Best PS5 Controller Settings for Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a tactical RPG built around complex decision-making, party management, and turn-based combat. Optimising your PS5 controller settings further enhances players’ competitive experience in Baldur’s Gate 3. The right configuration can significantly improve gaming performance, ease of access, responsiveness and overall immersion. 

Players can customise key bindings for quicker access to commonly used actions like jumping, switching characters, or crouching. Also, arranging radial menus to make in-combat decisions faster and more intuitively. Tweaking analogue stick sensitivity helps find the right balance between smooth camera control and precision while exploring tight spaces and combat. 

Refining your PS5 controller settings not only reduces friction in moment-to-moment gameplay, but also feel more connected to the world of Faerun. A little tweak unlocks a smoother, more rewarding adventure for a beginner as well as seasoned players. 

Default PS5 Controller Settings Overview for Baldur’s Gate 3

By default, Baldur’s Gate 3 on PS5 controller comes with a well-designed default controller layout with essential preset mappings designed for a standard playthrough. The face buttons (Square, Triangle, Circle, X) are mapped for primary actions like select, jump, back, pick up, and toggle group, while the triggers handle actions like attack and spell casting. 

The thumbsticks control movement and camera rotation, with the D-pad typically used for quick access to items or map navigation. This default setting is accessible and functional, giving you immediate control over core game mechanics. In addition, knowing where everything is helps gamers play more confidently from the start, mainly before diving into custom remaps or fine-tuning according to their gameplay. 

Standard Layout Mapping for Baldur’s Gate 3 on PS5

The standard layout for the PS5 controller in Baldur’s Gate 3 is designed to give players quick, intuitive access to a wide range of actions without overwhelming the interface and to streamline basic interactions.

Here’s how the core buttons and inputs are mapped with a focus on usability:

• Square: Interact / Primary Action
• Triangle: Secondary Action
• Circle: Dodge / Roll
• X: Jump / Confirm
• L1/R1: Quick Menu / Access Inventory
• L2/R2: Left and Right Triggers for combat
• Left Stick: Character Movement
• Right Stick: Camera control
• D-Pad: Item selection / Map navigation
• Touchpad: Opens inventory and main menus
• Options Button: Pauses the game or accesses settings

This default configuration ensures a balance between accessibility and control. Whether you’re managing a spellbook mid-fight or just trying to move a crate, the controls feel logical and responsive. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 Controller Customisation Strategies

Customising your PS5 controller for Baldur’s Gate 3 allows for a more strategic approach tailored to your playstyle. It helps streamline frequently used action buttons and reduce time spent on navigating menus. This feature is mainly useful during intense combat or dialogue-heavy scenes. 

Remapping buttons, adjusting the radial menu, and optimising inventory management are some key strategies that help make a huge difference in comfort and efficiency.

Button Remapping Options

Remapping buttons is essential to better suit your gaming style, boost your tactical efficiency, or specific class needs. For example, the default layout might not suit certain playstyles, especially when switching between combat and spellcasting. By remapping key actions to more accessible buttons, players can reduce input lag between execution and decision, which is crucial in turn-based combat where speed and clarity matter. 

Here’s how button remapping can help:

• Spellcasters: Remap certain face buttons for faster spellcasting or quick access to healing.
• Warriors or Fighters: Assign attack combos and parry to easily accessible buttons for quicker reflexes.
• Class-Specific Adjustments: Each class has unique abilities that can be more efficiently activated with custom mappings, such as switching between different combat modes or skills.

Sample remap suggestions:

• L1: Toggle between spells
• R2: Power attack
• L3: Sprint / Dash
• Triangle: Jump
• Touchpad: Inventory/ Menu

Radial Menu Configuration Explained

The radial menu in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a central tool for accessing a wide range of abilities, items, spells, potions, and actions through quick-select wheels by the L1 and R1 buttons during intense combat. Each radial can hold multiple nested wheels that offer flexibility to organise your combat tools and utility functions without pausing the action. 

Customising your radial layout helps organise these options for quicker access.

Here’s a suggested configuration for an efficient layout:

• Top section: Spells (e.g., Fireball, Shield)
• Left section: Items (e.g., healing potions, scrolls)
• Right section: Quick commands (e.g., pause, access inventory)
• Bottom section: Combat stances / quick abilities

Adjusting the radial menu to your needs can greatly speed up decision-making in combat, avoid cluttering every wheel, and allow you to react more swiftly to different scenarios. The radial system can be a powerful extension of your tactical toolkit when used with a bit of planning. 

Setting Up Combat Shortcuts

Combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 demands precise action and quick thinking, and can be hectic, especially in real-time action sequences. Without combat shortcuts, you may experience lag and delays when switching between spells or attacks, breaking the flow of combat. 

Follow these steps to enhance your reaction time:

• Set attack combos to a specific button.
• Use shoulder buttons for defensive moves or counters.
• Bind quick reactions (like healing or evasion) to easily accessible buttons.

By assigning key abilities to one-touch shortcuts, you reduce the lag between decision-making and action, resulting in more fluid combat. Players should set up their shortcuts based on which button they use the most. 

Organising Inventory Access Layouts

In Baldur’s Gate 3, managing your inventory is crucial, especially during extended battles or exploration. Proper inventory organisation can save valuable time, as it quickly becomes a chore if left unstructured. 

Here are some suggestions for better inventory access:

• Group all buffing, healing, and resistance items like potions or gear by function.
• Use shoulder button overlays for fast access to important items. 
• Create a gear radial if you switch between ranged weapons and melee or elemental resist sets. 
• Utilise the dual-pane layout for side-by-side item comparison.
• Assign scrolls to one radial and items like bombs or alchemist’s fire to another. 

Gameplay Optimisation Techniques for Baldur’s Gate 3

Optimising your controller and interface settings is key to enjoying smooth and responsive Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay on PS5. Fine-tuning sensitivity, adjusting camera controls, and toggling between combat modes ensures that the gameplay feels more natural and smooth, improving combat, party management, and exploration significantly. 

Players can start optimising their controller settings by adjusting joystick sensitivity to improve precision, using the camera follow toggle to automatically track the selected character, switching between UI navigation modes, and toggling turn-based mode using the shoulder button for pre-positioning before fights.

Tuning Joystick Sensitivity

Joystick sensitivity plays a significant role in gameplay responsiveness, and Baldur’s Gate 3 feels natural on PS5. Fine-tuning these settings based on your comfort level helps ensure that camera movement and character control feel natural, eliminates sluggish control, and improves spatial awareness, especially in combat or when navigating tight environments. 

Players can consider the following adjustments for a better gameplay experience:

• Dead Zone: Set a minimal dead zone, 10 to 15%, for quicker reactions. 
• Response Curve: Adjust for gradual or linear movement, depending on whether you prefer fast reflexes or precise aiming.
• Suggested Range: Dead Zone: 0-5%, Response Curve: Linear.

Test the sensitivity settings with different character actions in both open exploration and during turn-based encounters to find the best balance for your playstyle. 

Using the Camera Follow Toggle

The camera follow toggle is a simple but powerful tool that is crucial for exploration and situational awareness in Baldur’s Gate 3. It ensures that the camera automatically follows your selected character as they move, reducing manual camera adjustments and preventing the view from getting stuck. This setting is especially helpful in large outdoor areas. 

Follow these steps to activate the camera follow toggle on PS5:

1. Click R3 (press the right stick) while a character is selected.
2. The camera will begin tracking that character’s movement automatically. 
3. Click R3 again to disable the follow mode when not in use. 

When enabled, the camera automatically adjusts to follow the character, providing a smoother exploration experience throughout your journey.

Exploring UI Navigation Modes

In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can choose between various UI navigation modes such as radial, list, grid, or pointer control. Each mode has its strengths depending on the gameplay context:

Navigation Type	Description	Best Fit Scenario	Input Style Differences
Radial Menu	A circular menu system for quick access to actions, spells, abilities, or items	Ideal for quick decision-making during combat or accessing spells	Easy to navigate using the D-pad or thumbstick, focusing on quick access to essential items and actions
List Navigation	A vertical or horizontal list that displays options one by one	Best for managing large inventories or skill trees	Suited for precise selections using the D-pad or thumbsticks, making it useful when sorting or comparing items
Pointer Control	Mouse-like control using the right thumbstick to move a pointer across the screen	Excellent for targeting specific objects or precise selections	Provides a more PC-like experience, offering accuracy for tasks like interacting with UI elements or selecting specific spells
Grid Selection	Displays options in a grid layout, similar to menu screens in strategy games	Ideal for games with multiple selection categories (e.g., multiple items, skills, or abilities)	Easy to navigate with the D-pad or thumbsticks, offering fast access to categories in a structured way.

Choosing the right navigation style can streamline your interaction with the game’s UI, depending on your preference. Also, matching the navigation mode to your character and comfort level can improve your flow through Faerun. 

How to Toggle Turn-Based Combat

In Baldur’s Gate 3, switching between real-time and turn-based combat modes is essential. It allows players to shift in a single input, giving them full control over how they approach each situation.

To toggle combat modes, follow these steps:

1. Open the Menu (press the Options button).
2. Scroll to Combat Settings.
3. Select Turn-Based Mode.

The turn-based mode is ideal for precise positioning, a more strategic approach, and setting up ambushes, while the real-time mode suits fast-paced gameplay, general exploration, and keeps the game flow smooth when tactical control isn’t necessary.

Platform Configuration Settings for Baldur’s Gate 3

Ensuring your PS5 controller works perfectly with Baldur’s Gate 3 is vital, as it can influence how the game responds and feels. For instance, when you customise your PS5’s system-wide button assignments or enable features like “Tap Assistance” or “Hold to Repeat”. It alters how the game’s radial menus or quick actions behave and can potentially cause unintended lag or input during combat. 

Players should ensure seamless control by aligning their PS5 input settings with Baldur’s Gate 3 interface by checking the settings> accessibility> controllers menu on their console. This keeps the in-game experience responsive, clean, and fully in sync with BG3’s intricate UI and control layout. 

Disabling Steam Input for PS5 Controllers

At times, leaving Steam Input enabled can cause double-input issues, where button presses are registered twice or lead to erratic menu navigation. This happens when both the game and Steam try to manage the controller simultaneously. To prevent double-input issues, it’s important to disable Steam Input when using a PS5 controller with Baldur’s Gate 3.

Here’s how:

1. Open Steam Library, right-click Baldur’s Gate 3 and select Properties
2. Go to Settings > Controller tab.
3. Select General Controller Settings and uncheck PS5 Configuration Support, or, under “Overrise for Baldur’s Gate 3”, choose Disable Steam Input. 

This will ensure that Steam Input doesn’t interfere with your PS5 controller settings, allowing you to enjoy a smooth gaming experience.

PS5-Specific HUD Features

The PS5 version of Baldur’s Gate 3 features a PlayStation-specific HUD with native icons and an intuitive layout that enhances immersion and offers a smoother gaming experience. The layout for the DualSense controller ensures that button mappings are visually aligned with the PS5 controller’s structure, improving user-friendliness.

Automatic Controller Layout Detection

When you connect a PS5 controller, Baldur’s Gate 3 automatically detects it and adjusts the control layout accordingly. If no controller is found, the game will revert to the default settings. This feature allows players to jump right into the action without the need for manual configuration. 

PS5 Controllers Accessibility Options for Baldur’s Gate 3

Accessibility options allow players with various physical or perceptual needs to enjoy Baldur’s Gate 3 with ease. These settings support a wide range of physical and perceptual needs and ensure a comfortable gameplay experience for all players. 

When combined with PS5’s system-wide accessibility settings like button remapping or adaptive triggers, these options help tailor the experience for comfort, control, and clarity.

Adaptive Controller Support Features

For players with physical limitations, Baldur’s Gate 3 supports inclusive control options can be paired with the PS5’s Adaptive Controller and provide options such as large buttons, single-hand support, and the PS5 Access layout. These layouts can be customised to meet specific needs and reduce input strain, making it easier to manage complex actions. 

Predefined Sensitivity Presets

The game includes predefined sensitivity presets like Slow, Assisted, and Default for players with motion issues like tremors, delayed reflexes, or those new to controller gaming. You can toggle between settings like Slow mode or Assisted mode, which adjust for tremors or delayed reflexes, for instant adaptation to your comfort level. 

Using a Reduced Motion Interface

For players with motion sensitivity and visual overstimulation, enabling a Reduced Motion Interface simplifies visual transitions. This setting removes fast camera movements and complex animations, creating a calmer gameplay experience. 

How can a customised PS5 controller benefit gameplay in Baldur’s Gate 3?

\A customised PS5 controller offers ergonomic benefits and better button remapping options, helping to optimise reaction times. For example, a customised layout can improve the accessibility of key spells, attacks, and quick actions. This, combined with The Controller People’s expert repair services and custom PS5 controllers, ensures that your PS5 controller is perfectly tailored to enhance your Baldur’s Gate 3 experience. With precision and expertise, we at The Controller People guarantee that your controller will provide maximum comfort and performance, elevating your gaming sessions to a new level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baldur’s Gate 3 good with a controller?

Yes, Baldur’s Gate 3 supports full controller functionality and offers options for customising controls to enhance gameplay. 

What is the recommended spec for Baldur’s Gate 3?

The recommended specs for Baldur’s Gate 3 are a PS5 system and a CPU with Intel Core i5 4690, AMD FX 8350, 8 GB RAM, and 150 GB storage, ensuring smooth performance with optimised controller settings.