Quick guide on how to use your Sixaxis on the PC

by Nick Doerr { Mar 9th 2008 at 5:15PM }

How To: Use PS3 SixAxis On PC - The best video clips are hereWe've probably talked about it before, but some people have found ways to use the PS3's Sixaxis controller on the PC. However, we've only been told things or seen images serving as proof. Now we have a fantastic tutorial video to show you how you can do it right now, at home. If the video wasn't edited at all, you could have a functioning Sixaxis on your computer in about three and a half minutes. Good luck!

Tags: sixaxis, tutorial

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike Jenkins @ Mar 9th 2008 5:21PM

Too bad there's no way to use the motion sensors on the PC, or connect via Bluetooth like you can with the Wiimote.

Lars @ Mar 10th 2008 4:56AM

Where there's a will there's a way. Believe me, someone will do it if they really want to.

Anyways, regarding the main topic... I don't get it? Mine just works when I plug it in. No extra downloading anything. Just plug it in and it shows up as a game controller. I'm running WinXP though, is this vid for 98 users or something?

Batzi @ Mar 9th 2008 5:48PM

Does this mean I will be able to play COD4 pc version using the controller?? Because I LOVE using the sixaxis when playing COD4. When I play with my friends on LAN(PC) the keyboard and mouse are kinda ackward comparing the sixaxis!

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 9th 2008 8:39PM

you should be able to. the computer will see the Sixaxis like a regular PC Gamepad. so if CoD4 supports gamepads (what PC game doesnt) then you should be able to get it on.

Daniel @ Mar 9th 2008 5:51PM

I tried this before but because my ps3 sits in the same room, right next to my computer everytime i press the ps button the ps3 turns on...i don't want to have the ps3 on while i'm playing on my comp so yeah.

Tim Parsons @ Mar 9th 2008 5:58PM

if you plug your SIXAXIS into a PC windows automatically detects it , and it will begin charging right away . However if you push the PS button it powers up but doesn't connect to the PS3.hench it doesnt turn on if it's off. Keep in mind the SIXAXIS's bluetooth is automatically shut off if it's attached via the USB cable, even if your in the middle of playing and plug it into your PC via USB the bluetooth shuts down and you can't control your game .

SonofaGunner @ Mar 9th 2008 6:01PM

Why would you map the PS button to a game in the first place? :|

Rowdehaj @ Mar 9th 2008 6:06PM

Tim Parsons, that's not true. If, during PS3 play, I plug my SIXAXIS into my laptop (which is beside me, thus closer), it continues to function like normal.

Game_playa @ Mar 9th 2008 7:18PM

Why doesn't anyone tell you people a simple fact:
UNPLUG THE PS3 OR TURN IT OFF FROM THE SWITCH IN THE BACK TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS!"

Rowdehaj @ Mar 10th 2008 3:41AM

I did that first time I tried. I thought about posting it here but had already submitted my message, and I despise double-posting. Good point though, the PS3 doesn't have a switch for nothing.

Lars @ Mar 10th 2008 4:59AM

I thought that pressing the PS button when trying to use it on the PC would turn on my PS3, but it didn't. I guess it really does turn off the Bluetooth when a cable is attached.

Dehshizknight @ Mar 9th 2008 5:53PM

Holy crap, you won't believe me but just last night I was trying to get mine to work! It's like...fate for me to come across this today. Lol.

Patrick @ Mar 9th 2008 6:00PM

Has anyone been able to get this to work under 64bit Vista? I've tried this a couple times, and it never seems to work. The controller shows up in the control panel, but it doesn't respond to any buttons. I really wish it worked =/

Jtenma @ Mar 10th 2008 2:34AM

Yes I have VISTA 64, I JUST actually did this a week earlier...WOW FATE.

From my understanding, all I did was download the files to a random place( it doesn't matter where you put it) plugged in the USB cord into controller and computer, then ran the program...

One thing to note though, I GOT NO CONFIRMATION WHATSOEVER FROM THE CONTROL PANEL, other than it just kisting it. Do not expect to CONFIGURE anything there.(forget that part)

In fact I skipped that part...in fact I (doing this earlier then this video was posted) just unzipped all the files and ran the program. Then, when I was in a game I wanted to use it on, I assigned the buttons there. It will show up in the game as joystick_(1-20) or something like that. Other than that it is probably working, just try to assign and use the buttons in THE GAME itself.

Meximan @ Mar 9th 2008 6:04PM

I really hope this works. I don't want to try this unless I know it works for sure and that it won't affect my controller when connected back to the PS3. It is pretty sweet and it would be great playing COD4 with SIXAXIS on my PC. Has anyone tried this?

Will @ Mar 26th 2008 4:57PM

If anyone has any problems, the GameSaike driver for the controller work well for me. It even maps the d-pad to a game pad instead of just buttons.
I found it somewhere so google should help.

Also, for any devs out there, there is a program / person working on the six axis and has motion sensing up to three axis. If anyone would like to try out that program / see screen shots, link:
http://onakasuita.org/ps3/

Will @ Mar 9th 2008 6:06PM

searching "sixaxisdriver" along with GameSaike would help.

Will @ Mar 9th 2008 6:08PM

Another Link for more info that I found:
http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2148030048

Bob @ Mar 9th 2008 6:17PM

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&message.id=1375302&query.id=233401#M1375302

I made that almost a year ago with video tutorials, and some other video gets posted :(.

Haiddasalami @ Mar 9th 2008 6:57PM

Wow this is indeed old. Used it to play Oblivion on my PC but then the right analog didnt work so I had to download Pinnacle Game profiler.

Andy @ Mar 9th 2008 7:02PM

Old news is old... I've been using my PS3 controller to play PC games for a while now.

Anyway, for those of you who just got it working, here's a program you might be interested in. http://www.pinnaclegameprofiler.com/index.html Pretty much, it lets you re-map the controller's button to keyboard/mouse functions. This is extremely useful for games that don't natively support game-pads or which have annoying preset control configurations.
Or you could just set up your controller to be your mouse and navigate your computer with your Tripple controller....

Haiddasalami @ Mar 9th 2008 7:55PM

Yeah had that awesome program. Oblivion never felt right with keyboard.

Game_playa @ Mar 9th 2008 7:18PM

Why doesn't anyone tell you people a simple fact:
UNPLUG THE PS3 OR TURN IT OFF FROM THE SWITCH IN THE BACK TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS!"

dp @ Mar 9th 2008 7:21PM

meh. wake me up when i can connect them to pc wirelessly.

i wanna be able to play burnout on ps3, welcome some mates around my house, turn off the ps3 and boot the media centre pc, connect the 4 sixaxis to the pc via bluetooth then play emulated, wirelessly controller bomberman, tmnt and super sprint.

Rowdehaj @ Mar 10th 2008 3:42AM

Can't you install Linux onto your PS3 and play emulated games through that?

linebeginstoblur @ Mar 9th 2008 8:25PM

Already have been doing it for a while now. Just let me know when the PLAYSTATION Eye becomes compatible, okay?

Lars @ Mar 10th 2008 5:01AM

I was able to use a generic webcam driver for the EyeToy, so something similar would probably work for the PS Eye.

Darkdrium777 @ Mar 9th 2008 10:32PM

I've been doing this for a while as well. It works flawlessly when you indeed flip the switch at the back of the PS3 (like someone else reported). Please Nick, remove the "If the video wasn't edited at all," line, it is not a fake. You just gotta find the drivers for the controller online, via Torrent or direct download. Once you got them it is really easy, and works flawlessly with games, as long as these support game pads (Some of them don't so be on the lookout.)

seasidebaz @ Mar 10th 2008 4:13AM

did this a while back, there is a lovely little quirk with vista though that means you have to run ps3sixaxis_en.exe as an administrator, otherwise it won't work after the 1st time.

also, the ps3 will remain powered off when you press the ps button as long as you've done everything to that point properly, it will probably switch on as soon as you unplug the controller from the pc though.