Arcade2TV-XR X-Input, Steam Input, and Solo Mode

Useful Answer

The Arcade2TV-XR configuration software only detects/remaps button input in Keyboard Mode or D-Input Mode. In X-Input Mode or Pinball Mode, the software may show N/A over buttons because those modes use a fixed hardware-level layout and cannot be remapped in the same screen.

To verify X-Input at the Windows level:

To separate hardware from X-Input/software issues, switch to Mode 1 / Keyboard Mode and open a text editor. Joystick and button presses should produce keyboard characters. If Mode 1 works, the USB cable and internal board are communicating, and the issue is more likely X-Input mode, operating system handling, or an adapter/hub.

In Mode 4 / X-Input, the touch panel should show a startup sequence of three green flashes. That indicates the unit successfully entered X-Input mode.

If an older Tankstick is detected by Windows but Mode 4 never appears as an X-Input gamepad, and replacement cables plus a replacement PCB do not fix it, suspect the mode-selector switch or its wiring harness. One legacy Tankstick recovered joystick function after the mode-selector harness was replaced, even though the red indicator light still did not come back on.

For TeknoParrot and similar PC emulator setups, use blinking green X-Input 2-player mode and map the controls inside the emulator. If Player 2 appears stuck on a joystick-hat/D-pad style input, press the P2 Mode touch-panel button to swap the Player 2 stick between joystick, D-pad, and analog-pad reporting. One resolved TeknoParrot TMNT case started working after switching to green X-Input mode and using the P2 Mode toggle.

Some TeknoParrot games may also work with Arcade2TV-XR in Keyboard Mode when TeknoParrot is set to DirectInput. In one confirmed Golden Tee / TeknoParrot case, the trackball worked as a normal mouse, the customer selected DirectInput in TeknoParrot, and then reported that the controller worked. If trackball input is not picked up, also check the TeknoParrot game profile for RawInput Trackball-style input options and avoid windowed mode when that game requires full-screen/raw input.

For two-player Steam / PC games on Arcade2TV-XR, firmware v2.21 already supports two-player X-Input. Hold the P1 Mode touch-panel button until the unit cycles to blinking green X-Input mode. Firmware v2.25 is also a good recommendation when the customer wants the added Xbox button combo. One confirmed Steam case worked after switching the existing v2.21 unit to blinking green X-Input mode.

For wired PC use with older Pinball FX2, update the controller to firmware v2.27 or newer and use Pinball Ready Mode, shown by a blinking purple light. Hold the P1 Mode button for about 5 seconds to cycle modes until the purple blinking light appears.

For newer Arcade2TV-XR units that show up incorrectly in Windows, such as appearing as a wheel device instead of a normal X-Input controller, update to firmware v3.04 or newer. Firmware v3.04 introduced generic X-Input 2-player mode and X-Input pinball mode. After updating, hold P1 Mode to switch to flashing purple pinball mode. One confirmed case reported that this fixed PC X-Input recognition for Pinball FX3 on Steam.

On Apple Silicon Macs, check macOS Security & Privacy > Input Monitoring permissions. For firmware recovery or updates on Mac, use the Chrome-based web firmware updater:

USB hubs and USB-C converters can interfere with how the computer identifies the device as a game controller. When troubleshooting, test a direct USB connection when possible.

If inputs register in Windows but not in a Steam game:

Arcade2TV-XR does not require VR. For flat-screen PC or Steam Deck play, connect the controller to the PC or Steam Deck, output the computer to the TV, and use X-Input Mode for most modern or classic controller-compatible games. Support does not maintain a complete compatible-game list, so the practical rule is: if the game supports a standard controller, X-Input mode is the first mode to try. Keep the controller on current firmware, such as v2.27 or newer for older non-haptics setups.

For customers new to emulation on PC, LaunchBox is a reasonable starting point because there are many setup tutorials. For a simpler no-emulator path, suggest controller-compatible classic game collections or services such as Antstream Arcade or Atari 50th Anniversary Collection.

The joystick hardware uses digital microswitches. Switching to analog-pad mode changes how the controller reports the stick to the computer, but it does not turn the physical joystick into a true analog thumbstick with gradual range of motion.

For single-player games where the customer wants the whole Tankstick to act as Player 1, suggest Solo Mode. Solo Mode lets the left joystick control movement and the right joystick control camera/view in single-player setups.

Firmware v2.27 added an XInput-Solo-style layout for existing Arcade2TV-XR units without the haptics kit. Validated testing found it worked with Pinball FX VR, Steam Deck, a Windows mini PC running Steam, Atari VCS in Switch firmware mode, and a low-cost EmuELEC box after first-time button mapping. For quick switching between devices, unplugging and reconnecting the Arcade2TV-XR USB cable may be needed so the new host performs a clean USB handshake.

Do not promise general X-Input remapping inside the normal configuration app. One support exchange clarified that full X-Input customization was not being implemented because of a controller-chip limitation. If a customer has a very specific mapping need for one app, support may be able to provide a special firmware build after the customer supplies the desired mapping, but that should be treated as a custom exception rather than a standard workflow.

For dual-stick behavior on console-style adapter setups, the documented dual-stick mode depends on the 2-in-1 adapter plus Brook adapter combination. For PC/emulator use, prefer software mapping inside the game or emulator when possible.

Source Context

The customer recovered an Arcade2TV-XR from firmware/bootloader trouble, then saw the controller work in Keyboard Mode and D-Input Mode while X-Input appeared as N/A in the configuration software. Support clarified that this is expected behavior and gave joy.cpl, Steam Input, D-pad/analog toggle, and Solo Mode as the next checks. Later X-Input cases added Mode 1 text-editor testing, three-green-flash X-Input confirmation, Mac Input Monitoring, direct-USB troubleshooting, the digital-microswitch limitation when toggling between D-pad and analog-pad reporting, Pinball Ready Mode for wired Pinball FX2, TeknoParrot guidance for green X-Input 2-player mode plus the P2 Mode toggle, a confirmed Keyboard Mode plus DirectInput TeknoParrot case, a confirmed Steam two-player case on v2.21 blinking green X-Input mode, a legacy Tankstick case where a faulty mode-selector harness prevented proper Mode 4 behavior after cables and PCB had already been replaced, pre-sales guidance that Arcade2TV-XR can be used without VR as a PC/Steam Deck-to-TV controller in X-Input mode, validated v2.27 testing across Pinball FX VR, Steam Deck, Windows mini PC, Atari VCS, and EmuELEC, a v3.04 firmware case that fixed a newer Arcade2TV-XR being recognized as a wheel instead of the expected PC X-Input controller, and a customer-confirmed Arcade Time Capsule discussion clarifying the X-Input remap chip limitation, custom-firmware exception path, and 2-in-1 plus Brook adapter dependency for documented dual-stick mode.