Weird. I use a ps5 controller on arch, with the zen kernel. The only issue I had is, that the pairing process is somewhat finicky, but nothing that you described.
this post was submitted on 13 May 2025
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could you tell me how do you install your steam client ? thank you!
The binary with pacman / yay. Don't use the flatpak.
Do you use amd or intel. if amd, which amd driver you are using ?
amdgpu
Unfortunately I don't have the same setup: I use the xboxdrv kernel module to use the PS5 controller for Steam games without native PS5 controller support. I deactivated Steam input for this game (Elite Dangerous, btw.).
I connect (USB) the controller before starting Steam. After connection I immediatly unload the hid_playstation module and start xboxdrv as root (I needed to create a custom mapping for it). Only after that I start Steam and can use the PS5 controller flawlessly in-game.
You might ask, why I am using a PS5 controller instead of an xbox controller. It's all about ergonomics. The PS5 controller is simply better for me.
yay I choose the PS5 controller because I like its ergonomics more but I will probably have to go to the same route as you :/
also do you zen kernel or the mainline kernel and which version of kernel you are using ?
I am using gentoo-sources-6.12 . Idk, how mainline that is. It is pretty upstream with some Gentoo patches, I guess.
To increase the responsiveness of the system I changed the default setting of the scheduler to prioritize user input over system background processes (I don't remember the exact config name in the kernel). Other than that, I compiled it very close to Gentoo handbook recommendations: selecting only what I need and carefully choose between compiling drivers and features as a module or builtin.
Have you tried mainline just to diagnose whether it's the kernel that's the issue or something else? Fwiw using mainline myself with EndeavourOS which is easyArch, no issues pairing or playing with my dualsense controller out of the box
Is ps controller support setting checked in steam?
I've disabled everything and Steam still crashed. My wild guess is that my Steam client will crash when any controller is connected to the pc and not only the ps5 controller :/
If i start Steam client with -nojoy everything works fine but i can not use the controller with Steam :(
I've never had such a problem. Been using Linux for years. Ps5 controller is just plug and Play.