Why to use reWASD as a keyboard, mouse and joystick mapper
When playing games with Xbox, Nintendo or DualShock controller on PC, you know plenty of apps to provide joystick support, customize the existing layout or to tune hardware settings (Xbox Accessories app, Joy2key, Xpadder, AntiMicro, etc.). Unfortunately, most of them are useless if you try to get all those keyboard advantages with controller and one app. Do you agree it would be awesome to use a joystick mapper that sums all the existing remapping features? We've got one!
reWASD is a joystick remapper that supports every official version of Xbox Controller (360, One, Elite, Elite 2), Dualshock 3, Dualshock 4, Nintendo Switch Pro, Joy-Cons controllers, all keyboards and mice. Here are 6 reasons to prove, there’s no better app to customize your devices than reWASD!
1. Enjoy PC games with a gamepad no matter what it tells you about controller support
Lots of games simply don't have controller support. However, that's not a problem if you use reWASD as a joystick to keyboard mapper. reWASD can assign the keyboard and mouse clicks to the preferable controller buttons. So when you press a controller button, joystick mapper reproduces the keyboard key press.
If you want to customize some particular controls instead of changing the whole layout – reWASD can do that too. Make a perfect joystick mapper preset in a few steps: switch the buttons, rearrange the layout the way you need, adjust stick response, invert Y or X axis and change the deadzones!
2. Enjoy Xbox / PS4 controller emulator magic
reWASD permits to turn any supported device into DualShock 4 or Xbox 360 controller, and tune the layout exactly the way you need. Change the way emulated sticks behave, tune the deadzone, add haptic feedback for controller buttons, in other words – use our joystick mapper in a full swing!
3. Revive Elite and Elite 2 paddles with reWASD joystick mapper
PC games don't recognize Elite paddles. You can activate paddles using Xbox Accessories app to duplicate the button mappings only. reWASD is the one to go further and assign any keyboard, mouse or controller keys to paddles. It’s as easy as 1-2-3 to map Elite paddles with reWASD.
4. Add more than a 1000 different mappings to your controller with reWASD mapping features
A regular controller has 17 buttons, and it doesn't sound like a lot. With reWASD, you can add more mappings than you can even imagine. Get yourself a joystick mapper that provides different mappings features:
- add Shift modifiers: select a button (shift modifier) and while holding it, your mappings switch to an alternate set. reWASD offers 4 distinct sets.
- add Shortcuts: assign any mapping to a 2, 3, or 4 button shortcut.
- add Activators: configure mappings for Single, Double, Triple, Long press, as well as for Start press and Release press.
- use Slots: apply up to 4 configurations simultaneously for one device and switch between them with a customizable shortcut using 2 or 3 unique buttons.
- use Radial Menu: incorporate numerous combinations and mappings for use in games or projects.
5. Use perks of Sticks and Trigger zones
Remapping keyboard keys to a controller is not enough on its own - the result feels like a mini-keyboard. Pressing two buttons to run or crouch, switching between keys to aim and shoot, losing spare inputs in the process: the experience breaks down quickly. A joystick mapper solves this not just by changing bindings, but by restructuring how controls work - especially for FPS games on PC with an Xbox One controller.
That's where stick and trigger zone customization comes! reWASD joystick mapper differentiates three zones of analog controls: low, medium and high, and you can map additional buttons to them. Thus, when the stick or trigger is pressed to one of these zones, the key assigned to a zone reproduces together with the main stick or trigger mapping.
A practical example: assign WASD to a stick and bind Shift to the high zone. Pushing the stick to its endpoint automatically triggers sprint - no extra button press needed. Alternatively, assign Left Stick Click to the high zone for the same running effect using native controller mappings.
6. Choose game config from joystick presets collection
Looking for a perfect joystick mapper preset? Join reWASD community to share and download hundreds of game configs. Feeling proud about the preset you created? Show it to the world! Don't hesitate to upload your configs, someone will be grateful for your labor :)
If one of these reasons is what you're struggling with – try personalizing the layout with our keyboard to joystick mapper to make your gameplay the best possible:
- Download and install reWASD software.
- Connect your controller to your PC.
- Launch the reWASD application.
- Create a customized game profile and configuration.
Now you can map your joystick to a keyboard layout seamlessly. Enjoy enhanced customization!
FAQ
reWASD supports all official Xbox controller versions (360, One, Elite, Elite 2), DualShock 3, DualShock 4, Nintendo Switch Pro, Joy-Cons, and all standard keyboards and mice
Yes. reWASD maps any controller button to keyboard keys and mouse clicks. When you press a controller button, reWASD reproduces the corresponding keyboard input - making any game playable with a gamepad regardless of its native controller support.
Yes. reWASD can turn any supported device into a virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 controller. You can adjust emulated stick behavior, tune deadzones, and add haptic feedback to controller buttons within the same config.
Yes. Unlike the Xbox Accessories app - which can only duplicate existing button mappings to paddles - reWASD lets you assign any keyboard key, mouse action, or controller input to Elite and Elite 2 paddles independently.
reWASD expands available inputs through five features. Shift mode adds up to 4 alternative mapping layers, each activated by a held or toggled modifier button. Activators assign up to 6 actions per button across Single, Double, Triple, Long, Start, and Release presses. Shortcuts trigger a mapping when 2–4 buttons are pressed simultaneously. Slots apply up to 4 configs to one device at the same time. Radial Menu adds dozens of additional combinations accessible in-game or during desktop use.
reWASD divides each analog stick and trigger into three zones - low, medium, and high - and lets you assign an additional action to each. When the stick or trigger reaches a zone threshold, the assigned key fires alongside the primary analog input. For example, binding Shift to the high zone of a stick set to WASD makes the character sprint automatically when the stick is pushed to its endpoint.
Yes. The reWASD community provides hundreds of game configs that you can import directly into the app. You can use them as-is, modify individual mappings, or upload your own presets for other users.
Download and install reWASD, plug in your controller, launch the app, and create a game profile with a config. From there you can begin remapping immediately.