How do I use the DUALSHOCK 4 with Ubuntu 14.10?

Question

Quite simply, how do I setup, configure and use the Sony DUALSHOCK 4 controller with Ubuntu 14.10 ("Utopic Unicorn")?

I remember the Linux kernel was updated a while back to add native support... Does this mean I should be able to simply pair it by bluetooth (from the notification area) and off I go?

Or is there more to it than this?

I tried to follow these instructions: https://askubuntu.com/a/450091/230107

But when I type sudo pip install ds4drv, I am told sudo: pip: command not found.

Answer 1

Okay, all one needs to do is "pair" the controller just like any other bluetooth device...

• Hold the "PlayStation" and "Share" buttons to put the controller into "pairing" mode, then pair the controller with the computer using the bluetooth menu (bluetooth icon-->Set Up New Device...)!

Much to my surprise, Steam even recognizes it as a DUALSHOCK 4 controller in its settings, and assigns the "standard" functionality as per what you would expect on a Sony PlayStation 4 (e.g. "X" for action, "O" for back, etc...)!

Steam appears to have pretty good support for the DUALSHOCK 4, however a few notes about what I've noticed so far...

• This appears to work in Ubuntu 14.10 or higher, though my understanding is that this is because of the Linux kernel itself, which added native support for the DUALSHOCK 4 a while back (not sure which specific version it was).
• Some newer games appear to support force-feedback (vibration), though this varies and you may need to enable this functionality within the game itself.
• You will need to manually turn the controller off when you're finished with it, by holding the "PlayStation" button until it switches off (you should see the LED go out) - if you are using Steam, you will probably need to do this twice (by default, the "PlayStation" button changes to "Big Picture" mode).
• Not all games support controller input or input from this particular controller (though most should)... You'll need to experiment yourself and find out, or change some of the settings in the game/Steam/whatever to get it working.
• Some or all of the "fancy" functionality - customizing the LED color, recording/sharing gameplay, motion controls, etc - may not work in part or at all.

Answer 2

You need to install python-pip to use pip.