Controllers
Spark supports game controllers for playing Ren’Py games.
Supported Controllers
Section titled “Supported Controllers”- MFi controllers — Apple-certified game controllers
- PlayStation — DualShock 4 (PS4) and DualSense (PS5)
- Xbox — Xbox Wireless Controllers
- Other Bluetooth controllers — Most standard Bluetooth HID controllers
- Pair your controller via iOS Settings > Bluetooth
- In Spark, ensure Settings > Game Controllers is enabled (on by default)
- Launch a game — the controller is automatically detected
Controller Mapping
Section titled “Controller Mapping”Ren’Py games use standard controller mappings:
- A/X button — Advance text / Confirm
- B/Circle button — Open game menu / Back
- D-Pad — Navigate menus
- Triggers — Scroll / Skip
Haptic Feedback
Section titled “Haptic Feedback”Controllers with haptic motors (DualSense, newer Xbox) can provide feedback. Note that haptic feedback is very rare in Ren’Py games, as most visual novels do not implement controller vibration.
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Game Controller Haptics | On | Enable controller vibration |
| Device Haptics | On | Enable iPhone/iPad haptics |
Configure in Settings > Haptics/Vibration.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”- Controller not detected — Ensure Bluetooth is connected and Game Controllers is enabled in Spark settings
- Buttons don’t work — Some Ren’Py games have custom input handling that may not respond to controller input
- Haptics not working — Check that haptics are enabled for both the controller and device