Greetings everyone,
I know many folks have wanted to use 8Bitdo controllers on linux, and that includes the Ultimate Software.
I use the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 controller on my Arch install. And I had been wanting to check for firmware updates, and was doing some searching and couldn’t find anything that could help me.
I found out that I can run that software through Lutris with minimal configuration.
- Open Add game dialogue box
- select “Add locally installed game”
- Filled out Name under Game info, and selected Runner (Wine)
- Game options tab I selected the executable, selected Working directory, and set Wine prefix path
- Runner options I used GE-Proton (latest)
- Launched
I want to note; unsure if you would have to, but I have udev rules added:
ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="2dc8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6103", RUN+="/sbin/modprobe xpad", RUN+="/bin/sh -c 'echo 2dc8 6103 > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/xpad/new_id'"
ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="2dc8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="310b", RUN+="/sbin/modprobe xpad", RUN+="/bin/sh -c 'echo 2dc8 310b > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/xpad/new_id'"
Hope this helps someone.
Edit:
I want to add I am also using xpadneo-dkms from the AUR.
I end up installing Windows 10 on a virtual machine with QEMU/KVM, and updated the firmware there by passthrough the USB device. I didn’t even try WINE and thought it might be more trouble than worth the efforts. Looks like I was wrong.
BTW there is also GE-Wine if I’m not mistaken. For non Steam games, it is recommended to use GE-Wine instead GE-Proton, but maybe that advice is as old as I am. I don’t even know why that was the case.
Looking at the github for Wine-GE https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/wine-ge-custom it appears to be archived; and I can’t recall where I read it, but Proton-GE replaces that functionality (Someone please correct me if I am wrong)
I have also tested using my system Wine version (11.9) as well, and same results; can use Ultimate Software V2.
I have been toying with getting V1 working, but to no avail.
Why do you try to get Software V1 working, if V2 works?
The older Ultimate Controller 1 does not work in V2 unfortunately
8bitdo does really good gamepads for good price, but their software sucks! I don’t get why they don’t support older controllers in the newer software…
I was trying with Ultimate Software V1, and did not have the same luck.
You’re a hero! Thanks for documenting and sharing!!
Is there a sensible page in the Archwiki where this could be made findable?
I will have a look at the Arch Wiki to see if I can contribute!
I would have saved this but I got a steam controller that updates natively with steam in Linux.
I hope others find this and it’s easy for them. I however will always avoid 8bitdo because of no native Linux support without all this bullshit to update it.
Kinda wish you posted this years ago so I didn’t just never use the 8bitdo because of not being able to update it easily. Thank you though
I had bought 8bitdo controllers before switching to Linux. Was always bummed they didn’t support Linux natively. My next controller will be the Steam controller.
Thanks for this! I have a couple of 8BitDo products so saved this for when I inevitably need to use it.
Thanks for the write up
I was able to get it running but I still can’t seem to get the back buttons for ultimate 2 to work



