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PadForge
What it is
PadForge is a free Windows app that maps supported input devices to the virtual controller format a game expects. It remaps gamepads, wheels, flight sticks, keyboards, mice, touchpads, MIDI devices, HOTAS, arcade sticks, and VR controllers. The app can run up to 16 virtual controllers at once, with options shaped like Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, VR, MIDI, or keyboard and mouse. Profiles can change automatically when a game takes focus, and 13 starter profiles are included. Gyro tools provide calibration and smoothing, and can map gyro movement to a stick or mouse. PadForge imports supported Steam community layouts and supports Razer Chroma and Logitech LIGHTSYNC lighting through their local software engines. A browser on the same Wi-Fi can serve as a controller, with up to 16 phones connected without installing an app. Remote Link shares input devices between PadForge PCs over a network or the internet, routing feedback to the physical device. The maker says the app has no telemetry. Windows 11 on ARM64 is marked as preview, and the maker advises caution with games that use aggressive anti-cheat.
For and against
For
- Free with no subscriptions or paid feature packs
- Supports up to 16 virtual controllers at once
- Profiles can switch when a game takes focus
- Phone controller works in a browser without an app
- Imports supported Steam community layouts
Against
- Windows-only platform support
- Windows 11 on ARM64 is preview
- Anti-cheat rules for virtual input vary by vendor
The verdict
PadForge offers broad input remapping, profile switching, and phone-based control at no charge. Check Windows compatibility and consider the maker’s anti-cheat caution for the games you play.
Who it suits
PadForge may suit players whose device does not match a game’s expected input, as well as sim racers, DualSense owners, and accessibility users. It is for Windows, with Windows 11 on ARM64 listed as preview.
Plans and prices
Free
No paywall · no subscriptions · no paid feature packs
Read 2 Oct 2026 · padforge.org
On the record
- Anti-cheat limitation
- The maker says anti-cheat vendors set their own rules for virtual input devices and advises users to use judgment with games that have aggressive anti-cheat.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It supports Razer Chroma and Logitech LIGHTSYNC lighting, using the local Razer Synapse server and Logitech G HUB LED engine.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker identifies sim racers, DualSense owners seeking trigger and lightbar effects, accessibility users, and players whose controller does not match a game's expected input as intended users.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- License
- The source code is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Motion
- Gyro features include calibration, smoothing, and gyro-to-stick or gyro-to-mouse mapping.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- PC linking
- Remote Link shares controllers and other input devices between PadForge PCs over a network or the internet, with feedback routed back to the physical device.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Phone controller
- A browser on the same Wi-Fi network can act as a controller, with up to 16 phones connected at once and no app installation.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Profiles
- Profiles can switch automatically when a game takes focus, and the app includes 13 starter profiles for different kinds of games.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PadForge maps supported input devices to the virtual controller input a game expects.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Remapping
- It maps gamepads, wheels, flight sticks, keyboards, and mice to virtual controllers.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says the app has no telemetry and that its phone controller uses HTTPS with a self-signed certificate whenever possible.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Steam layouts
- PadForge imports supported Steam community layouts.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The maker lists Windows 10 or 11 on x64 and Windows 11 on ARM64; the press page identifies ARM64 as preview.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Virtual controllers
- It supports up to 16 virtual controllers at once, including Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, VR, MIDI, and keyboard-and-mouse shapes.padforge.org · read 2 Oct 2026
