We have recently added some articles and videos to the GameAccess site that show different methods of using an alternative controller to play PlayStation 5 (PS5) games on a PS5 console, when someone is unable to use a PS5 DualSense controller.
This article will share all of these methods in one place and link to the original articles for further reading. The transcripts below each video can also be opened to help follow instructions.
At the time of publishing this, these methods are allowing us to play PS5 games on the console with a range of alternative controllers. However, future device or console updates may alter this, so players must follow these methods at their own risk.
In addition to the methods below, Sony have announced the PlayStation 5 Access Controller which will be released on 6 December 2023, which may be a suitable and first-party supported alternative for some players.
Contents
Method 1. Cronus Zen + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
Method 2. Besavior + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
Method 3. Cronus Zen (for one alternative controller on PS5)
Method 4. Besavior (for one alternative controller on PS5 (XAC not compatible))
Method 5. PS Remote Play + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
Method 6. PS Remote Play + reWASD (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
Method 1. Cronus Zen + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
This method uses two adapters (a Cronus Zen and a Titan Two) to enable two alternative controllers to be used simultaneously. This could be a DualShock 4 controller or an Xbox One or Series controller alongside an Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC), for instance. The Cronus Zen allows you to use one alternative controller on the PS5 console, whilst the Titan Two enables you to add an additional controller to use two alternative controllers simultaneously.
Set-up video:
Some of the people we work with are unable to use a DualSense controller that is required to play many PlayStation 5 games.
In this video, we will look at how to set up a Cronus Zen and a Titan Two to use alternative controllers like an Xbox Adaptive Controller (also known as an XAC) or DualShock 4 controller to play PlayStation 5 games on a PlayStation 5 console.
You can plug compatible controllers like an Xbox Adaptive Controller or DualShock 4 into the Cronus Zen directly, but using the Titan Two allows us to use two controllers simultaneously to play.
For instance, we may use a DualShock 4 controller as the main controller, but we use an XAC alongside it to use some accessibility switches. Or you may use joysticks and switches via the Xbox Adaptive Controller for most controls but have the DualShock 4 ready to use for any touchpad or Sixaxis parts of games.
The PlayStation 5’s DualSense, whilst connected as part of the set-up to verify the Cronus Zen, cannot be used for controls.
Using the Titan Two also allows you to use Titan Two scripts that may improve accessibility for you and also gives you the option to connect a PC to add certain controls, such as voice control.
We will go through setting up each of the pieces of equipment, then show how to connect them all to play.
Step 1. PlayStation 5 Console Settings
You will need to make sure your PlayStation 5 console is set so that controllers are used via a USB cable and not via Bluetooth.
To do this, in the PlayStation Home menu, navigate to ‘Settings’, select ‘Accessories’, go into ‘Controller’, then select ‘Communication Method’ and set it to ‘Use USB Cable’ instead of ‘Use Bluetooth’.
Step 2. Set Up the Cronus Zen
Download the software currently in beta from beta.cronusmax.com/ps5-beta and unzip the folder.
Open the ‘cm update tool’ file from the downloaded and unzipped folder to open the ‘Collective Minds Firmware Update Tool’ and connect the Cronus Zen to a PC using the Cronus’ rear USB port.
Hold down the Reset Button underneath the Cronus Zen. Its screen will say ‘Zen Bootloader’ and the device should then appear in the Update Tool. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware. Close the tool when finished and unplug the Cronus Zen.
Hold the two blue buttons on top of the Cronus Zen and reconnect it to the PC again to hard reset it, again using the Cronus’ rear USB port.
After 4 seconds the LEDs will flash red, green, then blue, indicating a successful hard reset, erasing all memory slots and putting your Zen back to factory defaults.
Unplug Cronus Zen from your PC.
Open Zen Studio from the downloaded and unzipped folder and connect your ZEN to the PC using its ‘PROG’ USB Port this time, which is on the side of the Cronus.
Go to ‘Tools’ then select ‘Reset Zen Studio’ to reset all of Zen Studio’s settings back to its defaults.
When Zen Studio restarts, go to the ‘Device’ tab and make sure that both ‘PS4 Specialty’ and ‘PS Remote Play’ are ‘DISABLED’. Also check the Output Protocol is set to ‘AUTO’ and nothing else.
Step 3. Set up the Titan Two
Download and install some Titan Two software called ‘Gtuner IV’ from the Titan Two’s consoletuner.com website.
Once downloaded and installed, connect your Titan Two to a PC with its USB cable, using the PROG port on the back of the Titan Two. If you are prompted to update the firmware, follow the on-screen instructions.
Under Device Configuration, set the ‘Output Protocol’ to ‘USB Automatic’ and make sure ‘Recall loaded memory slot between power cycles’ is ticked, which will automatically load the profile we will put on next, instead of needing to manually select it using the buttons on the Titan Two device. Then select the tick box to ‘Power Off the device with the Console’.
We need to install a script that blocks a bug that appears if using an XAC. It will also force the necessary ‘PS4 mode’.
Click on the Device Configuration tab, and search ‘Online Resources’ with “adaptive Zen”, then drag the DRAG DROP box to a free memory slot.
Then, finally, click on the number of the memory slot you saved the profile to.
These settings will automatically save to your Titan Two.
Close Gtuner and unplug the Titan Two from your PC.
Step 4. Setting up equipment for the first time
Connect the short cable that comes with the Cronus Zen to its ‘CONSOLE/PC’ USB port which is on the back of it.
Then connect a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, to the ‘A1’ USB Port on the side of the Cronus Zen.
Use the short Titan Two USB cable to link the Titan Two OUTPUT port to the front left USB port of the Cronus Zen.
Connect your gaming controllers to the front of the Titan Two. Next, plug the short cable connected to the back of the Cronus Zen into your PlayStation 5 console.
You can turn on the PlayStation 5 by pressing the button on the front of the console or by using the PS Home button on the connected DualSense PlayStation 5 controller.
If the light on one or both of your alternative controllers is not on, you may need to manually turn the controller on.
If one or more high-powered USB devices are connected to the XAC, the Titan Two may need extra power.
Here, we are connecting a Micro USB to USB-C cable from the USB PROG port on the Titan Two, into the USB-C slot on the front of the console to give it the extra power needed for using this particular set-up.
Step 5. Playing after initial set-up
Connect the cable from the back of the Cronus Zen to your PlayStation 5.
Turn on the PlayStation 5 from the front of the console or using the PS Home button on the DualSense controller.
If you are using an additional cable to give extra power to the Titan Two, connect this as well.
If the light on one or both of your alternative controllers is not on, you may need to manually turn the controller on.
Turn off the console in the usual way, in the PlayStation Home menu.
Unplug the Cronus Zen from the PlayStation 5.
If you are using an additional cable to give extra power to the Titan Two, unplug this as well.
Original Article:
PlayStation 5 Access (with Cronus Zen + Titan Two Daisy Chain)
Method 2. Besavior + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
This method also uses two adapters (a Besavior and a Titan Two) to enable two alternative controllers to be used simultaneously.
The Besavior allows you to use one alternative controller on the PS5 console, whilst the Titan Two enables you to use an XAC (which is not compatible just using the Besavior), and also to add an additional controller to use two alternative controllers simultaneously, if needed.
Set-up video:
This video will show how to use a Besavior and a Titan Two device to use an Xbox Adaptive Controller on PlayStation 5. This is a method that is currently allowing us to play PlayStation 5 games on the console with an Xbox Adaptive Controller, without using PS Remote Play.
The Besavior itself can be used as a stand-alone controller with back paddles, but it also has a feature that allows you to connect different controllers through it to use on the PlayStation 5 console.
In this set-up we are using it for this second feature and not for the back paddles. It is, however, needed for touchpad, Sixaxis and microphone access, but the rest of the inputs on the Besavior will not work.
We are using the Titan Two device in this set-up to enable us to use the Xbox Adaptive Controller with the Besavior and also to allow us to use a co-pilot controller alongside it.
Step 1. Set up the Titan Two
First, we will need to put a script onto a free slot on a Titan Two to help these devices to work.
You do this by downloading some Titan Two software called ‘Gtuner’ from the Titan Two’s consoletuner.com website.
Once downloaded and installed, connect your Titan Two to a PC with its USB cable, using the prog port on the back of the Titan Two.
In Gtuner, select ‘File’, ‘New’, ‘Minimum GPC Script’ and give it a name.
Then visit the forums on the Console Tuner website to locate and copy the script. The link to this page is in the video description.
Paste the code into the space in the script and then put it onto a free slot by selecting the ‘Install Active Code to Memory Slot’ icon and choose a free slot. In this case we put it onto slot ‘2’.
Then click on the number of the slot you have put the profile on.
You also need to set the ‘Output Protocol’ to ‘USB Automatic’ by going to ‘Device Configuration’, then selecting ‘USB Automatic’ from the drop-down option.
Under Device Configuration, you can also select ‘Recall loaded memory slot between power cycles’ to automatically load your profile instead of manually selecting it on the Titan Two device’.
You can then close Gtuner and remove the Titan Two from your PC. You can now use the Titan Two in this set-up.
Step 2. PlayStation 5 console settings
You will need to make sure your PlayStation 5 console is set so that controllers are used via a USB cable and not via Bluetooth. To do this, in the PlayStation Home menu navigate to “Settings”, select “Accessories” and go into “Controller (General)”, then select “Communication Method” and set it to ‘Use USB Cable’ instead of ‘Use Bluetooth’.
Step 3. First time equipment set-up
Turn on the PlayStation 5 console.
Link the Xbox Adaptive Controller to the front of the Titan Two. You can also connect another compatible controller to use alongside it, in the second slot.
Connect the ‘on the go’ USB adapter that comes with the Besavior and then use the short cable that comes with the Titan Two to link the Titan Two via the OUTPUT port to the Besavior.
To give the Titan Two the extra power it needs, we are connecting a Micro USB to USB-C cable from the USB PROG port on the Titan Two, into the USB-C slot on the front of the console.
You can now connect the Besavior via USB, to the PlayStation 5 console. Make sure you are in the correct Titan Two memory slot. Here we select slot 2, where our profile is.
When prompted on-screen to ‘press the ‘PS’ button on your controller’, you need to press the Xbox button on the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
When you are using this set-up, you need to make sure that you always turn your PlayStation 5 on at the console, not the controller. Otherwise, the controller might connect wirelessly, and the set-up won’t work.
Step 4. Playing after initial set-up
Next time you want to play, turn on the PlayStation 5 using the power button on the front of the console. Then connect the Besavior again, along with the extra power to the Titan Two.
Make sure you are in the correct Titan Two memory slot.
When prompted on-screen to ‘press the ‘PS’ button on your controller’, press the Xbox button on the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
To turn off the console, do this in the normal way in the PlayStation menu…and then unplug the Besavior from the console and also unplug the additional power to the Titan Two.
Original Article:
Using the Xbox Adaptive Controller on PlayStation 5 (via a Besavior x Titan Two)
Method 3. Cronus Zen (for one alternative controller on PS5)
This method uses one adapter (a Cronus Zen) to enable one alternative controller, such as an XAC, a DualShock 4 or an Xbox One or Series controller, to be used.
Setup video:
In this video, we will look at how to set up a Cronus Zen to use alternative controllers like an Xbox Adaptive Controller, an Xbox One or Series controller or a DualShock 4 controller to play PlayStation 5 games on a PlayStation 5 console.
The PlayStation 5’s DualSense, whilst connected as part of the set-up to verify the Cronus Zen, cannot be used for controls whilst another controller is connected to the Cronus Zen.
So, for touchpad or motion controls, you will need to temporarily unplug the alternative controller to use the connected DualSense, unless using a DualShock 4 controller as the alternative controller, which does have motion and touchpad controls.
Step 1. PlayStation 5 Console Settings
You will need to make sure your PlayStation 5 console is set so that controllers are used via a USB cable and not via Bluetooth.
To do this, in the PlayStation Home menu, navigate to ‘Settings’, select ‘Accessories’, go into ‘Controller’, then select, ‘Communication Method’ and set it to ‘Use USB Cable’ instead of ‘Use Bluetooth’.
Step 2. Set Up the Cronus Zen
Download the software currently in beta from beta.cronusmax.com/ps5-beta and unzip the folder.
Open the ‘cm update tool’ file from the downloaded and unzipped folder to open the ‘Collective Minds Firmware Update Tool’ and connect the Cronus Zen to a PC using the Cronus’ rear USB port.
Hold down the Reset Button underneath the Cronus Zen. Its screen will say ‘Zen Bootloader’ and the device should then appear in the Update Tool. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware. Close the tool when finished and unplug the Cronus Zen.
Hold the two blue buttons on top of the Cronus Zen and reconnect it to the PC again to hard reset it, again using the Cronus’ rear USB port.
After 4 seconds the LEDs will flash red, green then blue indicating a successful hard reset, erasing all memory slots and putting your Zen back to factory defaults.
Unplug the Cronus Zen from your PC.
Open Zen Studio from the downloaded and unzipped folder and connect your Zen to the PC using its ‘PROG’ USB Port this time, which is on the side of the Cronus.
Go to ‘Tools’, then select ‘Reset Zen Studio’ to reset all of Zen Studio’s settings back to its defaults.
When Zen Studio restarts, go to the ‘Device’ tab and make sure that both ‘PS4 Specialty’ and ‘PS Remote Play’ are ‘DISABLED’. Also check the output protocol is set to ‘AUTO’ and nothing else.
Step 3. Setting up equipment for the first time
Connect the short cable that comes with the Cronus Zen to its ‘CONSOLE/PC’ USB port, which is on the back of it.
Then connect a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, to the ‘A1’ USB Port on the side of the Cronus Zen.
Connect your compatible alternative controller to the front left USB port of the Cronus Zen.
Next, plug the short cable connected to the back of the Cronus Zen into your PlayStation 5 console.
You can turn on the PlayStation 5 by pressing the button on the front of the console or by using the PS Home button on the connected DualSense PlayStation 5 controller.
Step 4. Playing after initial set-up
Connect the cable from the back of the Cronus Zen to your PlayStation 5.
Turn on the PlayStation 5 from the front of the console or using the PS Home button on the DualSense controller.
Turn off the console in the usual way, in the PlayStation Home menu.
Unplug the Cronus Zen from the PlayStation 5.
Original Article:
Using a Single Alternative Controller on PlayStation 5 (using a Cronus Zen)
Method 4. Besavior (for one alternative controller on PS5 (XAC not compatible))
This method also allows a single alternative compatible controller to be used through the Besavior, but unlike the Cronus Zen in Method 3, you are unable to use an XAC with this method. You can use a DualShock 4, Xbox One/Series or Nintendo Switch Pro controller.
To use an XAC with a Besavior, you would need to add a Titan Two adapter, as demonstrated in Method 2.
More information:
Besavior Controller Expansion Feature for PS5
Method 5. PS Remote Play + Titan Two (for one or two alternative controllers on PS5)
This method uses a Titan Two adapter on a PC or PS4 console to allow you to use one or two alternative controllers to control your PS5 console via the internet using the PS Remote play app. It may be a good idea to check that your internet is fast and stable enough before purchasing additional equipment, by trying out the PS Remote Play app, first.
You can already use a DualShock 4 without an adapter with PS Remote play, but using a Titan Two lets you use an alternative controller (such as an Xbox One or Series controller or an XAC) or combine two, to use two controllers simultaneously.
Further information on what you need can be found on the PlayStation website: PS Remote Play
Original Article:
PS Remote Play x Titan Two | Play PS5 Games with Alternative Controllers
Method 6. PS Remote Play + reWASD (for one alternative controller on PS5)
This method uses a piece of software called reWASD on a PC to use one connected alternative controller to control a PS5 console, via PS Remote play. This allows you to use an alternative controller, such as an XAC or an Xbox One or Series controller to play.
As before, it may be a good idea to check that your internet is fast and stable enough before purchasing additional equipment or software, by trying out the PS Remote Play app, first.
Original Article:
PS Remote Play x reWASD | Play PS5 Games with Alternative Controllers
Further information:
You can use the ‘PS5 Access‘ tag on the GameAccess site, to access posts related to accessing the PS5 console.
The ‘PlayStation‘ category also shares PS5 game settings related to the motor accessibility of games and equipment for PlayStation Console access, too.
Information on the PlayStation 5 Access Controller, to be released later this year, can be found here:
Sony’s Project Leonardo for PlayStation 5
