How to Fix Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Controller Not Working

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-02-07 19:51:56
Many players using controllers, particularly Switch Pro Controllers, are experiencing disconnections or complete unresponsiveness in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of potential fixes and workarounds.

Fix Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Controller Not Working

While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 supports controllers, a bug is causing some controllers to disconnect or stop working, even after initially functioning correctly. This issue appears game-specific, as the controllers often work fine in other titles. It doesn't seem limited to a specific controller model, though Switch Pro Controllers are frequently reported.

Official Fixes and Workarounds:

Unfortunately, despite several hotfixes for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, this controller issue remains unaddressed by the developers. However, the community has discovered several potential workarounds.

Basic Troubleshooting (Before Diving Deeper):

  • Restart your PC: This simple step can resolve conflicts with background applications.
  • Reconnect your controller: Try re-pairing via Bluetooth or physically reconnecting via USB.
  • Change Steam Controller Layout: Experiment with different controller configurations in Steam's controller settings.

  • Advanced Workarounds:

  • Disabling Steam Input:

    • How it helps: Steam Input can sometimes interfere with game controller recognition.Disabling it allows the game to directly recognize the controller,though it might introduce other control issues.
    • Steps:
    • Open Steam and go to your Library.
    • Right-click on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and select Properties.
    • Under the "Controller" tab, change the "Override for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2" setting to "Disable Steam Input."
  • Selecting the 2nd Steam Input Preset:

    • How it helps: Some players have reported success by simply switching to the secondofficial preset for their controller within Steam Input. The reason forthis is unclear, but it's worth trying.
    • Steps:
    • Open Steam and go to Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings.
    • Select your controller.
    • Browse through the available presets and select the second one.
  • Config File Fix (Most Promising):

    • How it helps: This fixtargets a potential misconfiguration within the game's Steam Inputsettings. It involves manually editing a configuration file. There aretwo variations of this fix.
    • Variation 1: Renaming the File:

    • Locate the game folder: Navigate to your Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 installation folder (usually within your Steam library folder: steamapps\common\Marvel’s Spider-Man 2).
    • Find the files: Look for steaminput_manifest.vdf and steaminput_config_switchpro.vdf (or a similar file name depending on your controller).
    • Rename the file: The steaminput_manifest.vdf file likely references a file named steaminput_config_switch_pro.vdf (with an underscore), but the actual file in the folder is probably steaminput_config_switchpro.vdf (without the underscore). Rename the existing file to match the name referenced in the steaminput_manifest.vdf file.
    • Restart the game:
    • Variation 2: Editing the Manifest File:

    • Locate the game folder: Same as above.
    • Open steaminput_manifest.vdf: Open this file with a text editor like Notepad.
    • Find the Switch Pro Controller section: Look for a section like this (the exact name might vary slightly):
      "controller_switch_pro"{"0"{"path" "steaminput_config_switch_pro.vdf"}}
    • Correct the path: Change the "path" value to match the actual filename of the config file in the folder (e.g., "path" "steaminput_config_switchpro.vdf").
    • Save and restart: Save the steaminput_manifest.vdf file and restart the game.

  • Which Fix to Try First?

    The config file fix (both variations) is generally the most reportedsuccessful solution. Start with that one. If it doesn't work, trydisabling Steam Input, and then try the 2nd preset option.

    Important Notes:

    • Back up files: Before editing any configuration files, it's always a good idea to create a backup in case something goes wrong.
    • Controller drivers: Ensure your controller drivers are up to date.
    • Steam client: Make sure your Steam client is also up-to-date.

    If none of these solutions work, reporting the issue to the developersmight help them identify and fix the problem in a future patch.Providing detailed information about your controller model and thespecific issues you're experiencing can be very helpful.

    Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5
    Genre(s): Action-adventure
    Developer(s): Insomniac Games, Marvel Games, Nixxes Software
    Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment
    Release date: October 20, 2023
    Mode: Single-player
    Age rating (PEGI): 16+
    Video preview



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