5 days ago • 97%

Microsoft made me sign in on their Xbox Accessories app to update the firmware on my controller

Had to install this app which then made me sign in (using my work PC) to update the firmware on my damn controller. Wish there was a way to do this in Linux. I'm so over Microsoft's crap.

49 comments

why not spin up a qemu/kvm vm passthrough the controller and update it?

2
Why does a game controller need updates??? I'm stuck on PS3 knowledge, someome help me out here.

58
- Well, I can tell you trying to use the Xbox controllers I have on Linux, with Bluetooth was a nightmare until their firmware was updated.
  
  46
  
  Absolute pain in the ass. Had to spin up a Win10 VM to get my controllers working.
  
  5
  
  You can avoid that by not using MS controllers in Linux, or using old controllers with a cable. My Retropie has xbox 360 controller support compiled in and every controller works OOB.
  
  -2
- Well, in the case of the Dualsense on PS5, they've made changes to improve things like haptic feedback, controller volume output from the speaker, better noise cancellation on the mic (though I doubt anyone uses that) and if you have the latest PS5 models (pro or non-pro), you now have adaptive charging.
  
  12
  
  I wish I had a way to permanently disable that mic. Why the fuck is that even there? Do console players use these?! All it does is yank priority from my actual mic if I plug it in to charge.
  
  7
  
  better noise cancellation on the mic (though I doubt anyone uses that)
  
  Oh brother, do people ever use the controller mic. They especially love to do it when they play music from their phone speaker on their lap. And they never use headphones, so when you unmute yourself to say "Hey, can you turn your mic down a bit? I can't hear the game," you end up blowing out your own eardrums hearing yourself through their TV at full volume.
  
  6
- Its called surveillance capitalism.
  
  Microsoft is first and foremost a company that aims to profit on the data it can gather.
  
  11
  
  Please insert controller into rectum and drink verification can for authorization
  
  14
- Lots of things, just like with any hardware and software, issues can happen and some of those can be fixed with software. Also new features, I have a Gulikit KK3 which has gotten a lot of new features and improvements since I received it (won it in a giveaway), it was already the best controller I have ever used and it's awesome to see them still continue to improve it.
  
  3
- Mine worked under Linux without hassle
  
  2
If you keep hitting cancel, it'll eventually error out and let you access the firmware update page without signing in.

55
- Thats what I noticed as well. I think it was about three cancels at every menu point.
  
  4
Why would a controller need firmware that needs updating to begin with? Its a controller

15
- I can't speak to Bluetooth as I don't know much about it from a software development perspective, but when I first started working with USB I was surprised to find that the hardware is really simple but there's a ton of software that makes it work. Specifications evolve over time to add features or improve efficiency. This neccesitates code changes, and those code changes have to be made at both ends of the connection if you want the devices to continue to be able to talk to each other. Aside from maintaining the interface code, there are probably also changes and improvements to the device itself. Thus, firmware updates. Make sense?
  
  23
  
  it sure does, it also explains something i had with win 7 a long time ago
  thanks foe the detailed info
  
  3
- For earnest reasons? 8bitdo does firmware updates to improve stability and latency, and fix features broken when Xbox, or Nintendo update something on their consoles. All using a stand alone app that just phones home and downloads the latest firmware payload for ALL its controllers without any login.
  
  EDIT: You don't even need the app. 8bitdo's website has all their firmwares available to download and install as and when you need. The app is so dyslexic fools like me don't accidentally brick something with the wrong payload.
  
  Microsoft however, may push some bullshit does nothing update simply to make you sign into their app.
  
  10
- PS5 Controllers also occasionally need to be updated
  
  2
Should check out the Gulikit controllers. Not only do they not suffer from stick drift, they're the same form factor as an Xbox controller but without the MS bullshit. Was just using one in Linux not even an hour earlier.

23
- I'll check them out! Thanks for the tip.
  
  7
I just went through this exact thing (even having to install on my work computer). As others said, if you hit cancel like three times it lets you proceed.

Hopefully you didn't have to then do what I did: spin up a VM so the controller sees the exact bluetooth controller in windows, then go back and pair in Linux. It's extra work sometimes, but totally worth it to not be using windows.

9
You should be able to press cancel on the login screen and then update without it. At least a few months back that still worked.

10
Don't use your work machine for this. It is a misuse of resources and you are giving your work access to your account.

8
- Good advice on balance, but we're a small company. In addition to being SSE I'm also what passes for IT. 😆
  
  4
Nvidia does the same shit for GPU drivers, it's obnoxious

9
- You can download the Nvidia app (not GeForce Experience) that doesn't require signing in
  
  11
- I downloaded new drivers today without an account, but there’s dark pattern bullshit trying to get you to install GeForce Experience. I didn’t need to sign in to download drivers though.
  
  6
- Wait for real??? You make an NVIDIA account now? I haven't had an NVIDIA card since my 980Ti... Is this account insanity true for the proprietary Linux driver too?
  
  5
  
  No, you can download the proprietary drivers with a package manager
  
  8
  
  That card was so good for so much longer than it had any right to be.
  
  5
Hated that.

I was never able to get it to work when I used to run windows, so I rolled with the default configs the whole time.

9
I’ve had my Razer Wolverine Ultimate for over 5 years, maybe even close to a decade now and have never had any issues. It’s wired but comes with a very long detachable usb to mini usb. The original wore out but replacement was super cheap. The thumb sticks are magnetic so you can just pop them off for cleaning or replacement.

It has all the features of an Xbox elite controller and once you rebind keys it stays on the controller so no need to keep a program around.

If this gets annoying enough for you or you want the extra paddles I highly recommend.

6
- I'll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion!
  
  1
Enshittify!

8
- ✨enshitified ✨
  
  5
Luckily I encountered this while I was still in the return window. Goodbye. I will never buy another Microsoft product.

6
At least you actually got Xbox Accessories to recognize your controller. I can't even get it to show up even though it's clearly connected and recognized as an xbox controller in device manager. Granted, passing the usb port through to a windows vm in order to do this probably isn't ideal, but I can't install it on my work computer and I'd really rather not have spyware os installed bare metal on any of my personal machines that I actually daily drive. Even when I decided fuck it I'll throw it on an old thinkpad, it just refuses to boot the win10/11 installer.

2
I had to do it, and got so goddamn frustrated with it, I just switch to using my PS5 controller. The Xboxes were the best, but no longer.

2
- I had to Update my PS4 controller exactly the same way using their app.
  
  I never had to update my Xbox controller. I get the standard Xbox Bluetooth controllers, not the Xbox one.
  
  Not to mention PS controllers have issues all the time with a PC.
  
  3
Do you guys not have VMs?

-2

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