XBOX One Controller doesn't work In-Game unless Keyboard attached?

[luci5r]

I recently built an HTPC/Gaming Rig based on Broadwell-E / Pascal architecture.

I don't have a Keyboard plugged into the system; most everything is operated via an HTPC Remote Control, and if necessary, via VNC Viewer on my phone.

I have an XBOX One Controller attached via the MicroUSB (Play/Charge) cable and it works well on the system as such. Controls my HTPC font-end (Kodi) and also navigates flawlessly through Steam (Big Picture Mode). Essentially the XBOX One Controller is working properly on the system.

However, when I launch "Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition", after the initial "Press Enter" after the loading screen, my XBOX One Controller does not work at all. No matter what I click or move, nothing happens. The game/system is not frozen, it's just that the Controller does not respond in-game. If I exit out of the game, it works fine.

By accident I decided to attach a USB Keyboard I have for my main PC to the HTPC/Gaming machine and realized my XBOX One Controller works perfectly fine as long as the USB Keyboard is attached to the system. The moment I pull it out, the Controller stops operating the game.

I never knew this was the case!!

Is this true - does a keyboard NEED to be plugged into the PC in order to use the XBOX One Controller to play a game like Dead Rising 3?

I can obviously buy a cheap USB Keyboard for $15 or so at Amazon to make this work, but before I do that - I just want to confirm, this is really the case - because I've never heard of this. I also want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong.

Thanks.

 

[James Mason]

Did you try any other game?

I've got a couple of HTPCs in my home and I didn't want to be forced to use controllers on them, so I got a couple of wireless keyboards with trackpads. Only problem is I can't right clikc with them (or having figured out how), but there's more often than not a way to do what you want without right clicking.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HXRGRUY

 

[luci5r]

Did you try any other game?

I've got a couple of HTPCs in my home and I didn't want to be forced to use controllers on them, so I got a couple of wireless keyboards with trackpads. Only problem is I can't right clikc with them (or having figured out how), but there's more often than not a way to do what you want without right clicking.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HXRGRUY

James,

I didn't try any other game yet (I haven't really installed another game), but I don't actually need a wireless keyboard for my HTPC. I have a very nice remote control, fully configurable, which controls my HTPC perfectly fine. For those times when I absolutely need to operate using Keyboard/Mouse, I have VNC Server installed on the HTPC and VNC Viewer on my Galaxy S7 Edge phone, so I'm able to remote control the PC through my phone.

The XBOX One Controller is attached to the HTPC exclusively for Gaming only. I don't use it for anything else.

I've looked at cheaper USB/Wireless Keyboards, like $15, available at Amazon.

I'm just extremely baffled that the XBOX One Controller cannot be used In-Game unless a Keyboard is attached to the system. Makes me wonder if I'm missing something.

Just wondering if anyone else who uses PC for Gaming, uses an XBOX One Controller on their PC for gaming, has experienced this -- not having a keyboard plugged in.

 

[James Mason]

I'd say try another game, console ports can have a whole host of issues.

And isn't Kodi a linux distro? that could be why as well.

 

[luci5r]

Not at all. Kodi is basically what XBMC used to be. They do have ports for Linux, Mac, etc, but it's primarily Windows. And Kodi actually has nothing to do with this. Once Steam is up, it's basically Steam, Windows & the Game. Kodi is outside of this.

I'm installing couple other games today and will try later.

Still would like to hear from someone who uses XBOX One Controller on PC for gaming; possible detach keyboard & see if it works.

 

[James Mason]

Well, does this computer have a full windows OS on it?

Cause i'm wondering if it's just a missing... "driver-like" thing (but not actually a driver)

Cause I have an xbox one wireless controller and a wired keyboard on my main computer I can test with when I get home from work.

 

[luci5r]

Well, does this computer have a full windows OS on it?

Cause i'm wondering if it's just a missing... "driver-like" thing (but not actually a driver)

Cause I have an xbox one wireless controller and a wired keyboard on my main computer I can test with when I get home from work.

James - I'll really appreciate if you can test if when you have a moment.

Yes, this system has Windows 10 Pro x64 on it - Full OS. Think of it as any other Windows Computer; same thing you might use on your desktop for anything else. It's just configured in a way to be used via Remote Control as an HTPC w/ Kodi front-end and Steam Big Picture mode for gaming; but underneath it all it;s just like any other system. I could make a couple changes & start using it for my work or my desktop.

Thanks.

 

[luci5r]

Very luckily I found a very, very old Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 lying around in a box at home. I plugged in the receiver for that but kept the mouse turned off.

That solved it. I guess Steam & some games DO EXPECT some kind of a mouse or keyboard to be connected to the system, in order for the game to work. Just having the XBOX One controller isn't sufficient. I just never knew this.

But I'm glad I didn't need to purchase anything, and also glad that you don't actually need the peripheral ON, you just need it plugged in. It doesn't care whether it's a Mouse or a Keyboard, as long the receiver for either or one is plugged in.

All is well.

 

[James Mason]

So I did test to see if it was a common problem of the controller not responding if the keyboard isn't plugged in, and it doesn't seem to be.
I used my mouse and keyboard to open up Steam Big Picture mode, and then I unplugged them.
My XB1 wireless controller continued to work to navigtate it, and i tried 4 games and they all appeared to work as well without the keyboard plugged in.
They were Dark Souls 3, Dragonball Xenoverse, No Man's Sky and Rebel Galaxy.

 

[luci5r]

So I did test to see if it was a common problem of the controller not responding if the keyboard isn't plugged in, and it doesn't seem to be.
I used my mouse and keyboard to open up Steam Big Picture mode, and then I unplugged them.
My XB1 wireless controller continued to work to navigtate it, and i tried 4 games and they all appeared to work as well without the keyboard plugged in.
They were Dark Souls 3, Dragonball Xenoverse, No Man's Sky and Rebel Galaxy.

James, that's absolutely right. I had posted at the Steam forums and also did some testing on my end. I had installed & tried Project CARS and also Dying Light, and both of them worked absolutely fine without the keyboard/mouse attached, with just the XBOX One Controller.

It doesn't appear that this is a wide issue - it seems to be Game-Dependent. Certain games require at least a mouse or a keyboard, others do not. Out of all the games I tested & you tested, it looks like Dead Rising 3 is the only one displaying this issue.

Anyhow, I seemed to have resolved it now with an old wireless mouse lying around unused in the house, so I'm good at this point.

Thanks for all your help,