XboxControllerTester

For the most part, whether it is due to habit or preference, the majority of PC users tend to choose the quintessential mouse and keyboard as their method of input in video games, thanks to the accuracy, precise controls and wide variety of simultaneous button presses for carrying out various functions. However, when it comes to playing platformers or racing titles, the joystick, d-pad and analog triggers may provide an advantage. As such, adding controller support to your UWP game or app can be a neat option for multiple scenarios, which can be done through programs such as XboxControllerTester.

When downloaded, it is recommended to make sure that the suitable dependencies are installed if they are not already present on the system before implementing the app’s dedicated certificate into the suitable store.

Once launched, the app instantly displays a straightforward window featuring the real-time values of its buttons as soon as they are detected, which acts as a template meant to showcase how the left thumb stick can be used to make in-game characters go from tiptoeing to walking and sprinting, depending on the context or mission requirements. The precise measurements displayed when actuating the triggers allows developers to mimic the acceleration pedal in a racing game when driving, or adjusting the speed when piloting an airplane.

Moreover, it is important to note that the app itself is designed as a proof-of-concept for what its API can achieve when implemented into a UWP program’s framework, which can come in handy for enhancing gameplay by adding support for multiple controllers during local multiplayer gaming sessions, or for developing full-screen launchers optimized for large TVs that can be more easily navigated using the joystick. Finally, since hardware does tend to break down after intensive usage, the program can be useful when testing whether button presses register or not, for troubleshooting purposes.

Whether you want to design a racing game for the Universal Windows Platform for sale on the Microsoft Store and the fine controls of an analog trigger can be more desirable than the traditional keyboard, or you simply wish to check if your controller’s inputs register properly when activated, XboxControllerTester may be the right fit for you, given its ease of use and openly available source code ready to be implemented in the program of your choice.