How to use the Official GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U in Dolphin

Official GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U

As of 4.0-4599, Dolphin has built in support for the Nintendo GameCube controller Adapter for Wii U, the only official USB GameCube adapter available. With Dolphin's implementation, the GameCube controller is auto-configured and calibrated, with full rumble support. Wireless controllers and bongos are supported.

Installation

Linux

Linux support does not require any special drivers. However, a udev rule must be created to allow access to the device.

Paste the following in the /etc/udev/rules.d/51-gcadapter.rules file (/lib/udev/rules.d/51-gcadapter.rules if making a package):

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", ATTRS{idVendor}=="057e", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0337", MODE="0666"

Reload udev rules with:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

Then re-insert the adapter. Dolphin should now detect it in the controller settings (refer to "Dolphin setup" below).

If you want to change the rule, links for instructions are available on the libusb FAQ.

OS X

Due to the nature of Apple's HID implementation, all HID devices (including non-standard ones) are intercepted by IOKit's HID driver. Since the adapter does not supply a valid report descriptor, this makes the IOKit driver useless for direct communication.

Instead, IOKit's behavior may be manipulated via a codeless .kext to simply ignore the adapter and permit a lower-level connection (like the one Dolphin makes):

Easy Install

Installer Package

Terminal Install

Standalone Kext

sudo cp -r ~/Downloads/SmashEnabler.kext /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext
sudo chown -R root:wheel /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext
sudo touch /Library/Extensions
sudo reboot

For questions on any of these OS X connection techniques, please see the forum thread.

Windows

On Windows, the GameCube controller adapter will need a certain driver to let Dolphin detect it and use it.

With vJoy drivers installed and the GameCube USB Adapter Driver software running, the GameCube controller will act like a generic gamepad which can be configured in Dolphin like any other controller. Unlike vJoy, Dolphin's native support will offer more straightforward and added missing supports from vJoy (i.e. force feedback), and offer better latency. vJoy and Dolphin's native support conflict with one another, so to use the native support in Dolphin, vJoy's drivers must be stopped beforehand in GameCube USB Adapter Driver's window. The GameCube USB Adapter Driver version up to v3.0 and later will use Zadig during its setup. Skip to "Dolphin setup" below if you haven't encountered any problems with it.

• If using Mayflash's Gamecube adapter, set it to Wii U mode before following these instructions.

Driver installation with Zadig

Plug in the GameCube controller adapter if it hasn't already. Download and launch Zadig.

1. From the "Options" menu in Zadig, select "List All Devices"

2. In the pulldown menu, select "WUP-028". Ensure that its USB ID is "057E 0337".

• If it does not appear in the list then try inserting the adapter (specifically its black USB cord) into another USB port.

3. On the right column, select "WinUSB" then click "Replace Driver". Select "Yes" to modify the system driver.

When it said the driver is installed successfully then you can close the Zadig setup. Please continue to "Dolphin setup" below.

Problem with Zadig?

If there is a problem in the installation process, you can complete restart Zadig by following these.

Reverting the adapter's driver back to vanilla state

• Open Device Manager (or simply run "devmgmt.msc"), look for the "WUP-028" device which is usually under the "Universal Serial Bus devices". Open its context menu (right-click) and select Properties. Click "Uninstall" under the "Driver" tab. Check box "Delete the driver software for this device" then proceed. Then re-insert the adapter. The steps for driver installation can now be followed.

Driver installation failed

• Kill installer_x64.exe or installer_x86.exe from the Task Manager then delete these from %userprofile%\usb_driver\ and run Zadig again.

Dolphin setup

With any necessary installation complete, run Dolphin, and check "Direct Connect" under GameCube Adapter in the Controller Settings. Then simply start a game that uses GameCube controllers.

• Ensure that "Standard Controller" or "bongos" is selected in each port you wish to use in the Controller Settings. The ports on the adapter correspond to the numbered ports in the Controller Settings.

• Both USB cables need to be plugged in for wireless controllers and/or rumble.

• Dolphin supports hot-plug, so the pads can be unplugged and plugged into other ports. If a pad is unplugged from the adapter, Dolphin will use what is configured (PC keyboard/mouse, PC gamepad etc).

Adapter not detected

If Dolphin's controller setting still says that the adapter is not detected, then it may be only matter of changing between the USB ports and restart Dolphin, or its driver/setup might has recently been changed/overridden. You should follow the instruction again from one of the sections for your system.