It's not just games that have updates these days. So do controllers! While it's not necessary to update your Xbox controller, if you want to, the process is pretty simple. Sports games are the most obvious, as anyone who has tried to play FIFA using the strange keyboard/mouse control scheme can attest to. But there are other titles, specifically those which were primarily designed for consoles whose control schemes are so unwieldy away from a pad that playing them any other way is a pain. Nintendo's perfectly hefty controller blows away the competition on battery life and has a layout that feels just a dad different from the Xbox pad. It's a good fit for basically any PC game that calls for a controller, and we'd recommend it to anyone who owns a Switch, too: it's so much more comfortable to use than a pair of Joycons. Turn on your Xbox Series controller by holding the Guide button in the center. Now press the the small sync button on the top of the controller until the Guide button begins flashing. However, the standard Xbox Wireless pad is such a well-made and reasonably priced piece of hardware that it's challenging to see how other manufacturers can possibly compete with Microsoft's exceptional controller. It will continue to be on our recommended list for a long time to come.

Turn on the Xbox One controller by holding the Guide button. Press the sync button on top of the controller until the Guide light begins to flash rapidly. After so many years it can be a little hard to remember some of the small differences between Microsoft's controllers for the Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series, and how they work on PC. They're all easy to use, but there are differences that matter based on your PC's hardware. That's what this guide is for. For example, you could play Elden Ring without a controller, but using a pad on a PC felt far better. How we test controllers Scuf doesn't mess around with its controllers, offering some of the best premium pads outside of Sony and Microsoft. And the Instinct Pro is the absolute best Microsoft-focused pad controller should you wish to eschew the two big bois of the console world. But when the Elite Series 2exists in the world, how does anyone else compete in the enthusiast controller space. Plug your Switch Pro controller into the PC with a USB cable. You should be able to use the USB-A to USB-C cable that came with the controller, or you can use a USB-C to USB-C cable, if your PC has the appropriate port. Within a few seconds, Windows 10 should pop up with a new connected device: Pro Controller.The easiest way to do that is with the officially licensed Hyperkin Duke controller, a painstaking recreation of the monstrous original pad. This updated version comes with a USB cable for easy plug-and-play with modern systems. But if you really want to use your old Duke or S controller from an original Xbox, you can buy this adapter and pair it with the XB2XInput driver to make the 20+ year old controller play nice with your PC. You can really make this controller your own, in such a way that's not as easy with any other premium controller. It's pricey for it, but it is great for colour-matching to your setup.

This might seem an utterly offensive question to ask in the annals of PC Gamer, but it remains true that certain PC games are far better played with a controller than the classic keyboard and mouse combo. The triggers were even less effective in games that require pressure-sensitive controls, such as accelerating in racing games like Forza or trying to control vehicles in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. The d-pad felt a little too stiff, so playing fighting games didn't feel great, especially if you play anything that requires quarter-circle movements like Street Fighter V.Note that if you decide to connect via Bluetooth, without using the 8Bitdo adapter method above, you cannot charge the controller while it's connected, so make sure its battery is topped off before you start.