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Configuring an Xbox Controller for User Input

Installing the Input System Package

Creating Your Custom Inputs

Conclusion

Configuring an Xbox Controller for User Input - 2019.2

Configuring the Xbox controller in Unity, and accessing it in code, is relatively straightforward. In this tutorial, we’ll set up a simple scenario that uses the Xbox controller axes and buttons.

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Mega Bundle - AI Systems & Controller Mapping Pack

Verified in 2019.3 - https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/configuring-an-xbox-controller-for-user-input-2019-3

Configuring an Xbox controller for user input in Unity is easily achieved through Unity’s new Input System, available as an installable Package. In this tutorial, we will set up a simple scenario that uses the Xbox game controller buttons. 

1. From the Unity Editor’s top menu drop-down, select Window > Package Manager.

2. In the All Packages column, select Input System, and select Install (Figure 01).

3. You can verify your Project’s newly installed Input System, by opening up the Project Settings. Select from the top dropdown menu Edit > Project Settings. In the left column, select Player.  In the main window of the Project Settings Window, select Other Settings (Figure 02). Expand Other Settings, and scroll down to Active Input Handling.  Select either Both, or Input System Package (New) (Figure 03). 

Figure 01: Installing the Input System Package in the Package Manager Window

Figure 02: Selecting the Other Settings of Player in the Project Settings Window.

Figure 03: Verifying the Active Input Handling to the New Input System Package.

1. Create a new Input Action by right-clicking in the Project Window, and select Create > Input Actions.  Rename the new Input Action to “InputMaster”.

2. Double-click the newly created “InputMaster” in the Project Window, to open up the Input Actions Window.

3. On the top left corner of the Input Actions Window, select the No Control Schemes dropdown, and then select Add Control Scheme (Figure 04). 

4. In the Add Control Scheme Window, select the + button to create a new Control Scheme, and rename the Scheme Name to “Xbox Control Scheme” (Figure 05). Later, you can always create additional Control Schemes for adding other input sources, such as from the keyboard. 

5. Within the menu, select Gamepad > Xbox Controller > Xbox Controller (Figure 06).

6. Next, in the Add Control Scheme Window, select Save (Figure 07). 

7. Next, on the left Action Maps panel of the Input Actions Window, select the + button to create a New Action Map.  Action Maps are categories for how your inputs will be organized, for example, you might have separate Action Map categories for the player, menu-items, camera views, or vehicles.  Here, rename your Action Map to “Player”.

8. A New Action has now been added to the middle Actions panel.  Actions are essentially events, such as a player running or jumping. Double-click the New Action and rename it to “Jump”. We will then Bind specific buttons on the gamepad controller to trigger each Action. Select the + button to the right of the ”Jump” Action, and then select Add Binding (Figure 08).

9. Next, in the Properties panel of the “InputMaster” Window, select the Binding Path field (Figure 09). 

10. You will see a list of Gamepad buttons and controls.  Scroll all the way down to select the specific list of buttons for the Xbox Controller (Figure 10). 

11. Select the specific button for the Xbox Controller from the list of available choices. Alternatively, select the Listen button, and press the corresponding button on your controller itself (Figure 11). 

12. We can further assign controller Actions for player movement, much in the same way as the previous steps for triggering a jump with a button.  For the sake of efficiency, you can also set up an Action to encompass movement along 2 Vectors.  Here we will create a new Action, rename it to “Movement”, and select Button to change the Action Type (Figure 12). 

13. Select Pass Through as the Action Type, and then select Vector 2 for its Control Type (Figure 13). 

14. Now when you select the + button next to the Movement Action, you can select to add a 2D Vector Composite (Figure 14). 

15. Assign the Movement Vectors to the corresponding Xbox Controller inputs in the same manner as the previous steps (Figure 15). 

16. Create any additional Input Actions you will need for your Project, exploring through the various features that the Input System offers. When finished, select Save Asset. For the full documentation of the Input System, follow this link. 

17. We will now set up the Player Input Component to the Player. With the Player GameObject selected in the Hierarchy Window, select Add Component in the Inspector Window, and search for Player Input (Figure 16). 

18. Next, Select the Object Picker Button to assign the Input Actions Asset we named “InputMaster”, to the Player Input Component (Figure 17). 

19. Next, assign the Default Scheme to the Xbox Control Scheme, and assign the Default Map to Player (Figure 18). 

20. Lastly, the Input System will generate the C# Script for your Input Actions for further modification of your Project’s needs. Select “InputMaster” from the Project Window, select the Generate C# Class checkbox in the Inspector Window, and select Apply (Figure 19).

21. The resulting code is saved as a C# Script, with the saved name of “InputMaster.cs” (Figure 20). 

22. Enter Play Mode and test out your Project’s Xbox Game Controller inputs. Your individual project will determine which Input Action is more appropriate based on the desired feel. 

Figure 04: Adding a new Control Scheme

Figure 05: Selecting the + button to add a new Control Scheme

Figure 14: Selecting Add 2D Vector Composite.

Figure 15: Selecting the corresponding Xbox Controller inputs.

Figure 16: Adding the Player Input Component to your Player.

Figure 17: Selecting the Object Picker Button to assign the InputMaster Asset to the Player Input.

Figure 18: Assigning the Default Scheme and Default Map.

Figure 19: Generating the C# Script.

Figure 20: The Generated C# Script.

Figure 06: Selecting the Xbox Controller

Figure 07: Saving the Xbox Control Scheme

Figure 08: Adding a Binding to a New Action

Figure 09: Selecting the Binding Path

Figure 10: Selecting the specific buttons to the Xbox Controller

Figure 11: Selecting the Listen Button, awaiting the input from the Controller itself.

Figure 12: Selecting the Action Type Button.

Figure 13: Selecting Vector 2 for the Control Type.

The Xbox game controller is easy to configure and use within Unity's Input System Package.  The Input System enables a variety of input control options to bind to your specific Xbox game controller’s buttons. 

Configuring an Xbox Controller for User Input - 2019.2

1. Configuring an Xbox Controller for User Input

2. Installing the Input System Package

3. Creating Your Custom Inputs

4. Conclusion

Complete this tutorial