vJoy Game Compatibility Guide: Fixing Controller Conflicts in Steam & Sims

While vJoy is extraordinarily versatile, modern games and launcher platforms like Steam can sometimes misidentify virtual controllers, assign them improper device priorities, or trigger duplicate input bugs. This troubleshooting guide addresses how to resolve controller detection issues, configure Steam Input, and prevent double inputs in popular flight and racing simulators.

Problem 1: Game Detects vJoy as Player 2 Instead of Player 1

Older games prioritize controllers based on their Windows enumerated Device ID. If physical controllers are plugged in, vJoy might be assigned to slot 2 or slot 3:

• Solution: Open Configure vJoy, and disable unused virtual devices (e.g., ensure only Device 1 is enabled).
• Unplug non-essential USB gamepads, steering wheels, or flight throttles, restart the game, and verify controller order in joy.cpl.

Problem 2: Steam Input Overriding or Ignoring vJoy

Steam's gamepad translation layer can sometimes swallow DirectInput events from vJoy:

1. Open Steam > Settings > Controller.
2. Under External Gamepad Settings, check whether "Enable Steam Input for generic controllers" is toggled.
3. If your game native supports DirectInput (like MSFS or DCS), disable Steam Input for that specific title:
   • Right-click the game in your Steam Library > Properties.
   • Click Controller in the left sidebar.
   • Set the dropdown override to Disable Steam Input.

Problem 3: Duplicate Input Conflict (Double Clicking)

If you use vJoy to combine or remap physical controller inputs into a virtual device, some games may listen to both the physical device AND the vJoy device simultaneously, resulting in double-inputs:

• Fix with HidHide: Download the open-source utility HidHide.
• In HidHide, mark your physical joystick/keyboard as "hidden" from the game executable.
• Allow only your feeder application (e.g., Joystick Gremlin or UJR) and the vJoy virtual controller to see the physical device.

Problem 4: Anti-Cheat Software Flags vJoy as Prohibited Software

Some kernel-level competitive anti-cheat systems (such as Riot Vanguard, BattlEye, or Easy Anti-Cheat) inspect virtual HID drivers to prevent automated aim assistance:

• Safety Notice: vJoy itself is clean and open-source (0/72 VirusTotal clean), but competitive titles like Valorant or Apex Legends may block execution of virtual joystick feeders.
• Resolution: For competitive multiplayer shooters, close any feeder scripts (FreePIE, UJR) and disable vJoy Device 1 via Configure vJoy before launching the game. vJoy is built primarily for flight, space, racing, and single-player simulator experiences.

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