Android 17 to Introduce Game Controller Remapping Feature
Last month, evidence emerged that Google is working on new gaming features for Android 17, including support for remapping buttons on gaming controllers and potentially a virtual gamepad. Thanks to a recent Canary release, the UI for Android’s game controller remapping feature has been revealed.
Hidden in the Settings app of the latest Android Canary 2512 update is a new “Game Controller settings” menu that will appear on the Bluetooth device details page for compatible gamepads. Currently, the menu contains two sections: Keys and Axes, allowing users to customize inputs for buttons and directional sticks.
The mechanism behind this feature is simple. Android natively supports various Bluetooth gaming controllers, translating button presses into internal key codes and axis values that developers map to in-game actions. This new remapping feature likely operates by changing which key code or axis value is sent to Android games when a button is pressed.
While the current menu is generic and doesn’t reflect specific button labels, it accurately reflects how Android handles these controllers internally. However, there is room for improvement in the feature’s functionality before launch, such as reflecting the connected controller’s actual button layout and simplifying the input selection process.
Google has time to enhance this feature before the Android 17 update next year. Robust controller support will be crucial for Google’s Android-on-PC ambitions, signaling the company’s commitment to supporting non-touchscreen gaming.
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