Quick Guide: Connect PS3 Controller to ESP32 on Linux

1. Install sixpair

• On Arch Linux, sixpair is deprecated and moved to bluez-deprecated-tools.
• Install it using:
  sudo pacman -S bluez-deprecated-tools
• For other distros, use your package manager to install the equivalent package.

2. Set PS3 Controller Master MAC Address

• Find your ESP32 Bluetooth MAC address.
• Run this command to configure your PS3 controller to pair with your ESP32:
  sudo sixpair YOUR_ESP32_MAC_ADDR

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For Windows Users

• You can use the SixaxisPairTool to set your PS3 controller's master Bluetooth address.
• Download it here:
  https://www.filehorse.com/download-sixaxispairtool/
• Run the tool, connect your PS3 controller via USB, and set the master MAC address to your ESP32’s Bluetooth MAC.
• After that, connect your PS3 controller wirelessly to the ESP32.

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Important Note About Master MAC Address

• The PS3 controller stores the master Bluetooth MAC address internally after you run sixpair.
• This MAC address must be a valid unicast address (the least significant bit of the first byte must be 0).
• Interestingly, this MAC address does not have to match the actual MAC address of your ESP32.
• For example, using a random valid unicast MAC like 12:37:AC:4D:B2:E0 works fine if you set it on both the controller (with sixpair) and in your ESP32 code.
• The ESP32 library often does not strictly verify that the MAC matches the device's hardware MAC, as long as the PS3 controller “thinks” it is connecting to its master.
• This flexibility lets you standardize the master MAC address in your code without worrying about the actual ESP32 Bluetooth MAC.

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Examples of Master MAC Address Usage

Example 1: Using your ESP32’s actual Bluetooth MAC address

1. Find your ESP32 Bluetooth MAC address (run this on ESP32):

   #include <esp_system.h>
   
   void setup() {
     Serial.begin(115200);
     while (!Serial) {}
     uint8_t mac[6];
     esp_read_mac(mac, ESP_MAC_BT);
     delay(3000);
     Serial.printf("ESP32 Bluetooth MAC: %02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X\n",
                   mac[0], mac[1], mac[2], mac[3], mac[4], mac[5]);
   }
   
   void loop() {}

2. Use the printed MAC in your sixpair command:

   sudo sixpair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
   

3. Use the same MAC in your ESP32 code:

   String Master_mac = "XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX";  // Replace with your ESP32 MAC

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Example 2: Using a custom random valid MAC address

1. Pick a random unicast MAC address (first byte LSB = 0), e.g.:

   12:37:AC:4D:B2:E0
   

2. Set this MAC on the PS3 controller:

   sudo sixpair 12:37:AC:4D:B2:E0
   

3. Use the same MAC in your ESP32 code:

   String Master_mac = "12:37:AC:4D:B2:E0";

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Test code

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Ps3Controller.h>

String Master_mac = "12:37:AC:4D:B2:E0";  // Or your ESP32 MAC here

void notify()
{
    // Analog sticks
    int lx = Ps3.data.analog.stick.lx;
    int ly = Ps3.data.analog.stick.ly;
    int rx = Ps3.data.analog.stick.rx;
    int ry = Ps3.data.analog.stick.ry;

    // Accelerometer
    int ax = Ps3.data.sensor.accelerometer.x;
    int ay = Ps3.data.sensor.accelerometer.y;
    int az = Ps3.data.sensor.accelerometer.z;

    // Output: lx ly rx ry | ax ay az
    Serial.printf("LX: %d | LY: %d | RX: %d | RY: %d | AX: %d | AY: %d | AZ: %d\n", 
                  lx, ly, rx, ry, ax, ay, az);
}

void setup()
{
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Ps3.attach(notify);
    Ps3.begin(Master_mac.c_str());
}

void loop()
{
    // nothing here
}

Quick Note: PS3 Controller Wireless Setup for Gaming on Linux

1. Connect the controller via USB and run:

   sudo sixpair

2. Edit the Bluetooth input config:

   sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/input.conf

   Set:

   ClassicBondedOnly=false

3. Restart Bluetooth:

   sudo systemctl restart bluetooth

Requires BlueZ and Sixpair to be installed