How to fix GZdoom steam deck controller not working

GZDoom is one of the more popular source ports for classic Doom that offers a really modern gaming experience with all the nostalgic feels of the original. It works natively on the Steam Deck, although many users are facing frustrating controller issues, such as not being detected to spastic behavior that affects gameplay.

Knowing what might be the cause of such issues will be very important in finding effective solutions. Be it a clash of controller settings, a problem of compatibility, or just simply being outdated configurations, we go through possible fixes that can get you back in the game. Let's dive into details and get your Doom experience running once more.

How to fix GZdoom steam deck controller not working

First, there is no single fix to guarantee that GZDoom controller issues are fixed once and for all on the Steam Deck. Although we will put up some potential ways in which this has been fixed for some players, it differs from one case to another. You're at liberty to experiment your way into finding the best setup for your system.

Luxtorpeda

The solution to most of the controller incompatibility problems with GZDoom on your Steam Deck is to use ProtonUp-Qt with Luxtorpeda. With it, you would be able to play natively in a Linux game engine straight from Steam.

To do this, first install ProtonUp-Qt from Flathub, or run "flatpak run net.davidotek.pupgui2". Then, inside the app, add a new Steam version by setting Luxtorpeda as the compatibility tool. Note that screen resolution might impact the display of buttons so that the click in the middle installs it.

After the installation, reboot Steam, install your Doom game, and set up Luxtorpeda as a certain Steam Play tool in the properties for the game. Launching Doom, choose GZDoom from the list of available engines.

Alternatively, you can use DoomRunner as the frontend for possibly easier configuration.

Multiplayer fix

If you want to play local multiplayer in GZDoom on the Steam Deck, multiple controllers might create little problems due to bugs between GZDoom and Steam Input. You will also need to set the primary controller as player one, or input may get stuck in a loop or malfunction. If you are docking the Steam Deck and using an external controller, set that external controller as player one via Steam Input, rather than using the Steam Deck itself.

Flatseal

Specifically, to get controllers working in GZDoom on your Steam Deck, give it full device access with Flatseal first. While that fixes most of the issues, it does introduce some erratic behaviors on controllers in game menus. Map "look-up/down" from Axis 3 to Axis 5 in configuration settings. Then, re-enable the controller in the GZDoom in-game settings for even further stability.

For better control, you can set the overall controller sensitivity to 1.0 and add a little dead zone to every axis. These will improve your responsiveness and precision a lot. Now, once you make these changes go back in the game and play it, just to make sure these fixes work well for you.

Configuration of the Controller

First, put the Steam Deck into Gaming Mode, then set controller configuration to "Keyboard and Mouse" so that GZDoom becomes compatible. You will then have to log in to the in-game GZDoom menus to configure your controls to map actions properly. This should hopefully allow you to be able to play GZDoom with your controller fully, with all inputs correctly bound and working as expected.

Rebind

If you're still having problems with controllers in GZDoom, then another way to do that would be setting up the Steam Deck controller profile. First, create a mouse and keyboard WASD profile in Gaming Mode so the trackpad's used as a mouse. You can then bind your controller buttons to keys and in-game actions. This allows one to indirectly use their controller in GZDoom by converting controller inputs into keyboard commands.

GZDoom is primarily keyboard-and-mouse-oriented, so controller support may not be perfect. The key to finding the best setup for your in-game playstyle is experimentation and patience.