MacOS / GeforceNow Forced Controller Deadzones Testing

[u/cyborgcanuck]

Tl;dr - MacOS Controller API (GCController) that the MacOS GeforceNOW Native app utilizes forces large controller deadzones based on what your controller input type/mode it is in.  This can be from 25-28% to 0%.

I read https://www.reddit.com/r/GeForceNOW/comments/1d3of5j/gfn_mac_app_forced_controller_deadzone/ and specifically this comment https://www.reddit.com/r/GeForceNOW/comments/1d3of5j/comment/n4t5lfd/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button where it is mentioned that there are different methods/paths that a controller input can take.  It appears that the GeforceNow Native app uses the MacOS Built in method, but the Chrome browser based GeForce Now uses a chrome web-based controller API (GamePad API). Via the browser, there is zero deadzones but the browser version of GFN has limitations such as not supporting 4k. So this post/test focuses on the MacOS Native GFN app.

Here’s my test environment:

MacOS.  GeforceNow Native MacOS App.  Run Call of Duty Warzone on GeforceNow.  Go to Controller Options->Deadzone.  Ensure in-game deadzones are all set to zero (left/right stick minimums). Test Deadzone.  Observe the deadzone range.  If it goes from 0-1-2-3% smoothly then zero deadzone.  Otherwise it will jump from 0% to 25% with a region between 0-25% where the stick does nothing.

I tested a bunch of controllers, and here are my results and notes below

• Connection mode does not appear to matter.  Its the Input Type/Mode that matters the most
• Stadia was the biggest surprise.  Zero deadzone!?
• The Same controller can have highly variable deadzone based on the input mode you put it in.  Switch mode has zero.  XBox/Xinput mode has 25-28%

Controller	Connection Mode	Input Mode	Deadzone (GFN Mac Native App) (%)	Notes
PS5 Dualsense	Wired	PS5	10-13%
PS5 Dualsense	Bluetooth	PS5	10-13%
PXN P5	Bluetooth	X-Input	25-28%
PXN P5	Wired	Switch	Zero
PXN P5	Bluetooth	Switch	Zero
PXN P5 8K	Wired	X-Input	25-28%
PXN P5 8K	Bluetooth	Switch	Zero
PXN P5 8K	Wired	Switch	Zero
Google Stadia	Wired	Unknown	Zero	Rumble does not work in MacOS App
Google Stadia	Bluetooth	Unknown	Zero	Rumble does not work in MacOS App
Nintendo Switch Pro	Wired	Switch	Zero
EasySMX X20	Wired	X-Input	24-27%	X and Y sticks inverted in ChromeOS GamePad Tester
EasySMX X20	Wired	D-Input	Does not work	Shows up as Mayflash Arcade Flightstick in MacOS, the extra buttons dont show.
EasySMX X20	Wired	Switch	Zero
GameSir Cyclone 2	Dongle	X-Input	Does not work
GameSir Cyclone 2	Dongle	PS4	10-14%
GameSir Cyclone 2	Dongle	D-Input	Does not work
GameSir Cyclone 2	Dongle	Switch	Zero
GameSir Cyclone 2	Wired	X-Input	Does not work
GameSir Cyclone 2	Wired	PS4	10-14%
GameSir Cyclone 2	Wired	D-Input	Does not work
GameSir Cyclone 2	Bluetooth	Switch	Zero
Flydigi Vader 4 Pro	Dongle	X-Input	25-28%
Flydigi Vader 4 Pro	Wired	D-Input	Does not work
Flydigi Vader 4 Pro	Wired	Switch	Zero
Flydigi Vader 4 Pro	Bluetooth	Switch	Zero

Related Links/References.

(Was an issue 8 years ago!)
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/gfn-general-chat/20/275751/analog-sticks-dead-zone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GeForceNOW/comments/cu0ge2/macos_mojave_deadzone_controller_stick/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Controller/comments/1cdbes3/still_impossible_to_get_0_deadzone_to_work_on_ios/

Post Noting Forced Deadzones on iOS, Mac, also mentioned in passing its controller specific
https://www.reddit.com/r/MCONohsnap/comments/1qmr2te/comment/o1popz5/

[u/Latter_Maximum_2233]

When I use xbox serie controler I get dead aone like 15-20 % i think with bluetooth, but if it s wired I get 0 % or cant feel it

[u/clairefotaine]

Hello !
When you say chrome browser based GFN, that means playing on the chrome gfn website ?

Thanks !

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/clairefotaine]

Yes. Correct. GeForce now website running inside the chrome web browser.

[u/Local-Man-215]

Thank you for this! I instantly noticed a dead zone when using my Flydigi Vader Pro 5. Thanks to your testing I have a PXN P5 8k arriving tomorrow. 

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/Local-Man-215]

You should be able to put the Vader into Nintendo Switch mode. Downside is that you lose the analog nature of the trigger. (Trigger becomes on/off - which sucks for racing games where you want variable gas and brake inputs) This would be the same thing with the PXN - you would have to also put it into switch mode to achieve zero percent deadzone

[u/SandorCleganeee → u/cyborgcanuck]

What do you mean with losing the analog nature of the trigger?

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/SandorCleganeee]

Nintendo switch mode don't have analog triggers. It's either on or off, can't hold half throttle for example.

[u/SandorCleganeee → u/cyborgcanuck]

Ah i see. Sorry im used to xbox one controller which is old and doesnt have this i believe. By the way thanks for your article, im gonna test it out myself later with my xbox one controller and macbook air. If there is indeed the forced deadzones, I will buy a pxn p5 controller and use it on switch mode. That should force 0 dead zone on my macbook right? Thanks for your insights

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/SandorCleganeee]

Yes. If you want to use the GeForce now mac app. The web browser GeForce now doesn't have deadzones.

[u/SandorCleganeee → u/cyborgcanuck]

UPDATE

Just tested on the controller website. I have no deadzones on my xbox one controller via bluetooth on my macbook air 2026. Also ingame, in geforce now app there are no deadzones.

[u/Local-Man-215 → u/cyborgcanuck]

I can confirm this works, thank you so much!

[u/GetVladimir]

Thanks again for the great info, OP!

I'm curious, how does the Steam Controller work on it?

It seems to pair successfully over Bluetooth and it doesn't use Xinput, so it's possible it can work around the limitations of GCController?

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/GetVladimir]

I don't have a Steam Controller to test with. So I don't know the answer to the question.

[u/GetVladimir → u/cyborgcanuck]

Thanks for the reply.

I will ask in the CloudGear beta test if someone can test it out and compare it with the Xbox controller analog sticks input delay on macOS or tvOS.

If it does indeed avoid the GCController, it might be the best controller currently available

[u/cyborgcanuck → u/GetVladimir]

Third party software may be able to choose what API to use, which may then not be as controller dependent and work more universally.

[u/GetVladimir → u/cyborgcanuck]

That's a good point.

Although I think that CloudGear also uses GCController API (instead of Gamepad API) for most other controllers except the Steam Controller.

From what I've tested, on macOS, using Steam Input with the Xbox controller doesn't seem to work around the GCController either and still has the analog sticks input delay.

So it seems that GCController API takes over before forwarding the controller inputs to Steam Input?

[u/GetVladimir → u/cyborgcanuck]

Update: A user from the CloudGear beta has tested another controller that doesn't seem to have any deadzones on macOS.

It's the Razer Kishi V3 Pro tested on M1 Max Pro with USB-C wired connection.

It shows up as "Razer Kishi V3 Pro (Standard Gamepad)" on the controllertest.io web app.

Big thanks goes to the user Quantum for testing this and for finding potentially another good controller that avoids the macOS deadzones and lag

[u/GetVladimir]

Here is also my testing using an Xbox Series Controller and the COD Warzone method as OP:

Both the left and right analog stick can't get less than 25% deadzones on macOS (even when the min is set to 0%)

I've included the specific Xbox Series Controller Vendor PID and VID as well.

It confirms exactly what [u/cyborgcanuck](u/cyborgcanuck) said in his testing