Overview
A multi-platform wireless controller with a symmetrical stick design, working with Switch, PC, Android, and Apple devices, using three connection methods: Bluetooth, wireless receiver, and cable. It features Hall Effect sensing sticks, programmable macro buttons, customizable lighting, and a gyroscope.
Features
- Hall Effect Sensing Sticks: Combines the precision of traditional sticks with the low power consumption and durability of Hall Effect sticks.
- Three Connection Methods: Bluetooth, wireless receiver, or Type-C cable.
- Four Input Modes: DS4, XInput, NS, and HID modes, each with a different channel indicator pattern and recommended platform.
- Programmable Macro Buttons: Each macro button accepts a single button or a combination of up to twelve buttons.
- Two Trigger Gear Switches: Toggle each trigger between clicky switch mode and analog mode, with a quick-trigger mode for shooting games.
- Two Back Button Locks: A lock switch for each back button to disable it and prevent accidental presses.
- Customizable Lighting: Six lighting effects with control over animation speed, brightness, hue, and saturation directly from the controller.
- Dual High-Precision Vibration Motors: Two motors providing realistic and immersive haptic feedback.
Device Layout and Button Names
On the front, there is the NFC touchpoint, View button, Menu button, Share button, D-pad, A B X Y buttons, and C1, C2, C3, and C4 buttons.
On the top edge, there is the RB button, LB button, RT trigger, LT trigger, Type-C port, and T1 and T2 buttons.
On the back, there is the RT trigger gear switch, LT trigger gear switch, R4 back button, L4 back button, and a back M button. There is a charging base with a Type-C port, and the wireless receiver.
Specifications
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supported Platforms | Switch device, Windows 10 systems, Android 8.0 or later, iOS 13 or later, and Steam platform |
| Connection Method | Bluetooth, wireless receiver, or Type-C cable |
| Supporting Software | GameSir mobile app, or GameSir Connect software |
Box Contents
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Controller | 1 piece |
| Type-C cable | 1 piece |
| Wireless receiver | 1 piece |
| Charging base | 1 optional piece |
| User manual | 1 copy |
| Thank you and after-sales service card | 1 card |
| GameSir sticker | 1 sticker |
| Certificate of Conformity | 1 copy |
Requirements: Switch device, Windows 10 system, Android 8.0 or later, or iOS 13 or later.
Connection and Operation
Power On and Off
To turn off, press and hold the Logo button for five seconds.
Auto-off: Ten minutes without use while connected, one minute while pairing, and three minutes while re-connecting.
Input Modes and Channel Indicator
| Recommended Platform | Mode | Combination | Channel Indicator Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or later, iOS 13 or later | DS4 mode | B button + Logo button | Second, third, and fourth channels |
| Windows 10 or later, Android 8.0 or later | XInput mode | X button + Logo button | First, second, fourth, and fifth channels |
| Switch device | NS mode | Y button + Logo button | Sequential horizontal blinking |
| Android 8.0 or later | HID mode | A button + Logo button | First and fifth channels |
The Logo button combined with one of the face buttons determines the input mode.
Connecting to PC
- Wired Connection: Use the included Type-C cable to connect the controller to the PC; steady channel indicators mean the connection is successful.
- Bluetooth Connection: Press and hold B button + Logo button for two seconds until the second, third, and fourth channels blink, then release your finger.
- Open the Bluetooth menu on the PC, search for the device named Wireless Controller, and click it to connect; steady channel indicators mean the connection is successful.
- Receiver Connection: Insert the receiver into the PC port and its indicator will start blinking.
- Press and hold X button + Logo button for two seconds until the first, second, fourth, and fifth channels blink, then release your finger and wait for the connection; success is indicated by steady indicators on both the controller and the receiver.
- If pairing fails, press and hold the Pair button on the controller for two seconds, along with the Pair button on the receiver to re-link.
Connecting to Switch
- From the Switch home menu, go to the Controllers menu then Change Grip/Order, and wait on this screen.
- Press and hold Y button + Logo button for two seconds until the channel indicator starts sequential horizontal blinking, then release your finger and wait for the connection.
- Steady channel indicators mean the connection is successful.
- If pairing fails, press and hold the Pair button for two seconds to return to pairing mode.
Connecting to Android Devices
- Press and hold A button + Logo button for two seconds until the first and fifth channels blink, then release your finger.
- Open the Bluetooth menu on the phone, search for the device named GameSir-Tarantula Pro, and click it to connect.
- Steady channel indicators mean the connection is successful.
- If pairing fails, press and hold the Pair button for two seconds to return to pairing mode.
Connecting to Apple Devices
- Press and hold B button + Logo button for two seconds until the second, third, and fourth channels blink, then release your finger.
- Open the Bluetooth menu on the device, search for the device named DUOLSHOK 4 Wireless Controller, and click it to connect.
- Steady channel indicators mean the connection is successful.
- The Logo indicator color can be changed from device settings via Settings > General > Game Controller.
Indicator States
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Slow blinking once per second | Re-connection mode, connecting to a previously paired device |
| Fast blinking four times per second | Pairing mode, the only state in which devices can search for and pair with it |
| Steady | Connection successful |
Button Combinations
| Function | Combination |
|---|---|
| Enable or disable Quick Trigger mode | M button + LT trigger or RT trigger for two seconds |
| Increase or decrease grip motor vibration intensity | M button + View button or Menu button |
| Manual toggle between XInput, NS, and DS4 modes and lock connection mode | View button + Menu button for two seconds |
| Enable or disable zero dead-zone mode for the corresponding stick | M button + press Left or Right stick for two seconds |
| Swap A and B button values and X and Y button values and swap their layout | M button + face buttons for two seconds |
| Enable Turbo and cycle through its modes | M button + button to apply Turbo to |
| Cancel all Turbo | M button pressed twice consecutively |
| Enter Macro programming mode | M button + macro button to program |
| Return to pairing mode | Pair button for two seconds |
| Select input mode | Logo button + one of the face buttons |
Notes on combinations as provided in the manual:
- After enabling Quick Trigger mode, the indicator blinks when the trigger is pressed, and the setting remains saved after restart.
- Vibration has five levels: first is vibration off, second 25%, third 50% (default), fourth 75%, and fifth 100%; the setting remains saved after restart.
- Manual switching of input modes is supported in Receiver and Wired modes only. When connecting later in the same way, the mode remains as switched. To turn off, press the Logo button for ten seconds; upon restarting, the platform is automatically detected.
- Zero dead-zone setting and face button layout setting remain saved after restart.
Macro Button Programming
Each macro button accepts a single button or a combination of up to twelve buttons.
The buttons whose functions can be copied are A, B, X, Y, LB, RB, LT, RT, LS, RS, View button, Menu button, D-pad, Left stick, and Right stick.
- To assign a function: Press and hold the M button + the macro button to be programmed until the Logo indicator blinks.
- Press the button or combination of buttons to be copied, then press the macro button again to save and exit.
- To cancel: Press and hold the M button + the macro button until the Logo indicator blinks, then press the macro button again to save and exit.
- If the setup duration exceeds ten seconds, the controller saves and exits automatically.
- The lock switches on the back of the controller disable the back buttons and prevent accidental presses.
Turbo Setup
Turbo has four modes: slow at 8Hz, medium at 12Hz, fast at 20Hz, and then off mode.
Buttons that accept Turbo are A, B, X, Y, LB, RB, LT, RT.
- To enable: Press and hold the M button, then press the button to apply Turbo to; it starts in slow mode.
- Repeat the same process to cycle between modes: slow, medium, fast, off.
- To cancel all: Press the M button twice consecutively.
- When Turbo is enabled on a button, the Logo indicator blinks continuously.
Lighting Control
All lighting settings remain saved after restart.
| Function | Combination |
|---|---|
| Cycle between six lighting effects in order: Monochromatic, Breathing, Fantasy (default), Rainbow, Radar, Off | M button + Left stick right or left |
| Decrease or increase animation speed in Breathing, Fantasy, and Rainbow modes; there are five levels and the third is default | M button + D-pad right or left |
| Increase or decrease lighting brightness; levels are five: 0, 25%, 50% (default), 75%, and 100% | M button + Left stick up or down |
| Adjust hue in Monochromatic, Breathing, and Radar modes based on Right stick position | M button + rotate Right stick |
| Increase or decrease color saturation in Monochromatic, Breathing, and Radar modes; levels are five: 0, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (default) | M button + D-pad up or down |
Calibration
Stick and Trigger Calibration
- Turn on the controller and set the trigger gear to Analog mode.
- Press and hold View button + Logo button + Menu button until the Logo indicator blinks slowly in white.
- Press the LT and RT triggers to their full extent three times each, and rotate the two sticks at the maximum angle in full circles three times each.
- Press the A button; the Logo indicator returning to the mode color indicates calibration is complete.
Gyroscope Calibration
- Place the controller horizontally on a flat surface.
- Press and hold View button + A button + Logo button for three seconds, and the Logo indicator blinks in red and blue alternately and quickly.
- The Logo indicator returning to the mode color indicates calibration is complete.
Reset
- Use a thin tool, such as a SIM eject pin, to press the Reset button inside the circular hole on the back of the controller if abnormal behavior occurs or if the controller fails to turn on or off.
- The controller is force-powered off by this action.
Supporting Software and Firmware Update
- Go to the official website or Microsoft Store, or scan the QR code in the manual to download the GameSir app on your phone.
- Use the GameSir app or GameSir Connect software to update the firmware, adjust stick and trigger ranges, customize lighting, vibration intensity, and remap or test buttons.
- Connect the controller to the software via the receiver or cable while it is in XInput mode, as the software does not recognize it in DS4 or NS mode via Bluetooth.
- The official FAQ page mentions that early firmware versions have bugs, so it is recommended to update the firmware for both the controller and the receiver together.
Charging and Battery
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Charging indicator while powered off | Red 0-25%, orange 25-50%, yellow 50-75%, green 75-90%, then steady green for two seconds and turns off for 90-100% |
| Low battery warning | When the battery drops below 10%, the top indicator blinks red twice every ten seconds |
| Charging on base | Power on the base then place the controller on it, and the base indicator synchronizes with the controller's charging indicator |
FAQ
D-pad registers two presses, or stick is inverted, or receiver is not recognized
Early firmware versions have bugs in both the controller and the receiver. Update the firmware for both according to the update instructions on the official support page.
Which software do I use, and why does GameSir Nexus not recognize the controller
Use GameSir Connect software and connect the controller via the receiver or cable while in XInput mode. The software does not recognize it in DS4 or NS mode via Bluetooth.
The stick moves by itself when I set the dead-zone to zero
Zero is a physically ideal dead-zone, so the stick becomes highly sensitive. Set the value between three and five for normal behavior.
I cannot connect via Bluetooth or receiver and the indicator blinks slowly
Press and hold the Pair button for two seconds to return to pairing mode and it will blink quickly. If using the receiver, press the Pair button on it until it blinks quickly to complete the re-link.
The stick drifts or the trigger does not respond correctly
Perform stick and trigger calibration as described in the calibration section, and check the calibration video posted on the official support page.
How many programmable buttons are there
The official FAQ page mentions nine buttons: R4, L4, C1, C2, C3, C4, T1, T2, and T3; each accepts a single button or a combination of up to twelve buttons.
What is the benefit of the two lock switches on the back
The lock switches enable or disable the back buttons according to your playstyle, to prevent accidental presses.
Can I change the face button layout
Yes, the default layout is Xbox layout, and it can be swapped by pressing and holding the M button + face buttons for two seconds, swapping the A and B values and X and Y values.
Can I customize lighting directly from the controller
Yes, from the M button + Right stick, Left stick, or D-pad, you can adjust the lighting effect, animation speed, brightness, hue, and saturation.
Does the controller have a Turbo feature
Yes, with four modes: slow at 8Hz, medium at 12Hz, fast at 20Hz, and then off mode; it is canceled by pressing the M button twice consecutively.
The controller does not respond and does not turn off
Press the Reset button inside the circular hole on the back of the controller with a thin tool, like a SIM eject pin, to force it off.
Documentation Notes
- The requirements line in the printed manual mentions Switch, Windows, Android, and iOS, while the official FAQ page adds the Steam platform.
- Weight is not mentioned in the source, so it was not included here.
- The official FAQ page states that there are nine programmable buttons: R4, L4, C1, C2, C3, C4, T1, T2, and T3, while the official manual diagram shows the back buttons R4 and L4, the C1-C4 buttons, and the T1 and T2 buttons.
- The device name in the Apple Bluetooth device menu is written in the official manual as DUOLSHOK 4 Wireless Controller, which is transcribed as it appeared in the source.