(Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus) is a kernel-mode driver that allows your Windows system to "pretend" it has a virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 controller plugged in.
Many modern PC games natively support only the XInput framework, meaning they work perfectly with Xbox controllers but fail to recognize PlayStation DualShock, Nintendo Switch, or generic joysticks.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about this specific version, where to download it safely, how to install it, and how to troubleshoot common issues. What is ViGEmBus? vigembussetup116116exe link
| | Description | |---|---| | 1.16.112.0 | The actual driver version included in the 1.16.116 setup (October 2018) | | 1.16.116 (setup) | A maintenance release fixing setup launch issues (December 2019) | | 1.20.432.0 | Subsequent release addressing various compatibility concerns | | 1.21.442.0 | Further refinements and bug fixes | | 1.22.0 | Final release; updates entirely removed due to project retirement |
If you've installed the driver but your controller still isn't showing up, check these three things: (Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus) is a kernel-mode driver
Before executing the file, verify its integrity to ensure it hasn't been tampered with: ViGEmBusSetup_1.16.116.exe Developer: Nefarius Software Solutions e.U.
The developer eventually deprecated the entire ViGEmBus project in favor of a more modern, high-performance architecture called Nefarius.Drivers.ViGEm The Original Repository: The old GitHub repository where lived was eventually Security Risks: What is ViGEmBus
Download and install the to provide base driver hooks.
* ViGEmBus_1.22.0_x64_x86_arm64.exe. 5.99 MB Nov 2, 2023. * Source code (zip) Sep 8, 2023. * Source code (tar.gz) Sep 8, 2023. ViGEmBus 2024 Setup/Install Guide - No More Legacinator
The specific version was a significant release from late 2019. Its core driver is largely based on version 1.16.112.0, which was released in October 2018. One of its main goals was to fix a bug that could cause the setup program not to launch at all. It's important to know that ViGEm Bus 1.16.116 is a legacy version. While it works on older systems like Windows 7 and 8.1, for newer Windows 10/11 systems, a more current version, 1.22.0 , is highly recommended for better compatibility and performance.
: It hooks into the Windows kernel to spin up virtual input devices. When a remapping app captures input from a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, an old direct-input steering wheel, or a keyboard, it passes that data to ViGEmBus. The driver translates it so the operating system believes an official Xbox 360 or PS4 controller is physically plugged into the USB port.