Mac [BUG] Xbox Controller Support Broken on M1 Mac

kalverra

Newcomer
Platform
2020 M1 Macbook Air
Monterey 12.3.1
Latest Steam SDV Version

Issue

I just got a new Xbox One controller that can connect to my Mac through Bluetooth with no problem. From there it can control Steam and a couple of other Steam games, but not Stardew Valley.

What I've Tried

All of the solutions mentioned in this thread, including some threads on the issue on Reddit, most of which involve using different versions of the libSDL2 driver. None of them have worked for me so far though. I'm not sure if there's a new accepted way to fix this? Or if I'm SoL?

Other Info

I can still use a standard Switch Pro controller through Bluetooth with little issue. I'm a bit baffled why that works. Is there a way to force the Xbox controller to register
 

ErrantCanadian

Newcomer
Just reporting that I have the same issue on a 2020 M1 Mac Mini (Monterey 12.3.1), with an Xbox Series X/S controller. The solutions in the older thread also failed for me (manually changing the libSDL2 driver broke the game; it wouldn't launch from Steam until the file was reverted). Strangely, Stardew Valley sometimes detects the controller (the in-game message saying a gamepad has been dis/connected sometimes appears when the game is running), but the game is still unresponsive to the controller, even when set to be forced into gamepad mode.
 

ErrantCanadian

Newcomer
The Steam Overlay is also non-functional in Stardew Valley, for me. It works in other games, just not Stardew.

Edit to add:
Stardew detects that a controller is connected only when Steam input is disabled. But the game doesn't respond to the controller when it does detect it.
 
Last edited:

Stitch

Greenhorn
The Steam Overlay is also non-functional in Stardew Valley, for me. It works in other games, just not Stardew.

Edit to add:
Stardew detects that a controller is connected only when Steam input is disabled. But the game doesn't respond to the controller when it does detect it.
How do you disable steam input? I haven't been able to make my controller work with stardew on macOS
 

ErrantCanadian

Newcomer
To disable Steam input:
  1. Go to Stardew Valley in your Steam library.
  2. If you're in regular mode, click the ⚙ icon, then click "Properties" from the menu. In Big Picture mode this is labelled "⚙ Manage Game"
  3. In regular mode, click "Controller" in sidebar of the properties window. In Big Picture mode, click "Controller Options".
  4. In regular mode, choose "Disable Steam Input" from the drop-down menu. In Big Picture mode, choose "Forced Off" in the drop-down menu. Click "OK".
Some people have reported that doing this is enough to get a controller to work. But it hasn't worked for me—it gets Stardew Valley to recognize that a controller is connected (a message pops up in the bottom left of the screen), but the game still doesn't respond to the controller for input, and the Steam Overlay still doesn't appear when I hit Shift+Tab.
 

Stitch

Greenhorn
I found a fix for all problems related to steam (whether it's stardew, other games or the steam itself). All you have to do is install Windows through bootcamp. When I want to play stardew I restart my mac and select Windows. Steam works, steamoverlay works, all controllers work flawlessly (wireless, wired, old, new, whatever you want) - it's a whole new world.
 
Top