Key takeaways
- Native pads: ARC Raiders launched on Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store on October 30, 2025, with native support for Xbox-style XInput controllers and PlayStation pads, including matching button prompts.
- Remapping arrived late: at launch, gamepad bindings were locked. The Headwinds update (1.13.0, January 27, 2026) added an options tab for rebinding most gamepad buttons, made aim assist consistent across frame rates and fixed inputs not always registering above 30 fps.
- New default layout: the Frozen Trail 2.0 update (October 8, 2026) changed the default gamepad mapping. If you set up custom binds or back-button macros before that patch, check them again.
- Still no native gyro: Embark’s other shooter, The Finals, has gyro aiming, but ARC Raiders does not. On PC, gyro comes only from Steam Input or similar remapping tools.
- DualSense extras need a cable: the game supports DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers on PC, but only over a wired USB connection. Over Bluetooth the pad still works, without haptics.
- Mixed input is allowed: the game accepts mouse and controller input at the same time. That is what makes gyro-as-mouse possible, and it is also the source of a small hitch described below.
The best controller for ARC Raiders on PC for most players is the standard Xbox Wireless Controller, because the game reads it natively with correct button prompts and zero setup; if you want gyro aiming, Valve’s 2026 Steam Controller is the stronger pick, since ARC Raiders still has no built-in gyro and Steam Input is the only way to add it. A wired DualSense is the third route, for players who care more about adaptive triggers and haptics than about battery life.
Those picks follow directly from how the game handles gamepads in late 2026, so it is worth knowing what has changed since launch before you spend anything.
XBOX Wireless Gaming Controller | Shock Blue
Included for 'Best Controller for ARC Raiders on PC: Gyro, Remaps, Battery' because the listing specifies Shock Blue, details this guide uses to compare options.
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8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller for PC, Apple, Steam & Android, Black
Included for 'Best Controller for ARC Raiders on PC: Gyro, Remaps, Battery' because the listing specifies Apple and Steam & Android, details this guide uses to compare options.
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PlayStation DualSense® Wireless Controller – Midnight Black + USB Cable for PC
Included for 'Best Controller for ARC Raiders on PC: Gyro, Remaps, Battery' because the listing specifies Midnight Black + USB Cable for PC, details this guide uses to compare options.
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GameSir G7 Pro Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Wireless Gamepad for PC&Android with TMR Sticks, Hall Effect Analog Triggers, 1000Hz Polling Rate, 3.5mm Audio Jack - Black
Included for 'Best Controller for ARC Raiders on PC: Gyro, Remaps, Battery' because the listing specifies Xbox One and Wireless Gamepad for PC&Android with TMR Sticks, details this guide uses to compare options.
View on AmazonWhere ARC Raiders controller support stands in 2026
- Native pads: ARC Raiders launched on Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store on October 30, 2025, with native support for Xbox-style XInput controllers and PlayStation pads, including matching button prompts.
- Remapping arrived late: at launch, gamepad bindings were locked. The Headwinds update (1.13.0, January 27, 2026) added an options tab for rebinding most gamepad buttons, made aim assist consistent across frame rates and fixed inputs not always registering above 30 fps.
- New default layout: the Frozen Trail 2.0 update (October 8, 2026) changed the default gamepad mapping. If you set up custom binds or back-button macros before that patch, check them again.
- Still no native gyro: Embark’s other shooter, The Finals, has gyro aiming, but ARC Raiders does not. On PC, gyro comes only from Steam Input or similar remapping tools.
- DualSense extras need a cable: the game supports DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers on PC, but only over a wired USB connection. Over Bluetooth the pad still works, without haptics.
- Mixed input is allowed: the game accepts mouse and controller input at the same time. That is what makes gyro-as-mouse possible, and it is also the source of a small hitch described below.
The shortlist at a glance
| Controller | Sticks | Gyro in ARC Raiders | Extra buttons | Battery (rated or reviewed) | Weight | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Wireless Controller | Potentiometer | None | None | Up to 40 h on two AA cells (rated) | About 280 g with AAs | Usually $55–$70 |
| Steam Controller (2026) | TMR, capacitive touch | Yes, via Steam Input, auto-activated by grip/stick touch | 4 back buttons plus 2 trackpads | 35+ h from an 8.39 Wh cell (rated) | About 292 g | $99 list |
| 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless | TMR | Yes, via Steam Input in DInput mode | L4/R4 plus 2 rear paddles | 1,000 mAh; roughly 10–25 h in reviews, lighting dependent | 246 g | Usually $50–$70 |
| Sony DualSense | Potentiometer | Yes, via Steam Input | None | 1,560 mAh; roughly 8–13 h in reviews | About 280 g | Usually $60–$80 |
| Xbox Elite Series 2 | Potentiometer, adjustable tension | None | 4 paddles | Up to 40 h (rated) | 345 g with paddles | Usually $150–$200 |
Match the controller to how you raid
ARC Raiders mixes slow looting with sudden, fast fights against small flying ARC such as Wasps and Hornets, plus other Raiders who may be on mouse and keyboard. Those two jobs pull in different directions, so the right pad depends on which part of a raid you struggle with.
| Your situation | Best fit | Why it suits ARC Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| You want it to just work, on any store version | Xbox Wireless Controller | Native XInput, correct prompts, no Steam Input layer; spare AAs swap in seconds between raids |
| You keep losing PvP fights and struggle to track flying drones | Steam Controller (2026) | Gyro handles fine corrections the sticks cannot; touch activation means it only moves your aim when your thumb is on the stick |
| You want gyro and back buttons on a budget | 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless | Gyro and paddles exposed to Steam Input in DInput mode; 1,000 Hz polling over the 2.4 GHz dongle |
| You play for atmosphere and trigger feel | DualSense, wired | Haptics and adaptive triggers only engage over USB, which also removes battery worries |
| You want paddles and long sessions, no gyro | Xbox Elite Series 2 | Four paddles keep thumbs on the sticks while you jump, crouch or ping; 40 h rated battery |
Battery math: how many raids per charge
A standard raid runs up to 30 minutes, and some map conditions stretch that to 40. Add roughly six minutes in Speranza for selling, crafting and loadouts, and one raid cycle is about 36 minutes, or 0.6 hours. Dividing each controller’s battery figure by 0.6 gives a practical raid budget.
| Controller | Battery hours used | Approximate raid cycles per charge | Three-hour evenings per charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| DualSense Edge (for comparison) | 5–7 h (reviews) | 8–11 | About 2 |
| DualSense | 8–13 h (reviews) | 13–21 | About 3–4 |
| 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless | 10–25 h (reviews) | 16–41 | About 3–8 |
| Steam Controller (2026) | 35 h (rated) | About 58 | About 11 |
| Xbox Wireless / Elite Series 2 | 40 h (rated) | About 66 | About 13 |
Rated figures are best cases; rumble, RGB lighting and gyro all pull them down, and 40-minute map conditions cut the cycle count by roughly a fifth. The takeaway still holds: the DualSense Edge, despite its paddles, needs charging every couple of evenings, roughly six times as often as the rated Xbox pads, which is why it is not on the main list. If you prefer Sony’s pad, play it wired and the battery question disappears.
Setting up gyro for ARC Raiders through Steam Input
Because gyro has to come from Steam Input, this route suits the Steam version of the game. These steps apply to the Steam Controller, the DualSense and the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 in DInput mode.
- Enable Steam Input for ARC Raiders in the game’s Steam properties under the controller settings. The game sees a standard pad unless you add gyro.
- Set the gyro output to mouse. Mouse-style gyro feels more direct than gyro mapped onto the right stick, and the game accepts both inputs together.
- Gate the gyro with touch. On the Steam Controller, use the capacitive stick or grip sensing so the gyro is live only while your thumb rests on the right stick. On other pads, hold a back button or the right bumper to enable it.
- Fix the input-switching hitch. Players report a brief pause whenever the game flips between mouse mode (gyro) and gamepad mode (for example, when you pull the trigger). The community fix is to map the left trigger to right mouse button and the right trigger to left mouse button, or to map every control to keyboard and mouse so the game never switches modes.
- Accept the aim assist trade. Once aiming arrives as mouse movement, the game treats it like a mouse, so do not expect controller aim assist on those inputs. Keep the right stick for big turns and let gyro handle the last few degrees.
- Re-check bindings after major patches. Frozen Trail changed the defaults, and a later update could do the same.
DualSense on PC: wired or not at all
Sony’s pad is the most immersive option because ARC Raiders uses its haptics and adaptive triggers, but those only work over USB with a data-capable cable. Many players also turn Steam Input off for the game so it talks to the DualSense directly. The DualSense Edge is harder to recommend: players report that with Steam Input off, its back paddles cannot be mapped in-game, and with Steam Input on, some see doubled button presses. Combined with its short battery life, the Edge is a weaker fit here than the standard DualSense.
Which one to buy
Choose the Xbox Wireless Controller if you just want to play tonight on any store version. Choose the Steam Controller if you play the Steam version and want the best aiming a pad can offer, with battery for roughly a dozen evenings. Pick the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless for gyro and paddles at about half the price, accepting its mode-switching quirks. Use a wired DualSense if trigger feel matters most, and the Elite Series 2 only if paddles plus long battery life matter more to you than gyro.
