Soulbound Online Controller Right Stick Not Working? How to Fix SpiderWare MMO Gamepad Glitch

Soulbound: Online has quickly become one of the most interesting indie MMORPG launches of 2026, combining pixel-art visuals, bullet-heaven combat, roguelite dungeon runs, base management, and a player-driven economy into a surprisingly addictive experience. After spending hundreds of hours in different action RPGs, twin-stick shooters, and online survival games, I can confidently say that Soulbound’s combat system feels designed around precise controller aiming.

The constant enemy pressure, fast movement, and chaotic dungeon encounters make the right analog stick extremely important. However, many players entering the Steam Early Access version are discovering an annoying technical issue: the controller right stick is not working properly in Soulbound: Online.

The problem is frustrating because everything else appears normal. The left analog stick moves your character, buttons respond correctly, but the right stick refuses to aim, rotate attacks, or control the targeting direction. For a game built around bullet-hell mechanics, this is not a minor inconvenience. Losing the ability to aim can completely ruin dungeon runs and make combat feel almost impossible.

How to Fix Soulbound Online Infinite Loading Screen: Complete Guide

The good news is that this issue is usually caused by software conflicts rather than broken hardware. This guide explains the best ways to fix the Soulbound Online right stick not working controller glitch, including Steam Input settings, Windows calibration, firmware updates, and other solutions tested by the community.

Why Is the Right Stick Not Working in Soulbound: Online?

The controller issue in Soulbound: Online appears to be connected to how the game handles different input systems. Since the project evolved from a browser-based experience before moving into a native Steam release, the game has to communicate with multiple control layers at the same time.

From my experience with Early Access games, especially indie titles that transition from web platforms to full PC clients, controller problems are extremely common during launch periods. Developers usually focus on server stability, gameplay balance, and major bugs first, while controller optimization receives improvements through later updates.

The right stick problem usually happens because Steam, Windows, or the game engine assigns the controller input incorrectly. The game detects the controller but does not understand what the second analog stick should control.

The most common situation is simple: Soulbound recognizes your gamepad, but the right joystick is assigned to the wrong function. Thankfully, most fixes take only a few minutes.

Fix 1: Enable Steam Input for Soulbound Online

The first solution I recommend trying is changing Steam Input settings. This method fixes the problem for many players because Steam can create a proper controller profile when the game’s native support does not work correctly.

Steam Input can sometimes create problems by overriding built-in controls, but with Soulbound Online it often solves the right stick issue by forcing the game to recognize the controller layout properly.

How to Enable Steam Input

1. Close Soulbound: Online completely.
2. Open your Steam Library.
3. Right-click Soulbound: Online and select Properties.
4. Open the Controller section.
5. Find the controller override option.
6. Change the setting to Enable Steam Input.
7. Open the Controller Configuration menu.
8. Select joystick settings.
9. Make sure Right Joystick Behavior is set to Joystick Move.
10. Do not use Mouse Emulation or Directional Pad settings.
11. Save the configuration and restart the game.

After launching Soulbound again, enter a dungeon and check if your aiming direction follows the right stick. In many cases, this single change completely restores controller functionality.

Fix 2: Adjust Steam Big Picture Controller Settings

If enabling Steam Input does not solve the problem, the next step is checking Steam’s global controller settings. Steam’s universal controller support is powerful, but sometimes multiple input systems can conflict with each other.

This happens especially with Xbox controllers, DualSense controllers, and third-party gamepads. Steam may create duplicate profiles where the game receives mixed signals from different controller layers.

Recommended Steam Controller Settings

1. Open Steam.
2. Enter Big Picture Mode.
3. Open the Settings menu.
4. Go to Controller configuration.
5. Check your active controller type.

Xbox Controller Users

Disable unnecessary Generic Gamepad Support and allow Steam to recognize your controller as an Xbox device. Xbox controllers usually work best when Steam does not add extra compatibility layers.

PlayStation Controller Users

Enable PlayStation Controller Support and make sure DualSense or DualShock compatibility options are active. Incorrect PlayStation settings can prevent the right analog stick from sending proper aiming commands.

After changing these options, restart Soulbound Online and test the controller again.

Fix 3: Calibrate Your Controller in Windows

Sometimes the problem is not caused by Soulbound or Steam at all. Windows itself can incorrectly read controller axis values, causing the right stick to appear inactive even when the hardware works perfectly.

A corrupted calibration profile can create strange situations where a controller works in most games but fails in one specific title. Resetting the calibration often restores proper communication between Windows and the game.

How to Recalibrate Your Controller

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Search for Set up USB game controllers.
3. Open the controller management window.
4. Select your gamepad.
5. Click Properties.
6. Open the Settings tab.
7. Select Reset to Default.
8. Click Calibrate.
9. Move both analog sticks through their full range.
10. Save the changes.

This fix is especially useful for older Xbox controllers and budget PC gamepads. The hardware may look completely fine, but Windows can still store incorrect axis information.

Fix 4: Update Controller Firmware

Modern controllers are basically small computers with their own internal software. Outdated firmware can cause compatibility problems with newer PC games, especially titles that rely heavily on analog controls.

Xbox Controller Firmware Update

Xbox controller users should install the official Xbox Accessories application, connect the controller using a USB cable, open the app, select the device, and install any available firmware updates.

PlayStation DualSense Firmware Update

DualSense users should install the official PlayStation Accessories application, connect the controller through USB, and update the firmware if a newer version is available.

After updating the controller software, restart your PC and reconnect the gamepad before testing Soulbound again.

Fix 5: Remove Mouse Input Conflicts

This solution sounds unusual, but it has helped some players. Soulbound: Online combines action combat with cursor-based systems, and sometimes the game prioritizes mouse input instead of controller aiming.

Try launching the game without touching your keyboard or mouse. Wait until the main menu appears, then press a controller button first to force the game to recognize your gamepad as the primary input device.

If the problem continues, temporarily unplug your mouse before launching Soulbound. Some players have reported that this prevents the game from switching back to mouse aiming.

Controller Compatibility Settings for Soulbound Online

Final Thoughts: Fixing Soulbound Online Right Stick Problems

The controller right stick bug in Soulbound: Online is extremely annoying because the game’s combat system depends on accurate aiming. After playing many action RPGs and twin-stick shooters, I know how quickly a small input problem can turn an enjoyable combat system into a frustrating experience.

The best solution order is simple: start with Steam Input, check controller configuration, recalibrate your gamepad in Windows, update firmware, and finally remove possible mouse conflicts.

Most players should be able to restore full controller functionality within a few minutes. Since Soulbound: Online is still in Early Access, SpiderWare will likely continue improving controller support through future patches.

Until official updates arrive, these fixes should help you return to dungeon runs, cooperative battles, and the fast-paced bullet-hell combat that makes Soulbound: Online such an exciting indie MMORPG.