Persona 5 The Phantom X Controller Support: Setup & Compatibility

Persona 5 The Phantom X Artwork 20

Persona 5 The Phantom X supports controllers on both PC and mobile, but gamepad support is most reliable on PC (Steam / Google Play PC client), with some limitations and device-dependence on phones.

Supported Controllers and Platforms

  • PC (Steam / Google Play PC):
    • Officially supports Xbox and PlayStation (DualShock / DualSense) controllers.
    • Game auto-detects input: last used device (mouse/keyboard vs controller) determines UI mode.
  • Mobile (Android / iOS):
    • Bluetooth controllers like Xbox WirelessPS5 DualSenseRazer Kishi, and 8BitDo generally work, but support is not guaranteed on all devices.
    • Some menus and UI elements may still require touch input, even when a controller is connected.

Official FAQ notes they cannot guarantee gamepad function on smartphone versions, so behavior may vary by phone and OS.

How to Set Up a Controller on PC

  1. Connect your controller
    • USB cable: Plug your Xbox/PS controller into your PC; Windows should detect it automatically.
    • Bluetooth:
      • Xbox: Hold the X + Pair button until it flashes, then pair from Windows Bluetooth settings.
      • PlayStation: Hold PS + Share until the light bar flashes, then pair in Bluetooth settings.
  2. Launch P5X
    • Start the game after the controller is connected; it should switch to Controller Mode automatically and show controller button prompts and a radial/wheel menu for systems.
  3. If it doesn’t work properly (Steam):
    • In Steam Library → right‑click Persona5: The Phantom X → Properties → Controller → Override for this game → try Enable Steam Input or Disable Steam Input, then relaunch.​
    • Close other input-mapping tools and unplug extra USB devices if conflicts occur.​

You can swap between mouse/keyboard and controller on the fly; pressing any controller button or key switches the control scheme instantly.

How to Use a Controller on Mobile

  1. Pair your controller via Bluetooth
    • Turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
    • Put your controller in pairing mode (Xbox Pair button or PS PS + Share until flashing).
    • Select it in your Android/iOS Bluetooth device list and confirm connection.
  2. Launch P5X
    • Start the game; basic movement, combat, and some menus should respond to the controller, but:
    • Some UI screens and sub-menus still require touch, and certain third‑party controllers may only partially work or need a phone-level controller profile.

If your controller doesn’t respond, double-check OS/controller compatibility and firmware, and test it with another game to rule out hardware issues.

Known Limitations and Tips

  • Menu coverage: On both PC and mobile, some menus (especially dense UI screens) still work best with mouse/keyboard or touch; controller cannot fully replace them in all cases.
  • Emulators and Steam Deck: P5X is “very playable” on Steam Deck and emulators with proper controller mapping, but this is unofficial and not guaranteed support-wise.
  • Best experience: For full controller play (with minimal UI friction), guides strongly recommend using an official Xbox or PlayStation controller on PC/Steam, where support is most mature and configurable.

With this setup, you can comfortably play Persona 5 The Phantom X on controller across PC and many mobile devices, swapping to mouse or touch only when needed for dense menus.

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