List of game controllers

The following is a list of game controllers. It includes input devices that are notable and whose primary function is to control how the video games are played. Regional variants and models containing insignificant changes are not included.

Controllers

Name Image Platform Specifications Original release date Refs
Magnavox Odyssey controller Magnavox Odyssey Connectivity: Magnavox Odyssey controller port
Input: 3 knobs, 1 button 		September 1972 [1]
Shooting Gallery Magnavox Odyssey Connectivity: Magnavox Odyssey controller port
Input: 1 trigger, photodiode 		September 1972 [2]
Atari CX40 joystick Atari 2600 Connectivity: Atari joystick port
Input: 1 digital button, eight-directional digital joystick 		1978 [3]
NES/Famicom controller NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, D-pad, microphone (Famicom only) 		July 15, 1983 [4]
NES Zapper NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 1 trigger, photodiode 		February 18, 1984 [5]
Master System controller Master System Connectivity: Master System controller port
Input: 2 digital buttons, D-pad 		September 1986 [6][7]
NES Advantage NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, 2 adjustable knobs, 3 toggle buttons, 1 switch 		1987 [8]
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controller Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, D-pad 		October 29, 1988 [9][10]
Nintendo Power Glove NES-Power-Glove.jpg NES Connectivity: NES controller port

Input: D-pad, A, B, Start, Select, Turbo Buttons

December 3, 1989
SNES/Super Famicom controller SNES Connectivity: SNES controller port
Input: 8 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 21, 1990 [11]
Gravis PC GamePad DOS Connectivity: DA-15 game port
Input: 4 digital buttons, 2 switches, D-pad 		1992 [12]
Menacer Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 4 buttons, 2 infrared transmitters 		1992 [13]
Super Scope SNES Connectivity: 2nd SNES controller port
Dimensions: 23 inches long
Input: 3 digital buttons, 1 switch, photodiode 		1992 [14]
6-Button Arcade Pad Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 8 digital buttons, D-pad 		1993 [9][15]
Sega Saturn controller Sega Saturn Connectivity: Sega Saturn controller port
Input: 9 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 22, 1994
PlayStation controller PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, D-pad 		December 3, 1994 [16]
Virtual Boy controller Virtual Boy Connectivity: Virtual Boy controller port
Input: 2 D-pads, 6 digital buttons, power switch 		July 21, 1995 [17][18]
Apple Pippin controller Apple Pippin Connectivity: P-ADB
Input: 9 digital buttons, D-pad, trackball 		March 28, 1996 [19]
Nintendo 64 controller Nintendo 64 Connectivity: Nintendo 64 controller port, Controller Pak slot
Input: 1 analog stick, 10 digital buttons, D-pad 		June 23, 1996 [20]
SpaceOrb 360
PC Connectivity: Serial

Input: 6-axis rubber ball, 6 buttons

1996
ASCII Sphere 360
ASCII Sphere 360
 PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port

Input: 6-axis rubber ball, 10 buttons, D-pad

3D Pad Sega Saturn Connectivity: Sega Saturn controller port
Input: 9 digital buttons, 1 analog stick, 1 toggle switch, D-pad 		July 5, 1996
Dual Analog Controller PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, 1 toggle button, D-pad 		April 25, 1997 [21]
DualShock PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, 1 toggle button, D-pad 		November 20, 1997
Dreamcast controller Dreamcast Connectivity: Dreamcast controller port, 2 expansion sockets
Input: 1 analog stick, 2 analog triggers, 5 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 27, 1998 [22]
DualShock 2 PlayStation 2 Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 8 pressure-sensitive buttons, 2 digital buttons, 1 toggle button, pressure-sensitive D-pad 		March 4, 2000
Nintendo GameCube controller GameCube Connectivity: GameCube controller port
Input: 2 analog sticks, 2 clickable analog triggers, 6 digital buttons, D-pad 		September 14, 2001 [23]
Xbox controller
(aka The Duke) 		Xbox Connectivity: Xbox controller port, 2 Memory Unit slots
Dimensions: 6.5 × 5 × 3 in
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 digital buttons, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, D-pad
Mass: <16 oz. 		November 15, 2001 [24][25]
Xbox Controller S Xbox Connectivity: Xbox controller port, 2 Memory Unit slots
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 digital buttons, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, D-pad 		2002
Xbox 360 controller Xbox 360 Connectivity: USB, wireless (proprietary 2.4 GHz protocol), 2.5 mm headset jack
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 10 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 22, 2005 [26]
Sixaxis PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, 3 digital buttons, pressure-sensitive D-pad, accelerometer, gyroscope 		November 11, 2006 [27]
Wii Remote Wii Connectivity: Bluetooth, Accessory connector port (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 8 digital buttons, accelerometer, D-pad, gyroscope (Wii Remote Plus only), infrared sensor 		November 19, 2006 [28]
Nunchuk Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 1 analog stick, 2 digital buttons, accelerometer, 		November 19, 2006 [29]
Classic Controller Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 2 analog sticks, 2 clickable analog triggers, 9 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 19, 2006
DualShock 3 PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, 3 digital buttons, pressure-sensitive D-pad, accelerometer, gyroscope 		November 11, 2007 [27]
Classic Controller Pro Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 2 analog sticks, 11 digital buttons, D-pad 		Early 2009
PlayStation Move PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 Connectivity: Bluetooth, mini-USB port
Input: 1 analog trigger, 8 digital buttons, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer 		September 15, 2010 [30]
PlayStation Move Navigation controller PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Mini-USB port
Input: 1 analog trigger, 1 clickable analog stick, 4 digital buttons, D-pad 		September 15, 2010 [30]
Kinect for Xbox 360 Xbox 360 Connectivity: USB 2.0
Dimensions: 282 × 68 × 70 mm
Input: 1 RGB camera, 2 infrared depth sensors, four-microphone array
Mass: 1360 g 		November 4, 2010 [31]
Wii U GamePad Wii U Connectivity: Proprietary wireless, Accessory Connector port, AC adapter port, headset jack, near-field communication
Input: 13 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, touchscreen, D-pad, accelerometer, front-facing camera, infrared transceiver, gyroscope, magnetometer, microphone, slider 		November 18, 2012 [32][33]
Wii U Pro Controller Wii U Connectivity: Bluetooth
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 13 digital buttons, D-pad 		November 18, 2012
Ouya Controller Ouya Connectivity: Bluetooth
Dimensions: 163 x 109 x 53.5 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (LT, RT), 2 shoulder buttons (LB, RB), 5 digital buttons (O, U, Y, A, Menu), Touchpad, and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 275 g 		June 25, 2013 [34]
DualShock 4 PlayStation 4 Connectivity: Bluetooth, Micro-USB, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, extension port
Dimensions: 161 × 57 × 100 mm
Input: 9 digital buttons, 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks, accelerometer, D-pad, gyroscope, two-point capacitive clickable touchpad
Mass: 210 g 		November 15, 2013 [35][36]
Xbox Wireless Controller Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Connectivity: Propriety Wireless, Micro USB (revisions prior to Elite Series 2), USB-C (Elite Series 2 and third revision), 3.5 mm stereo audio jack (after first revision), Bluetooth 4.0 (second revision), Bluetooth LE (third revision)
Dimensions: 153 × 102 × 61  mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (LB, RB), 2 shoulder buttons (LT, RT), 9 digital buttons (Y, B, A, X, Menu, Options, Home), 1 Share button (third revision) and Digital D-Pad 		November 22, 2013
Kinect for Xbox One Xbox One Connectivity: USB 3.0
Dimensions: 249 × 66 × 67 mm
Input: 1 RGB camera, 1 infrared depth sensor, four-microphone array
Mass: 1.4 kg 		November 22, 2013 [31]
Steam Controller Linux, Mac OS, Windows Connectivity: Micro-USB, wireless
Input: 2 clickable analog triggers, clickable analog stick, 2 clickable touchpads, 9 digital buttons, accelerometer, gyroscope 		November 10, 2015 [37][38][39]
Joy-Con Nintendo Switch Connectivity: Bluetooth; R: near-field communication
Dimensions: 102 × 35.9 × 28.4 mm
Input: Accelerometer, gyroscope; L: 10 digital buttons, clickable analog stick; R: 10 digital buttons, clickable analog stick, infrared motion camera
Mass: L: ≈ 49.3 g; R: ≈ 52.2 g 		March 3, 2017 [40]
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Nintendo Switch Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth, near-field communication
Input: Accelerometer, gyroscope; 13 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks 		March 3, 2017
Google Stadia Controller Google Stadia Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB-C, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE), 3.5mm stereo headset jack
Dimensions: 163 x 105 x 65 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers (L2, R2), 2 shoulder buttons (L1, R1), 9 digital buttons (Y, B, A, X, Menu, Options, Capture, Google Assistant, Stadia), and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 268 g 		November 19, 2019 [41][42]
Sinden Light Gun Windows, Linux Connectivity: USB-A
Input: D-pad, 4 buttons 		September 2020 [43]
DualSense PlayStation 5 Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm TRRS (OMTP) stereo headset jack
Dimensions: 160 × 66 × 106 mm
Input: 6 axis motion sensing (3 axis accelerometer, 3 axis gyroscope), 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 9 digital buttons, D-pad, 2 point capacitive touchpad with click mechanism (see buttons)
Mass: 280 g 		November 12, 2020
Amazon Luna Controller Amazon Luna Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB-C, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE), 3.5mm stereo headset
Dimensions: 156.4 x 107.6 x 58.5 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (L2, R2), 2 shoulder buttons (LB, RB), 8 digital buttons (X, Y, A, B, Home, Action, Menu, Microphone), and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 281.5 g 		March 1, 2022 [44][45][46]

Mice

The following is a list of gaming mice, mice which are designed specifically to play games:

Name Image Platform Specifications Original release date Refs
Super NES Mouse SNES Connectivity: SNES controller port
Input: 2 buttons 		July 14, 1992 [47]
PlayStation Mouse PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 2 buttons 		December 3, 1994 [48][49]

See also

Notes

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  3. ^ "Subject: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions". Utrecht University. June 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
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  5. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (December 18, 2014). "Duck Hunt's Virtual Console debut, and why the original hates your new TV". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
    Serrano, Aarón Rodríguez; Núñez, Marta Martín; Catalán, Shaila García (May 4, 2020). "10 – Augmented Reality". Reimagining Communication: Mediation. Routledge. ISBN 9781351015417. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "Master System peripherals" (in Japanese). Sega Corporation. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Computer Entertainer, February 1987, page 13 Archived November 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Hanson, Christopher (March 8, 2018). Game Time: Understanding Temporality in Video Games. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253032843. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Heavy Equipment". Sega Visions. August–September 1993. p. 94.
  10. ^ Sega Archives 2016, p. 61.
  11. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 2.5, History; Technical Specifications.
  12. ^ Edwards, Benj (June 6, 2020). "How the Gravis PC GamePad Transformed PC Gaming in the '90s". How-To Geek. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "Menacer". Mean Machines (4): 82–84. January 1993. ISSN 0960-4952.
    Burrill, William (March 20, 1993). "Weapons for the zap-happy". Toronto Star. p. J4. ISSN 0319-0781 – via LexisNexis.
  14. ^ Super Nintendo Entertainment System Development Manual. Vol. II. Nintendo. 1993. pp. 4-1-3, 4-3-1, 4-4-3. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
    Slasher Quan (April 1992). "Super NES Pro Review – Super Scope". GamePro. Vol. 4, no. 4. pp. 62–63. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
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  16. ^ "NG Hardware: PlayStation". Next Generation. December 1995. pp. 39, 41. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
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  22. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.4, History; Technical Specifications.
  23. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.7, History; The Accessories.
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  25. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.6, History; The Accessories.
  26. ^ Loguidice, Bill; Loguidice, Christina (January 26, 2012). My Xbox: Xbox 360, Kinect, and Xbox LIVE. Que Publishing. ISBN 9780132832069. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
    Rudden, David (June 1, 2006). "Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller (Wired) review". CNET. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
    Block, Gerry (June 26, 2006). "Xbox 360 Controller Roundup". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Vincent, Luke (November 1, 2010). Bluetooth Sniffing and the PS3 (PDF) (Thesis). Australian National University. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
    Takizawa, Osamu (October 9, 2007). "SCEJ、40GB HDDを搭載した新PS3発売決定 – 従来モデルは約5,000円の値下げ – 「DUALSHOCK 3」も11月11日発売" [SCEJ to release new PS3 with 40GB HDD – Previous model will be price cut about 5,000 yen – "DUALSHOCK 3" will be released on November 11th]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
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  45. ^ "Luna Controller – The best wireless controller for Luna, Amazon's new cloud gaming service". Amazon. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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References