastered
racing	L2 brake: progressive, gets firm. R2 throttle: light, even spring	Assetto Corsa Competizione, Forza Motorsport
driving_rough	Racing feel plus a light rumble in the throttle (off-road, trucks)	Euro Truck Simulator 2
light_all	Both triggers a little heavier, works in any game	Call of Cthulhu, EA Sports FC, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, GTA V, Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction

Some of these games support the DualSense natively on PC (marked "_native_dualsense": true, e.g. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Metro Exodus). For those, the game's own effects are better: turn Xbox mode off and play over USB.

Why clicks sit early: most Xbox games treat a trigger as pressed at about 12 % of its travel (XInput threshold 30/255), which is zone 1. A click or snap placed deep in the travel lands after the game has already reacted and feels disconnected, so the presets put them in zones 1–4.

Effect modes (trigger travel is split into zones 0 = rest to 9 = fully pressed; based on Nielk1's DualSense trigger effect reference):

Mode	Parameters	Feels like
off	–	Normal trigger
feedback	start 0–9, strength 1–8	Even resistance from start to the end
slope	start, end, start_strength, end_strength	Resistance that grows (or fades) along the travel
multi	strengths: 10 values 0–8	Your own resistance curve, zone by zone
weapon	start 2–7, end, strength	Resistance that breaks with a click, like a gun trigger
bow	start 0–7, end, strength, snap	Tension builds, then the trigger snaps back
vibration	start, amplitude 1–8, frequency Hz	Trigger buzzes while pressed
machine	start, end, amplitude_a/amplitude_b 0–7, frequency, period	Buzz that alternates between two strengths
galloping	start, end, first_foot, second_foot, frequency	Two-beat pulse, like hooves or an engine

Testing

Open Win+R → joy.cpl (or the Open joy.cpl button):

• Xbox mode on → only Controller (Xbox 360 For Windows) is listed
• Properties → L2/R2 move the Z axis smoothly (this old panel puts both triggers on one axis)
• Buttons: Cross = 1, Circle = 2, Square = 3, Triangle = 4, L1/R1 = 5/6, Create = 7, Options = 8, L3/R3 = 9/10
• Xbox mode off → the DualSense is listed again

Button mapping

DualSense	Xbox
Cross / Circle / Square / Triangle	A / B / X / Y
L1 / R1	LB / RB
L2 / R2	LT / RT (analog 0–255)
Create / Options / PS	Back / Start / Guide
L3 / R3	Left / right stick click
D-pad	D-pad
Touchpad, Mute	not mapped

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
HD haptics selected but it says "rumble motors"	HD haptics need the DualSense on a USB data cable (Windows only creates the controller's audio device over USB). Over Bluetooth the motors are used instead.
Sound to vibration feels nothing in games, but the test works	The game plays through a different output than the one selected. In Settings → Listen to pick the device you actually hear the game on (e.g. SteelSeries Sonar - Gaming, your headset).
"No controller"	Check the cable or Bluetooth. Close Steam and DS4Windows, they can grab the controller.
Cable plugged in but it still says Bluetooth	The DualSense stays on Bluetooth while charging. Turn it off (hold PS ~10 s) or turn PC Bluetooth off, then plug in.
Nothing over USB at all	Some USB-C cables only charge. Try a data cable, directly on the PC.
Bluetooth stuck in "simple mode", triggers stay 0	Remove the controller in Windows Bluetooth settings and pair it again.
"ViGEmBus / vgamepad not available"	Install ViGEmBus and restart.
"DualSense NOT hidden"	Install HidHide and restart.
DualSense invisible to games after a crash	Start the app once: it turns hiding off on startup. Or open HidHide Configuration Client and untick Enable device hiding.
Inputs doubled in Steam games	Steam → Settings → Controller → turn off PlayStation Controller Support, or per game.
An online game rejects the controller	Some anti-cheat systems block virtual controllers; nothing to fix on our side.

Command line (optional)

For scripting or debugging, everything also works without the window (run as administrator):

.venv\Scripts\python.exe src\bridge.py --profile elden_ring
.venv\Scripts\python.exe src\bridge.py --list
.venv\Scripts\python.exe src\dualsense_reader.py      # raw controller values
.venv\Scripts\python.exe src\trigger_test.py          # cycle the trigger effects

Developing

• scripts\setup.bat once, then scripts\build.bat to build.
• Auto-build while developing: start scripts\dev_watch.bat (as administrator) and leave it open. Creating an empty file named .rebuild in the project folder closes the app, rebuilds dist\DualSenseBridge.exe and starts it again (build_log.txt, build_status.txt). An empty .rundiag runs scripts\diag.py and writes diag_out.txt.
• README images: scripts\\screenshots.py (run with the project's Python) re-creates docs/screenshot-*.png and docs/demo.gif from the real window with demo values.
• Releases: bump src/version.py, update CHANGELOG.md, push, and push a tag vX.Y.Z. GitHub Actions builds the exe, the installer and the portable zip.

Project layout

DualSenseBridge/
├── profiles.json          trigger profiles (edit me)
├── requirements.txt
├── src/
│   ├── app.py             window + tray icon (entry point)
│   ├── engine.py          background thread: connect, map, rumble, triggers, hiding
│   ├── dualsense_reader.py  finds the DualSense, parses USB / Bluetooth reports
│   ├── bridge.py          DualSense → Xbox mapping, command-line bridge
│   ├── output.py          rumble, trigger effects, Bluetooth CRC32
│   ├── hiding.py          HidHide control
│   ├── bridge_profiles.py reads profiles.json
│   ├── audio_haptics.py   sound to vibration (WASAPI loopback → motors)
│   ├── game_watch.py      detects the game in the foreground
│   ├── version.py         app version + repo name (update check)
│   └── trigger_test.py    command-line trigger effect test
├── scripts/
│   ├── setup.bat          run from source: venv, packages, desktop shortcut
│   ├── build.bat          build the exe (and the installer if Inno Setup is installed)
│   ├── get_drivers.ps1    downloads the ViGEmBus / HidHide installers to bundle
│   ├── dev_watch.bat/.ps1 auto-rebuild helper for development
│   └── diag.py            diagnostics run by dev_watch
├── installer/DualSenseBridge.iss   Inno Setup script
├── assets/icon.ico
├── docs/how-it-works.svg
└── .github/workflows/release.yml   builds the exe, the installer and the portable zip on every v* tag

Roadmap

• Read the controller over USB and Bluetooth
• Virtual Xbox controller with analog triggers
• Hide the real DualSense while running
• Rumble
• Trigger profiles (experimental)
• Window + tray, auto-reconnect
• Single .exe (no Python needed), built by GitHub Actions
• Installer that also installs ViGEmBus / HidHide
• Light bar colors, low-battery warning, update check
• Trigger kick on in-game rumble
• DualShock 4 support (untested on hardware so far: reports welcome)
• Sound to vibration over USB and Bluetooth (rumble motors)
• Real HD haptics from game audio over USB (DualSense audio channels 3–4)
• HD haptics over Bluetooth (reverse-engineered protocol, experimental)
• Automatic profile and Xbox mode per game
• Profile editor with live preview
• Gyro aiming, stick deadzones, button remapping

Credits

The installer bundles the unmodified ViGEmBus (BSD-3-Clause) and HidHide (MIT) installers from Nefarius Software Solutions.

Built on hidapi, vgamepad, ViGEmBus and HidHide. DualSense report layouts follow the Linux hid-playstation driver and community documentation.

Not affiliated with Sony or Microsoft. DualSense and PlayStation are trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment; Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft.

License

MIT