Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2026 Poal.co

598

If you've ever used USB game controllers with emulators on Winblows 7 or 10, you probably understand this exercise in frustration: input lag and input simply not registering in games requiring those twitch reflexes. Many retro games like Super Mario Bros. are simply unplayable with your replica retro USB controller. I now believe a big reason for this is that these controllers use the "DirectInput" driver.

Felt like I wasted money buying a 5-pack of those retro replica USB controllers a while back.

Long time ago, I realized using a USB XBOX 360 controller seemed to work much better than other controllers, probably because of the "XInput" driver it uses. But, the 360 controller sucks ass for retro emulator games, it just doesn't feel right. Too bulky or something.

Today, I discovered this nifty application called [x360ce](www.x360ce.com). It seems to allow all of your retro replica USB controllers to use the "XInput" driver instead if the standard "DirectInput" driver. So, when you load the x360ce app and launch your emulator from there, your emulator games are MUCH more responsive and playable with a replica retro USB controller.

Thought I was imagining things at first, so I unloaded x360ce and tried playing without. Nope, it goes right back to being unplayble without x360ce.

Now, this doesn't completely eliminate input lag, nothing will do that. It does however vastly improve the experience of using replica retro USB game controllers and emulators.

If you've ever used USB game controllers with emulators on Winblows 7 or 10, you probably understand this exercise in frustration: input lag and input simply not registering in games requiring those twitch reflexes. Many retro games like Super Mario Bros. are simply unplayable with your replica retro USB controller. I now believe a big reason for this is that these controllers use the "DirectInput" driver. Felt like I wasted money buying a 5-pack of those retro replica USB controllers a while back. Long time ago, I realized using a USB XBOX 360 controller seemed to work much better than other controllers, probably because of the "XInput" driver it uses. But, the 360 controller sucks ass for retro emulator games, it just doesn't feel right. Too bulky or something. Today, I discovered this nifty application called [x360ce](www.x360ce.com). It seems to allow all of your retro replica USB controllers to use the "XInput" driver instead if the standard "DirectInput" driver. So, when you load the x360ce app and launch your emulator from there, your emulator games are MUCH more responsive and playable with a replica retro USB controller. Thought I was imagining things at first, so I unloaded x360ce and tried playing without. Nope, it goes right back to being unplayble without x360ce. Now, this doesn't completely eliminate input lag, nothing will do that. It does however vastly improve the experience of using replica retro USB game controllers and emulators.

(post is archived)

[–] • 1 pt

Thanks man good to know.

[–] • 1 pt

Huh, I've been using a Gamecube controller for emulating, and things just haven't felt... right. Maybe this is what's going on

[–] • 1 pt

The DirectInput device driver is part of DirectX and has existed since Windows 95. I would not be surprised if the code base is full of ancient code to handle those old systems and edge cases, and as such causes input lag.

Xinput is a lot newer and is probably based off of the driver for the Xbox 360 itself, since it runs an NT based kernel. It is probably much more efficient for the newer operating systems.

Either way, cool program. Saved that link. Just as a side note; if you run Steam, you can connect a PS4 controller via USB (haven't tried wireless) and Steam will recognize it and give you a configuration screen per game for it. I've played it with Castlevania: Lord of Shadows and the Megaman re-release packs on there and haven't had input issues.