Android has traditionally offered controller support for those who prefer using joysticks over on-screen controls. However, the medium has lacked any sort of customisability, with users having to stick to the game defaults. That's changing as Android 17 Beta finally lets users remap controls for a more personalised experience.
Controller Support on Android Finally Gets an Upgrade
Android expert and now Android Community Manager, Mishaal Rahman, took to Reddit to announce that a system-level controller remapping feature is currently available in Android 17 Beta 2. This is easily one of the best Android 17 features already.
Google states the feature was developed with two primary goals in mind. Firstly, it improved accessibility, letting players remap difficult-to-press buttons to easier-to-reach face buttons based on their specific needs. Secondly, it addresses the frustration of conflicting muscle memory due to different layouts.
Those who regularly switch between a Nintendo Switch controller and an Xbox gamepad can now seamlessly remap the A/B and X/Y layouts at the system level so the inputs remain consistent across every game.
Crucially, the mapping preferences are saved directly to the phone, so users won't have to reconfigure their layout every time they disconnect and reconnect the controller. Unfortunately, the feature won't support mapping the screen input controls for games that don't have native controller support.
As for how to configure the feature on a phone running Android 17 Beta 2, for wired controllers, users will need to navigate to Settings > System > Game Controller and select the plugged-in device. Wireless gamepads can be configured via Settings > Connected devices > Game Controller Settings.
Once inside the menu, the interface is split between button inputs and directional inputs. Users can freely swap functions within those categories. Google also notes that the system might occasionally display incorrect glyph icons for certain controllers. However, the functionality itself will still work properly.
Controller remapping functionality is fantastic news for hardcore Android gamers who prefer gamepads over touch controls. The existing issues with the feature should be ironed out by the time Android 17 reaches platform stability. More information about the same should be revealed down the line, so stay tuned.
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