Suggestion: Expose muliplayer controller configuration in emulationstation

[Lazorne]

I see the Steamdeck with RetroDECK as a portable arcade I want to bring to friends/family and plug into an external source like a TV for sweet multiplayer action.

Batocera is once again a good example of this: In the Emulationstation GUI they expose both controller settings for up to 8 controllers. The Steamdecks bluetooth supports up to 7 bluetooth devices but you can have physical controllers connected as well.

8 is the right number as only a few games supports more then that.

Right now RetroArch in RetroDECK is configured as shipped for 5 devices under "Maximum Users" under input. The first step should be to change this to 8 as default.

Then later expose the configuration in GUI.

Edit:

The good thing is that you don't have to build in some kind of Bluetooth device checker like Batocera since you can just connect everything via Valves GUI under Settings - Bluetooth. So it's just a matter of exposing the controllers.

[Lazorne]

Right now If you connect a bluetooth controller in the SteamOS settings you can change the input to that controller in RetroArch. How ever it does not get the ID-Name of the device so it shows up as Steam Input Controller #(X value per device connection order).

Example:

1 = SteamDeck's native controller 2 = PS3 controller 3 = X360 controller ect..

This can lead to confusion when you have multiple devices types connected via bluetooth and wire. There must be a way to get the type of controller that is connected, in the SteamOS bluetooth gui it's correctly named.

[thejacer87]

has anyone even got multiplayer going? i've tried to use other controllers and it doesn't work as expected.

basically i want to dock the deck to the tv and have 2-4 wireless controllers connected to play. so far, doesn't work

[Lazorne]

has anyone even got multiplayer going? i've tried to use other controllers and it doesn't work as expected.

basically i want to dock the deck to the tv and have 2-4 wireless controllers connected to play. so far, doesn't work

I have gotten it to work RetroArch:

1. Connect the controllers in "Steam" Bluetooth and sync them so RetroDeck can find them (Steam Button - Settings - Bluetooth)
2. Launch an RetroArch emulator in RetroDeck
3. Press R3+L3 (Joysticks)
4. In RetroArch go to Settings - Input
5. Scroll down to Port 1 Controls ect....
6. Change the Device Index into the corresponding controller you want to use. So Port 2 Controls to deviceindex of your designated controller 2 (you will need to change controller 1 as well since it maps to the Steam Deck's buttons).
7. Save the configuration.
8. Resume the game.

Also remember that the Steam Deck handle a maximum of 7 bluetooth devices. So if you have bluetooth headset, mouse, keyboard that will eat away slots.

[Lazorne]

We have newer solutions in mind now