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Stick-based gyro activation: test guide

Implements the stick-movement behaviour discussed in upstream issue 14. This is separate from the Bluetooth haptics candidate.

Setting

Open Profile Editor > Gyro > Stick-based gyro activation.

  • Off preserves the existing behaviour and is the default for old profiles.
  • Enable while stick is moving allows gyro when the selected stick moves beyond the threshold.
  • Pause while stick is moving pauses gyro beyond the threshold and restores it near the centre.
  • Select Left stick, Right stick, or Either stick. Either means movement of at least one stick.
  • The default movement threshold is 15% of stick travel. The gate releases below 13% to avoid repeatedly switching near the boundary. This is independent of the stick's output deadzone.

This condition combines with existing gyro activation buttons for mapped gyro aiming; it does not replace them. L3/R3 clicks do not count as stick movement. The setting also pauses angular velocity sent to virtual DS4, DualSense/Edge and Switch 2 controllers. It preserves physical sensor data, accelerometer/gravity, buttons and stick output. UDP/DSU motion is unchanged. Games which use accelerometer tilt directly may still react to tilt while angular velocity is paused.

DualSense hardware checks

Use a copy of your normal profile in the candidate portable build. Close other DS4Windows copies first. No driver update is needed.

  1. Start with Off and confirm your existing gyro aiming works. Select a suitable output mode or test native motion in a game which supports your virtual DS4/DualSense. Disable competing Steam Input gyro mapping for this comparison.
  2. Select Right stick, Enable while stick is moving, 15%. Save. With the right stick centred, rotate the controller: mapped aiming/native gyro should stay paused. Move the right stick well beyond the threshold and repeat: gyro should work. Return to centre: it should stop promptly. Stick movement itself still reaches the game normally.
  3. Select Pause while stick is moving. Save. Repeat: gyro should now work at centre, pause during movement and resume at centre without replaying motion from the paused interval.
  4. Check Left stick and Either stick. The unselected stick should not affect the gate. For Either, gyro should remain in the moving state until both sticks return near centre. Clicking centred L3/R3 should not activate movement.
  5. Move slowly around the threshold. Small drift should not cause rapid on/off changes. Raise the threshold if your stick drifts. Test diagonal movement too.
  6. If you use an activation button, verify it still needs to be held/toggled as configured. The stick setting must not bypass it or change its toggle state. For a simple first test, use Always On in the mapped aiming controls.
  7. Save, close and reopen the profile. Confirm the three settings persist. Switch to an old profile: its stick gate should be Off. Reconnect the controller and repeat a centre/movement check over USB and Bluetooth.
  8. Check normal buttons, sticks, haptics and adaptive triggers. If you use UDP/DSU motion, confirm it continues independently of this setting.

Report the connection type, selected virtual output, gyro output mode, three new settings and any failing step. Native-game motion and DS4Windows mouse/stick aiming are different paths; please identify which one you tested.