MrCrayfish's Controllable Mod — Guide
Interface & UI Elements
Controllable adds several visual elements to the Minecraft HUD and menus to facilitate controller gameplay. These elements can be toggled or customized in the mod's configuration menu.
Button Hints
Context-sensitive icons appear on the screen to show which buttons perform specific actions (e.g., "A: Jump", "Y: Inventory"). These hints change dynamically based on whether the player is in a menu, riding an animal, or swimming.
Paper Doll
A small, animated 3D model of the player character appears in the top-left corner of the screen when the player is performing actions like sprinting, sneaking, or flying, similar to the Console and Bedrock editions.
Virtual Cursor
In menus and inventories, the mod introduces a virtual mouse cursor controlled by the thumbstick. This allows for precise item management and interaction with modded GUIs that may not have native controller navigation support.
Controller Selection Menu
Accessed via a new controller icon in the standard Options menu, this screen allows players to select their active gamepad, calibrate deadzones, and test inputs.
Mechanics
The mod introduces several new gameplay mechanics to adapt the Java Edition's keyboard-centric design to a controller.
Radial Menu
The Radial Menu is a powerful tool that expands the limited number of buttons on a controller. By holding a designated button (defaulting to the Left Bumper), a wheel appears on the screen. Players can assign any keybinding—including those from other mods—to slots on this wheel.
Analog Movement
Unlike the binary input of a keyboard (on/off), Controllable supports analog input for the thumbsticks. This allows for varying movement speeds based on how far the stick is pushed and true 360-degree directional control.
| Mechanic | Description | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 360° Movement | Move in any direction without being locked to 45° increments. | Disabled on some servers to prevent anti-cheat triggers. |
| Quick Crafting | One-click crafting from the recipe book using the controller. | Streamlines inventory management. |
| Unified Input | Merge two or more controllers into a single unified input. | Useful for co-op or accessibility setups. |
| Vibration | Haptic feedback for actions like taking damage or falling. | Can be toggled in settings. |
Controller Setup & Connection
Depending on your operating system, connecting a controller may require different methods. Controllable uses the SDL2 library (in modern versions) or GLFW for input.
Windows Methods
- Plug & Play: Many modern controllers (Xbox One/Series, DualSense) work immediately upon being plugged in via USB.
- GlosSI: An open-source tool that enables Steam Input for non-Steam games like Minecraft, providing high compatibility for various gamepads.
- DS4Windows: Specifically for PlayStation (PS4/PS5) and Nintendo controllers, this tool emulates an Xbox controller which is easily detected by the mod.
Linux Methods
- Steam Virtual Gamepad: By adding the Minecraft Launcher as a non-Steam game, Linux users can leverage Steam's robust controller drivers.
- xpadneo: An advanced driver for Xbox One wireless controllers that provides better Bluetooth support on Linux systems.
Mac OS
Most controllers are supported natively via Bluetooth or USB. Simply connect the device and select it in the Controllable menu.