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Haute42 B16 with Astrolokeys keycaps

-slightly modified layout using larger keycaps to make it easier to hit auxillary buttons

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UNBREAKABLE BOND: Sonic and Tails themed linking fighsticks

-features the S2 DRIVE, an Allfightsticks 9.5" SEGA 2P mini arcade stick, alongside the mi2con (aka miNIcon), an even smaller arcade stick built inside a project box

-S2 Drive features a Seimitsu lever and buttons, and the mi2con has a rotary encoder for playing arcade games with rotary joysticks or spinners

-ethernet ports on the sides allow the mi2con to connect to the S2 Drive, allowing it to be used to add extra controls for training mode, or right stick and camera controls

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S2-WAVECRUSH v.00

-analog arcade stick for playing 3D action games

-SASI JLF analog mod for true analog movement

-generic thumbstick for camera control

-10mm buttons for dpad, as well as toggle and momentary switches to enable dpad directions on the stick

-custom layout with 24mm Qanba KS buttons and 30mm thumb and pinky buttons for triggers

-built inside an Ikea artist easel enclosure

demo videos:

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GRAPEFRUIT FIGHTER ABBADON MK 2

-handmade leverless controller with vinyl wrap and "S2 ENGINE" custom layout

-GP2040ce Advanced Breakout Board

-Qanba Gravity KS Silent buttons

-4 aux jacks on the side for external buttons

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Haute42/Cosmox Hautepad P12 Review

The latest in Haute42’s (Cosmox?) line of budget leverless controllers, the confusingly branded Cosmox Hautepad P12 takes a back to basics approach, bucking the wild layouts and constant iteration of their main controller lines. Instead it offers the traditional 8 button leverless layout, housed in an injection molded plastic case--a first for the brand. 

The case itself takes more than a few design cues from Razer’s Kitsune, with a stark black color scheme, pill shaped start and select buttons, with round auxiliary function buttons. Where it does differ is in the size and variety of functions. The P12 is definitely a miniature controller, reminding me of Hori’s Fighting Stick Mini line, though thankfully more functional.

It’s lightweight and shows its budget construction, but the smooth edges of the molded case, anti slip pads and good buttons give it a pleasant finish compared to other Haute42 offerings, which often have an almost DIY feel to them. The low profile switches and lack of a top plexi panel make customization limited, but that’s to be expected.

Like other Haute offerings, the P12 runs the open source GP2040ce firmware, giving it an edge over licensed controllers with multi system compatibility, including PC, Switch, PS3, PS4 and even limited Xbox and PS5 support with the purchase of a passthrough device. It takes some work to get it running, but all the software for configuration is right on the controller itself, allowing you remap your controls, set multiple profiles, and set up shortcuts from a web browser. I set mine up with profiles for fighting, action and rhythm games, with the turbo button remapped as a function key for easily swapping between them. 

The size and lack of a WASD style up button makes the P12’s utility outside of fighting games limited, and feels quaint compared to the variety of experimental layouts found elsewhere, but as an entry level leverless, often found retailing at the 50USD range, it’s hard to argue with the value presented. 

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Xbox Adaptive Controller Hub

A dedicated page for information on the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Continuously updated. A more detailed breakdown is available past the jump.

Useful links:

Video guides to using the XAC by the MS Gaming Accessibility Team: Detailed visual breakdown on how to use the various XAC features, easier to parse and find info than the dedicated support pages.

Xbox Adaptive Controller Input Device Specifications: Specs on how exactly the ports on the XAC are wired, what inputs are supported, and how they connect to TRS and TRRS connectors. Useful for making custom switches/potentiometer based devices for the XAC.

OVERVIEW The Xbox Adaptive Controller is essentially a hub for pairing multiple input devices into a which output as a regular Xbox controller. The advantage of this is more flexibility in what devices and games you can connect to, without a reliance on separate software.

For example, you could use the USB inputs on the side to attach joysticks to emulate each analog stick, with other individual buttons controller by various other styles and sizes of switch.

Because this is a hardware solution, it can also be used on various other platforms by using converters. For example, you could use a Mayflash Magic S adapter to play on Switch or PS4.

The various 3.5mm jacks on the back also correspond to various inputs, so they can be switched on the fly by simply plugging them into a different port. Each of these ports can also be reassigned using the Xbox Accessories app on Windows or Xbox, and up to three profiles saved to the controller itself--not including the default, unchanged profile.

USB Port Mappings

There are two USB ports, one on either side, and which one you plug a controller into will decide which analog stick it is mapped to, and what the corresponding buttons do. Controllers must be D-Input/HID joystick protocol, meaning no Xbox controllers or controllers reading as x-input are supported. PS4 devices are also generally not supported, though if it has a PS3 compatibility option that may work.

The first 8 assigned buttons will be mapped automatically. These buttons can be remapped, but there will be some overlap on each USB port, and the available buttons CANNOT be reassigned. You'll want to know which buttons are available beforehand. Directional hatswitches/dpads will also not be assigned, unless they read as individual buttons.

The default mappings are show below.

You can see that each side shares the X1, X2, Menu, and View buttons, though with each flipping the 1,2 and 7,8 assignments.

NOTE: Reassigning the Menu and View buttons will NOT reassign the corresponding buttons on the XAC unit itself. So if you're ok accessing those buttons through the hub you can essentially treat those as two extra wild card buttons (X1 and X2 are the other wild cards).

Supported USB Controllers:

A list of controllers I've personally found to work with the XAC.

-8bitdo Lite 2: left analog, face buttons and shoulder buttons available. Triggers unmapped. (8Bitdo Lite does not work).

-Brook Fightboard PCBs: XB Fighting Board not compatible. PS4 compatible PCBs can be used by assigning the directions to Left Stick and making sure it boots up in PS3 mode.

-GP2040ce Advanced Breakout Board. Can be used by assigning the directions to Left Stick and making sure it boots up in Dinput mode.

-Logitech X52 HOTAS: analog axis, trigger, pinky and top buttons, as well as T1/T2 buttons detected. No twist axis or hat switches. Must be plugged into throttle to function, but no buttons or axes on the throttle are detected.

-Saitek AV8R-01 HOTAS PS3 Edition: analog axis, trigger, top buttons as well as T1-4 detected. No twist axis or hat switches.

-Thrustmaster T16000 HOTAS: analog axis, trigger, top buttons as well as the top button row on the left side, and rightmost button on the row below are detected. Function buttons can be switched by toggling the left/right handed switch on the bottom of the stick.

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S2:V07-PETIT PARADISI

A leverless fighting game controller using the S2 ENGINE custom layout I've been refining. Combination of a WASD and Hitbox style layout, with the final column moved to thumb buttons, and two 30mm buttons at the pinky positions.

The front has a peg for guitar straps, and the strap lock can be used to hold cables. A latch lets you easily access the internals and extra storage. The left and right 30mm buttons can be swapped out for an analog stick using an Adafruit breakout board. Two headphone jacks on the side can be used to attached extra inputs, such as a foot pedal.

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S2:V06- TWIN TANGRAM

A digital twin stick controller for Virtual On, 8-way twin stick shooters, and more. Housed in the case of a Hori RAP VX-SA, the first arcade stick I bought.

A custom metal plate supports the joystick and buttons, and the cable door has been repurposed to pass through the usb signal and store the cable. The function button panel has been removed and replace with a transparent plexi panel that has function buttons and a status OLED mounted to it.

Uses the GP2040ce open source firmware and an Advanced Breakout Board by TheTrain.

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Welcome to the S2 PROJECT!

The S2 Project is my personal archive of custom controller builds, teardowns and obscure controllers.

My goal is not only show off the things I build, but provide a resource for others attempting to build their own controllers, figure out niche uses, or simply learn how a piece of hardware works.