Xbox Input Devices

XID Overview

XIDs are USB devices.

The hardware side is USB with a different plug while the software side is USB without HID-descriptors. Technicly a XID is a USB-hub for the Memory-Units and the XBL Communicator. The logical XID gamepad USB device is internally connected to that hub.

USB Adapters

The Xbox input devices are USB devices. As such, you can connect a keyboard to the Xbox, or a gamepad to your PC. In fact, Linux already has drivers for the gamepad. In order to preserve Xbox hardware, please do not cut OEM Xbox cables to make an adapter. Decent adapters can be acquired cheaply (~$10 USD ea. on 2017.04.30).

Wiring diagram to show how male Xbox controller plug maps to standard female USB connector. White cable color is depicted as gray for better visibility. The yellow cable is not connected to the USB side, as it's exclusive to Xbox.

Port (From)	Plug (To)	Link
Xbox	USB-A	Amazon
USB-A	Xbox	Amazon

Wiring

Untested / unverified! Take this with a grain of salt.

Pin	Typical cable color	Description
1	Red	VCC
2	White	USB D+
3	Green	USB D-
4	Yellow	VBlank signal from video output (for Lightguns)
5	Black	GND

Protocol

XID are similar to HID but have custom Vendor requests

Control Transfers

GET_DESCRIPTOR

bmRequestType: 0xC1
bRequest: 6
wValue: 0x4200
wIndex: Interface number
wLength: <length of respective report; typically 16>

Actual length is truncated to size of descriptor or wLength. Whichever is smaller.

typedef struct XIDDescriptor {
    uint8_t bLength;
    uint8_t bDescriptorType;
    uint16_t bcdXid;
    uint8_t bType;
    uint8_t bSubType;
    uint8_t bMaxInputReportSize;
    uint8_t bMaxOutputReportSize;
    uint16_t wAlternateProductIds[4];
};

bDescriptorType is probably always 0x42.

bType = 1: Xbox Gamecontroller

bSubType:
- 0x01 = Gamepad (Duke)
- 0x02 = Gamepad (Controller-S)
- 0x10 = Steering wheel

GET_CAPABILITIES

bmRequestType: 0xC1
bRequest: 1
wValue:
- 0x0100 for input
- 0x0200 for output
wIndex: Interface number
wLength: <length of respective report>

STALL if wValue not supported.

Actual length is truncated to size of report or wLength. Whichever is smaller.

typedef struct XIDGamepadCapabilities {
    uint8_t bReportId;
    uint8_t bLength;
    <Data>
}

The data will be similar to the GET_REPORT, but instead of storing actual values, it will have bits set (1) where the bit is valid in the respective report. If the bit is auto-generated, it will be cleared (0).

SET_REPORT

bmRequestType: 0x21
bRequest: 9
wValue: 0x0200
wIndex: Interface number
wLength: <length of report; typically 6>

STALL if wValue not supported.

Typical report

typedef struct XIDGamepadReport {
    uint8_t bReportId;
    uint8_t bLength;
    <Data>
}

GET_REPORT

bmRequestType: 0xA1
bRequest: 1
wValue: 0x0100
wIndex: Interface number
wLength: <length of report; typically 20>

STALL if wValue not supported or if wLength is greater than report size.
ACK if supported.

Typical report

typedef struct XIDGamepadOutputReport {
    uint8_t report_id; //FIXME: is this correct?
    uint8_t length;
    <Data>
}

Interrupt transfers

Alternatively interrupt-in and interrupt-out transfers can be used for GET_REPORT and SET_REPORT respectively.

In case of the interrupt-in, there is another status which can occur now:

NAK if supported but no changes since last ACK.

Standard Gamepads

USB Descriptors

Most standard gamepads share the same USB descriptor. Usually the only difference will be the VID / PID. See https://github.com/xboxdrv/xboxdrv/blob/stable/src/xpad_device.cpp for a list of devices.

Controller to Xbox

20 bytes

Field	Offset (Bytes)	Mask	Notes
-Up	2	0x01
-Down	2	0x02
-Left	2	0x04
-Right	2	0x08
	2	0x10
	2	0x20
-Press	2	0x40
-Press	2	0x80
	4	0xFF	Button is analog
	5	0xFF	Button is analog
	6	0xFF	Button is analog
	7	0xFF	Button is analog
	8	0xFF	Button is analog
	9	0xFF	Button is analog
Left-Trigger	10	0xFF	Trigger is analog
Right-Trigger	11	0xFF	Trigger is analog
-Horizontal	12	0xFFFF	Negative = Left; Positive = Right
-Vertical	14	0xFFFF	Negative = Down; Positive = Up
-Horizontal	16	0xFFFF	Negative = Left; Positive = Right
-Vertical	18	0xFFFF	Negative = Down; Positive = Up

Xbox to Controller

6 bytes

Field	Offset (Bytes)	Mask	Notes
Left actuator strength	2	0xFFFF
Right actuator strength	4	0xFFFF

Xbox games use the full range from 0x0000 to 0xFFFF for both the left and right actuators.

The Microsoft Controller S will not react to packets which don't have a value of 6 in the length field of the header. The Fanatec Speedster 3 ForceShock will still react to those. Further testing is necessary with other gamepads.

Steering wheels

MadCatz Wheel

^[FIXME]

Fanatec Speedster 3 ForceShock

Pedals

The Pedals are not a USB device.

Note that the cable going to the pedals is also not a USB port despite using the Xbox controller breakaway plug. Likewise, plugging the pedals to a PC / Xbox won't provide a USB / XID (it is detected as garbage):

new full-speed USB device number 14 using xhci_hcd
device descriptor read/64, error -71
device descriptor read/64, error -71
new full-speed USB device number 15 using xhci_hcd
device descriptor read/64, error -71
device descriptor read/64, error -71
new full-speed USB device number 16 using xhci_hcd
Device not responding to setup address.
Device not responding to setup address.
device not accepting address 16, error -71
new full-speed USB device number 17 using xhci_hcd
Device not responding to setup address.
Device not responding to setup address.
device not accepting address 17, error -71
unable to enumerate USB device

Internal HUB

USB Descriptors

Power not connected, pedals not connected, not in Tuning mode:

Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x3767 
  idProduct          0x0102 
  bcdDevice            0.01
  iManufacturer           0 
  iProduct                1 End
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower               64mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval             255
Hub Descriptor:
  bLength               9
  bDescriptorType      41
  nNbrPorts             3
  wHubCharacteristic 0x000d
    Per-port power switching
    Compound device
    Per-port overcurrent protection
  bPwrOn2PwrGood       50 * 2 milli seconds
  bHubContrCurrent     64 milli Ampere
  DeviceRemovable    0x02
  PortPwrCtrlMask    0xff
 Hub Port Status:
   Port 1: 0000.0103 power enable connect
   Port 2: 0000.0100 power
   Port 3: 0000.0100 power
can't get debug descriptor: Resource temporarily unavailable
Device Status:     0x0003
  Self Powered
  Remote Wakeup Enabled

Steering wheel (and Pedals)

Always connected to port 1 of the internal HUB

USB Descriptors

Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x3767 
  idProduct          0x0101 
  bcdDevice            2.80
  iManufacturer           0 
  iProduct                0 
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           32
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass        88 Xbox
      bInterfaceSubClass     66 Controller
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0020  1x 32 bytes
        bInterval               4
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0020  1x 32 bytes
        bInterval               4
can't get debug descriptor: Resource temporarily unavailable
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

Light guns

EMS TopGun II

This is an unlicensed / unofficial Xbox accessory.

The website for this product can be found at http://www.hkems.com/product/xbox/EMSTopGun2.htm

The gun presents itself as a standard Xbox gamepad. It uses a different USB descriptor for Xbox (X) and the other mode (P). There is no internal hub in this device.

EMS TopGun II	Xbox Gamepad	Notes
Stick
Trigger		Digital only, either 0 or 255
Grip
A
B
START
SE/BA
Aim Left / Right	-Horizontal	Absolute position using the full stick range
Aim Up / Down	-Vertical	Absolute position using the full stick range

There is no right thumbstick, thumbstick presses, black/white button or trigger buttons (All of those read constant zeros).

Turbo Mode

Turbo mode 0 keeps pressed while trigger is held
Turbo mode 1 toggles rapidly while trigger is held
Turbo mode 2 toggles rapidly and once in a while while trigger is held

Force Feedback

The upper part of the gun is moveable and should push back to simulate recoil (possibly hurting your thumb while you are using the stick). I could not get the force feedback working, but I'm sure I've had it working in the past on PC.^{[citation needed]}

USB Descriptors

This is the descriptor in the Xbox mode (X).

Bus 003 Device 016: ID 0b9a:016b  
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x0b9a 
  idProduct          0x016b 
  bcdDevice            4.57
  iManufacturer           1 EMS̖E
  iProduct                2 EMS TopGun
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           32
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass        88 Xbox
      bInterfaceSubClass     66 Controller
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               4
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               8
can't get debug descriptor: Resource temporarily unavailable
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

Joytech Sharp Shooter

This is an unlicensed / unofficial Xbox accessory.

The third party light gun from Joytech reports itself as 2 devices and mentions pattent US6287198 it came with a detachable viewfinder scope without any magnification. a red dot apears in the viewfinder, its a reflection of a red led, powered by the gun over usb.

model numer: JS-901D

Joytech Sharp Shooter	Xbox Gamepad	Notes
Stick
Trigger		Digital only, either 0 or 255 ^{[citation needed]}
B (Left side)
B (Right side)
B (Magazine button)
x
y
START
BACK
Aim Left / Right	-Horizontal	^{[citation needed]}
Aim Up / Down	-Vertical	^{[citation needed]}

There is no right thumbstick, thumbstick presses, black/white button or trigger buttons ^{[citation needed]}

Fire/Reload Mode

Normal mode does nothing, normal operation
Auto reload mode toggles rapidly to rappidly reload ^{[citation needed]}
Auto fire+reload mode toggles + rapidly ^{[citation needed]}

USB Descriptors


Bus 003 Device 025: ID 1292:3006 Innomedia 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x1292 Innomedia
  idProduct          0x3006 
  bcdDevice            1.50
  iManufacturer           0 
  iProduct                0 
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           32
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          1 (error)
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass        88 Xbox
      bInterfaceSubClass     66 Controller
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              2 (error)
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0020  1x 32 bytes
        bInterval               4
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0020  1x 32 bytes
        bInterval               4

Bus 003 Device 024: ID 1292:3006 Innomedia 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x1292 Innomedia
  idProduct          0x3006 
  bcdDevice            1.50
  iManufacturer           1 (c) 2004 R0R3 Inc.
  iProduct                2 US Patent 6,287,198
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          4 (c) R0R3 Devices Inc. US Patent 6,287,19Ē
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower               64mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface              5 (error)
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval             255
Hub Descriptor:
  bLength               9
  bDescriptorType      41
  nNbrPorts             3
  wHubCharacteristic 0x000d
    Per-port power switching
    Compound device
    Per-port overcurrent protection
  bPwrOn2PwrGood       32 * 2 milli seconds
  bHubContrCurrent     64 milli Ampere
  DeviceRemovable    0x02
  PortPwrCtrlMask    0x0e
 Hub Port Status:
   Port 1: 0000.0103 power enable connect
   Port 2: 0000.0100 power
   Port 3: 0100.0100 power
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

Steel Battalion Controller

Steel Battalion Controller Layout

USB Descriptors

From http://www.yaronet.com/topics/154490-steel-battalion-controller-homemade#post-15

bcdUSB:             0x0110
bDeviceClass:         0x00
bDeviceSubClass:      0x00
bDeviceProtocol:      0x00
bMaxPacketSize0:      0x08 (8)
idVendor:           0x0A7B
idProduct:          0xD000
bcdDevice:          0x0100
iManufacturer:        0x00
iProduct:             0x00
iSerialNumber:        0x00
bNumConfigurations:   0x01

ConnectionStatus: DeviceConnected
Current Config Value: 0x00
Device Bus Speed:     Full
Device Address:       0x03
Open Pipes:              0

Configuration Descriptor:
wTotalLength:       0x0020
bNumInterfaces:       0x01
bConfigurationValue:  0x01
iConfiguration:       0x00
bmAttributes:         0x80 (Bus Powered )
MaxPower:             0xFA (500 Ma)

Interface Descriptor:
bInterfaceNumber:     0x00
bAlternateSetting:    0x00
bNumEndpoints:        0x02
bInterfaceClass:      0x58
bInterfaceSubClass:   0x42
bInterfaceProtocol:   0x00
iInterface:           0x00

Endpoint Descriptor:
bEndpointAddress:     0x82
Transfer Type:   Interrupt

Controller to Xbox

From http://steelbattalionnet.codeplex.com/SourceControl/latest#SBC/SteelBattalionController.cs

26 bytes

Field	Offset (Bytes)	Mask	Notes
RightJoyMainWeapon	2	0x01
RightJoyFire	2	0x03^[FIXME]
RightJoyLockOn	2	0x04
Eject	2	0x08
CockpitHatch	2	0x10
Ignition	2	0x20
Start	2	0x40
MultiMonOpenClose	2	0x80
MultiMonMapZoomInOut	3	0x01
MultiMonModeSelect	3	0x02
MultiMonSubMonitor	3	0x04
MainMonZoomIn	3	0x08
MainMonZoomOut	3	0x10
FunctionFSS	3	0x20
FunctionManipulator	3	0x40
FunctionLineColorChange	3	0x80
Washing	4	0x01
Extinguisher	4	0x02
Chaff	4	0x04
FunctionTankDetach	4	0x08
FunctionOverride	4	0x10
FunctionNightScope	4	0x20
FunctionF1	4	0x40
FunctionF2	4	0x80
FunctionF3	5	0x01
WeaponConMain	5	0x02
WeaponConSub	5	0x04
WeaponConMagazine	5	0x08
Comm1	5	0x10
Comm2	5	0x20
Comm3	5	0x40
Comm4	5	0x80
Comm5	6	0x01
LeftJoySightChange	6	0x02
ToggleFilterControl	6	0x04
ToggleOxygenSupply	6	0x08
ToggleFuelFlowRate	6	0x10
ToggleBuffreMaterial	6	0x20
ToggleVTLocation	6	0x40
	6	0x80
	7	0xFF
	8	0xFF
AimingX	9	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 8?	"Aiming Lever" joystick on the right. X Axis value.
AimingY	11	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 10?	"Aiming Lever" joystick on the right. Y Axis value.
RotationLever	13	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 12?	"Rotation Lever" joystick on the left.
SightChangeX	15	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 14?	"Sight Change" analog stick on the "Rotation Lever" joystick. X Axis value.
SightChangeY	17	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 16?	"Sight Change" analog stick on the "Rotation Lever" joystick. Y Axis value.
LeftPedal	19	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 18?
MiddlePedal	21	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 20?
RightPedal	23	0xFF, maybe 0xFFFF at offset 22?
TunerDial	24	0x0F	The 9 o'clock postion is 0, and the 6 o'clock position is 12. The blank area between the 6 and 9 o'clock positions is 13, 14, and 15 clockwise.
	24	0xF0
GearLever	25	0xFF	The gear lever on the left block.

Xbox to Controller

From http://steelbattalionnet.codeplex.com/SourceControl/latest#SBC/SteelBattalionController.cs

34 bytes

Field	Offset (Bytes)	Mask
EmergencyEject	2	0x0F
CockpitHatch	2	0xF0
Ignition	3	0x0F
Start	3	0xF0
OpenClose	4	0x0F
MapZoomInOut	4	0xF0
ModeSelect	5	0x0F
SubMonitorModeSelect	5	0xF0
MainMonitorZoomIn	6	0x0F
MainMonitorZoomOut	6	0xF0
ForecastShootingSystem	7	0x0F
Manipulator	7	0xF0
LineColorChange	8	0x0F
Washing	8	0xF0
Extinguisher	9	0x0F
Chaff	9	0xF0
TankDetach	10	0x0F
Override	10	0xF0
NightScope	11	0x0F
F1	11	0xF0
F2	12	0x0F
F3	12	0xF0
MainWeaponControl	13	0x0F
SubWeaponControl	13	0xF0
MagazineChange	14	0x0F
Comm1	14	0xF0
Comm2	15	0x0F
Comm3	15	0xF0
Comm4	16	0x0F
Comm5	16	0xF0
	17	0x0F
GearR	17	0xF0
GearN	18	0x0F
Gear1	18	0xF0
Gear2	19	0x0F
Gear3	19	0xF0
Gear4	20	0x0F
Gear5	20	0xF0

Xbox Input Devices

Contents

XID Overview

USB Adapters

Wiring

Protocol

Control Transfers

GET_DESCRIPTOR

bType = 1: Xbox Gamecontroller

GET_CAPABILITIES

SET_REPORT

Typical report

GET_REPORT

Typical report

Interrupt transfers

Standard Gamepads

USB Descriptors

Controller to Xbox

Xbox to Controller

Steering wheels

MadCatz Wheel

Fanatec Speedster 3 ForceShock

Pedals

Internal HUB

USB Descriptors

Steering wheel (and Pedals)

USB Descriptors

Light guns

EMS TopGun II

Turbo Mode

Force Feedback

USB Descriptors

Joytech Sharp Shooter

Fire/Reload Mode

USB Descriptors

Steel Battalion Controller

USB Descriptors

Controller to Xbox

Xbox to Controller

Related links

Navigation menu

Search