Path of Exile 2 Controller support: What you need to know before you start
Not only does Path of Exile 2 have controller support, but it frankly may also feel better to you than the default keyboard settings. Especially when you consider the advent of the dodge mechanic/dodge button, it will be easier to press a button on your controller instead of the Space Bar — or wherever you choose to rebind that important button. However, it may not be immediately obvious how you set this up in Early Access.
As you dive into Grinding Gear Games’ new Action RPG, you may decide you want to use a controller in Path of Exile 2. It’s also worth pointing out that this is based on the information in the Early Access. Once the game is available to download on Steam, this information could change.
How to set up controller support in Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 does have controller support, but you cannot set it during gameplay. If you’re already logged in to a character, your input options are limited to Keyboard/Mouse and WASD. On Steam, there’s a chance you can hot-swap between these controller types in the future, but that’s not possible now.
You must change to controller support in Path of Exile 2 on the login screen or the character screen. It’s better to do it on the character selection screen if you are manually typing your password. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter which of these two screens you swap on.
The game may not always remember your choice, though. It appears to do so at this point in Early Access, but if you need to change it manually, here’s how you do that:
- Click the “Gear” icon in the top left of the screen.
- Select Input tab
- Change the “Input Method” dropdown to “Controller”
- Click the “Controller Device” dropdown, and select the plugged-in/connected controller
- Click the “Controller Prompt Art” dropdown and select either “Auto-Select” or the icon type you want to see.
- Adjust any of the other settings you feel you need to, and press the “Save” button, then the “Close” button
Path of Exile 2 supports DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox Wireless Controllers, and Third-party X-input controllers. In theory, this means you could probably use a fight stick or Hit Box if it supports X-input.
While you do have to do this each time you log in to the game, it does allow you to use a solid array of controllers, and the gameplay feels solid this way. The UI also changes to accommodate your controller use. However, there is one thing to be aware of.
Sometimes, you may find that your ranged attacks simply don’t go in the direction you want it to. This didn’t happen to us many times, but it did happen often enough to warrant mentioning it.
Check out our other Path of Exile 2 guides and features
- All Path of Exile 2 Keystone Passives (known so far)
- How Path of Exile 2 combat differs from the first game: A primer for returning players
- Does Path of Exile 2 have co-op features?