• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Report: Xbox will start banning unlicensed third party (wireless) controllers in November

ReBurn

Gold Member
JFC you guys what next you think they're going to ban their officially licenced "designed for xbox" controllers too? Because look:

I never said I wanted them to ban anything. All I said is that they have no obligation to support unlicensed accessories, especially ones that could enable cheating, and that using turbo during competitive play is cheating. You're the one twisting yourself into knots over a silly take on turbo functionality.
 

Mr Reasonable

Completely Unreasonable
Are we seriously calling turbo cheating? There are third party xbox controllers with that built it. You can even get turbo on an xbox first party Adaptive controller. That's absolutely no reason to block devices on it.

I think the more problematic things are the things that automatically control recoil on guns, I'm not sure what other features there are tbh, but that one seems to be something that'd change the playing field.
 

Three

Member
This turbo mode is 100% cheating online

If you want to use it playing offline I couldn't care less
I never said I wanted them to ban anything. All I said is that they have no obligation to support unlicensed accessories, especially ones that could enable cheating, and that using turbo during competitive play is cheating. You're the one twisting yourself into knots over a silly take on turbo functionality.
The point is that people can use turbo online with an officially licenced controller right now (regardless of your opinion of turbo) and that's no reason to block Brook.
I think the more problematic things are the things that automatically control recoil on guns, I'm not sure what other features there are tbh, but that one seems to be something that'd change the playing field.
Brook doesn't have those. It's just a controller adapter.
 
Last edited:

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
The point is that people can use turbo online with an officially licenced controller right now and that's no reason to block Brook.

Brook doesn't have those. It's just a controller adapter.
And I am in the camp if people use this function online vs other players its cheating and Brook is not just a controller adapter, it allows programming controllers that isn't allowed natively and I don't care what 8BitDo is allowing

You seem to be taking this very personally, I guess that turbo function works well for you online and we are hitting a nerve?
 

King Dazzar

Member
And I am in the camp if people use this function online vs other players its cheating and Brook is not just a controller adapter, it allows programming controllers that isn't allowed natively and I don't care what 8BitDo is allowing

You seem to be taking this very personally, I guess that turbo function works well for you online and we are hitting a nerve?
I dont play competitive online stuff these days. But aren't games equipped with detection algorithms? Which if the publisher or xbox decided turbo wasn't playing fairly, ban players by detecting the fire rate? Not sure how digital triggers factor into all of this and cross play with PC with no hardware restrictions.
 

Three

Member
And I am in the camp if people use this function online vs other players its cheating and Brook is not just a controller adapter, it allows programming controllers that isn't allowed natively and I don't care what 8BitDo is allowing
Define what you mean by programmable because it does nothing different that an xbox elite controller doesn't already allow in terms of programming it. The Official Xbox Adaptive controller is even more programmable and offers turbo too so it clearly is allowed. The 8bitdo stick is an official licenced product too so what makes the brook adapters different other than it being deemed unauthorised by MS?
You seem to be taking this very personally, I guess that turbo function works well for you online and we are hitting a nerve?
Nope, I don't use turbo at all. I was just wondering why you posted videos of turbo on Brook adapters and mentioned it like it's some kind of cheating device when official licenced products have turbo too and you're free to use those online. I didn't know it was just your own opinion of turbo unrelated to the device ban.
 
Last edited:

DryvBy

Member
All this over unlicensed controllers, the discord must be popping today.

Captain America Lol GIF by mtv


I especially like the post where the dude is saying imagine if the situation was reversed, not realizing that Sony already doesn't allow unlicensed controllers .. or hell their own official DS4 to be used on PS5 games even if you disable the haptics :messenger_grinning_sweat:





There's always a lighthouse, there's always a goalpost.


200.gif

There's the whataboutism I was talking about.
 

splattered

Member
Will this in any meaningful way make it so it's harder to use the stupid controller mods people use to cheat in FPS? If so, 1,000x worth banning 3rd party controllers on console.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
Define what you mean by programmable because it does nothing different that an xbox elite controller doesn't already allow in terms of programming it. The Official Xbox Adaptive controller is even more programmable and offers turbo too so it clearly is allowed. The 8bitdo stick is an official licenced product too so what makes the brook adapters different other than it being deemed unauthorised by MS?

Nope, I don't use turbo at all. I was just wondering why you posted videos of turbo on Brook adapters and mentioned it like it's some kind of cheating device when official licenced products have turbo too. I didn't know it was just your own opinion of turbo unrelated to the device ban.
We are just going round and round and you are intentionally being obtuse

We have both stated our feelings and its time to end the back and forth
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Then the torch is passed to them.

Can we just make consoles that support wonky 3rd party trash controllers? Tried of buying $50 "cheap" controllers.


For what it's worth, Windows Insider's "INSIDER GUYS" (if you believe that stuff) say this is happening now because they (MS) are expanding the scope of their third party licensees, so more companies will be able to get officially licensed.
 

Three

Member
We are just going round and round and you are intentionally being obtuse

We have both stated our feelings and its time to end the back and forth
How? You said its programmable like it offers some other "cheat" beyond the officially allowed on licenced controllers turbo. You said it is somehow programmable. When I ask what programmability you say we've both shared our feelings? Come on man, that's not a 'feeling' or covered ground. You stated something that you believe differentiates it from official products and I asked what you believe that is. If you don't want to discuss that that's fine but to claim I'm being obtuse or going round here is just unnecessary.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
How? You said its programmable like it offers some other "cheat" beyond the officially allowed on licenced controllers turbo. You said it is somehow programmable. When I ask what programmability you say we've both shared our feelings? Come on man, that's not a 'feeling' or covered ground. You stated something that you believe differentiates it from official products and I asked what you believe that is. If you don't want to discuss that that's fine but to claim I'm being obtuse or going round here is just unnecessary.
Because you said
Define what you mean by programmable because it does nothing different that an xbox elite controller doesn't already allow in terms of programming it.

Thats straight wrong as the elite controllers so not allow programming for a turbo function and I don't care what 8BitDo does nor do I care about what people do playing offline

And sorry if you don't see a difference in allowing a turbo mode for online play that turns a single shot sniper into an automatic weapon as being cheating vs remapping regular buttons
 

splattered

Member
Oh I know just saying Tom seems to think cronus will stop working but Jez doesn't think but the funny part to me was Jez saying MS can't detect those devices to begin with

Seems like i recall you saying someone (Ybarra?) mentioning that they've been able to detect them for a long time but never did anything about it. If this is Microsoft finally doing something about it then GOOD. I dont know how anyone that enjoys playing competitive shooters online could complain about this move in any capacity. If it causes issues with not being able to use adapters to use other brand racing wheels and stuff like that.. well yeah that sucks but i feel like we would be better off with people having to buy the peripherals for the actual systems they are designed for, or MS/Sony somehow making official adapters to support that sort of thing but still have the ability to detect and block the BS stuff like cronus.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
Seems like i recall you saying someone (Ybarra?) mentioning that they've been able to detect them for a long time but never did anything about it. If this is Microsoft finally doing something about it then GOOD. I dont know how anyone that enjoys playing competitive shooters online could complain about this move in any capacity. If it causes issues with not being able to use adapters to use other brand racing wheels and stuff like that.. well yeah that sucks but i feel like we would be better off with people having to buy the peripherals for the actual systems they are designed for, or MS/Sony somehow making official adapters to support that sort of thing but still have the ability to detect and block the BS stuff like cronus.
Ybarra always said they knew exactly when someone was using those devices but Xbox would not do anything and leave it up to each game devs how they wanted to handle it
 

Three

Member
Because you said

Thats straight wrong as the elite controllers so not allow programming for a turbo function and I don't care what 8BitDo does nor do I care about what people do playing offline
So your programmabilty was still referring to the turbo function only? OK. I said that because you made it seem like something else. The Brook offers nothing the elite doesn't already allow outside of turbo. There are official pads that allow turbo and button mapping both first and third party official licenced ones. You're dealing with those people online already.

And sorry if you don't see a difference in allowing a turbo mode for online play that turns a single shot sniper into an automatic weapon as being cheating vs remapping regular buttons
I'm not saying I don't see a difference between enabling turbo and button mapping. Where's that coming from?

I'm saying turbo and button mapping is already allowed on official licensed controllers. Its all very well saying I don't care what officially licenced manufacturers like 8bitdo do but what's brook doing different exactly that it deserves to be banned and those official licensed products still allowed? It's obviously not to prevent turbo and button mapping online is it?
 
Last edited:

Three

Member
Seems like i recall you saying someone (Ybarra?) mentioning that they've been able to detect them for a long time but never did anything about it. If this is Microsoft finally doing something about it then GOOD. I dont know how anyone that enjoys playing competitive shooters online could complain about this move in any capacity. If it causes issues with not being able to use adapters to use other brand racing wheels and stuff like that..well yeah that sucks but i feel like we would be better off with people having to buy the peripherals for the actual systems they are designed for, or MS/Sony somehow making official adapters to support that sort of thing but still have the ability to detect and block the BS stuff like cronus
Because it's an excuse. if Ybarra is already saying they can detect when people use those cheating devices what reason is there that you should stop people using other brand racing wheels in other games, or their fighting sticks?
Just continue to detect the cheating devices in your game and ban them.
 

midnightAI

Member
Absolute bollocks! More likely Sony is notorious for setting the lawyers on anyone who even thinks of infringing their IP (e.g. those guys who thought they were going to make PS5 faceplates on day one).
So you are saying they aren't harder to clone? (note: I didn't say they are too hard to clone)

So compared to a PS4 controller and XBox controller they are just the same? No additional parts that make it harder? (And that's without even touching on the patents for parts inside the controller, but most Chinese companies don't care about that)

Do you think these Chinese knock off companies care about lawyers?
 
Last edited:

splattered

Member
Because it's an excuse. if Ybarra is already saying they can detect when people use those cheating devices what reason is there that you should stop people using other brand racing wheels in other games, or their fighting sticks?
Just continue to detect the cheating devices in your game and ban them.

I dont even care if it IS an excuse, if it helps cut down or just stop cheaters as an added bonus then i'm all for it.
 

Three

Member
I dont even care if it IS an excuse, if it helps cut down or just stop cheaters as an added bonus then i'm all for it.
It seems to have changed very little though. I've not seen any reports that the update will stop XIM or even cronus, only reports of it having stopped devices like brook and reports of a new licensing program MS plan to launch.

Everyone has been doing cronus and XIM detection on a game by game basis already to try and stop cheating online and the block on unlicensed controllers and adapters is something new and unnecessary. The situation regarding devices like cronus and XIM remains the same as it was in April. This detection might even do very little to stop XIM since it can spoof the connected controller and act official.

I think this "anti-cheat" angle is manufactured by people trying to look for a positive angle to this bad news. The fact that not even MS PR'd the hell out of this should tell you everything.
They also plan to launch a new Sebile controller soon. What better way to get people to buy a new controller from them or their business partners (third party Sebile featureset pads incoming!) than to stop some of the ones people are already using from working. Whether adapters for other controllers people own or third party cheap unlicensed ones.
 

calistan

Member
So you are saying they aren't harder to clone? (note: I didn't say they are too hard to clone)

So compared to a PS4 controller and XBox controller they are just the same? No additional parts that make it harder? (And that's without even touching on the patents for parts inside the controller, but most Chinese companies don't care about that)

Do you think these Chinese knock off companies care about lawyers?
The reason nobody makes cheap PS5 controllers isn't because they're in any way difficult to produce, it's because Sony loves to sue anyone who steps out of line. I still haven't forgiven them for shutting down Lik-Sang.

I guess Xbox controllers are slightly different because they've become the standard on PC, so there are lots of compatible versions around. But the wireless protocol for Xbox (consoles) is proprietary, so you either go bluetooth and/or wired on PC, wired-only on console, or licence it.
 

Kataploom

Gold Member
There's an addon on Switch that lets you plug mouse and keyboard to the console through it, but the console still detects it as a controller, so players abuse it to use M&K with aim assist :D

Yeah, this was supposed to be a thing years ago but it's just now that someone is doing some actions against these cheaters.
 

StereoVsn

Member
Sony charge for cloud saves ffs. My PS4 pro died, and so for around 18 months I gamed on my Xbox one. Next gen came round, bought a PS5, and because I hadnt paid the 'bill' for over a year, all my cloud saves gone, an entire generation of gaming wiped out. Thats some bullshit. I dunno why everyone round here is on Sonys dick all the time.
PS4 allowed copying saves to USB. PS5 started denying that shit for PS5 games.
 

StereoVsn

Member
The point is that people can use turbo online with an officially licenced controller right now (regardless of your opinion of turbo) and that's no reason to block Brook.

Brook doesn't have those. It's just a controller adapter.
Yep and a lot of folks use Brook to get peripherals like fight sticks, wheels and so on to work on Xbox. Like me :(.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
An "update" from MS

"Microsoft and other licensed Xbox hardware partners' accessories are designed and manufactured with quality standards for performance, security, and safety. Unauthorized accessories can compromise the gaming experience on Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.) Players may receive a pop-up warning that their accessory is unauthorized. Eventually, the unauthorized accessory will be blocked from use to preserve the console gaming experience. For a full list of accessories that are supported on Xbox consoles, please visit www.xbox.com/accessories, our support pages here and here, and our Designed for Xbox Partner Hardware Program page here."

 

Three

Member
Yep and a lot of folks use Brook to get peripherals like fight sticks, wheels and so on to work on Xbox. Like me :(.
I would wait and see what happens. I hope and have a good feeling things will work out in the end and nothing will happen to brook devices. It's damn ridiculous but there are ways to get your fight stick working using an £80 MS 'adapter' of sorts but I'm not sure it's worth it. It depends how much you value your current fight stick.

That's the other thing, if anybody was hell bent on cheating there will be 'official' undetectable ways to use modded controllers online and it's only going to grow that market instead (at least MS get paid I guess) while those who use these adapter devices to be able to save money and space get screwed over.

The reason nobody makes cheap PS5 controllers isn't because they're in any way difficult to produce, it's because Sony loves to sue anyone who steps out of line. I still haven't forgiven them for shutting down Lik-Sang.

I guess Xbox controllers are slightly different because they've become the standard on PC, so there are lots of compatible versions around. But the wireless protocol for Xbox (consoles) is proprietary, so you either go bluetooth and/or wired on PC, wired-only on console, or licence it.
What do you mean by steps out of line? As in breaking some patent laws?

It's because it's difficult to compete with the volume when it comes to official controllers. Especially on a Dualsense. The BOM and potential patent licensing is too high when you don't have volume so third parties are relegated to the expensive "Pro" category that match dualsense features to make sensible margins or they gut things like VCA, motorised triggers, gyroscope etc to lower cost and improve margin to sell 'specialist' PS5 controllers.
The cheap third party xbox controllers have it slightly different in that they often make bog standard PC controllers that are compatible wired with xbox and can compete in featureset to the current official one. The potential sales volume and demand make more sense to the manufacturer there.
 

BlackTron

Member
They are the company in the OP so kind of thinking they are impacted.

In OP Brook said "several" of its leading products "will either be partially or completely impacted". So we know they are impacted, but we don't know the whole story.

They make some accessories with both wired and wireless functionality, where the wireless works using the built-in wireless pairing of the console. Perhaps such a device will be in theory "partially impacted" because it works wired but not wireless any longer.

Meanwhile maybe a wireless USB adapter will still work because it is not a wireless device to the system, it's a wired one.
 

StereoVsn

Member
In OP Brook said "several" of its leading products "will either be partially or completely impacted". So we know they are impacted, but we don't know the whole story.

They make some accessories with both wired and wireless functionality, where the wireless works using the built-in wireless pairing of the console. Perhaps such a device will be in theory "partially impacted" because it works wired but not wireless any longer.

Meanwhile maybe a wireless USB adapter will still work because it is not a wireless device to the system, it's a wired one.
I think any unauthorized devices wired or wireless are affected judging by the info released.

Guess we will know more as folks test.
 
Anyone remember the golden era of third party ps1 controllers? I had one that had a super smooth, almost satiny texture. Good times.
 

calistan

Member
Now that this update has been out in the wild for a few weeks, has anyone had any experience of which adapters are actually being blocked?

I ask because, by unfortunate coincidence, my old Brook Xbox 360 > Xbox One adapter has chosen this moment to finally roll over and die. It had been a bit temperamental for a while, often needing to be plugged and unplugged a few times before it would light up. But now it's just inert, and doesn't work on PC either.

So I'm either going to 1) get another one - it's really old and presumably not affected by the ban, although obviously I can no longer test that. 2) Get a newer model and risk it being banned. 3) Sacrifice an Xbox controller and wire up the board to my arcade stick.

What are arcade stick users doing these days (other than abandoning Xbox)?

RzqwgPK.jpg
 
Top Bottom