Pes 2016 Steam Controller Could Not Be Located | Link

Fixed: "PES 2016 Steam Controller Could Not Be Located" – The Complete Link & Fix Guide

Published by: TechFix Guru
Reading time: 6 minutes

If you are a passionate football gamer, chances are you still revisit Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (PES 2016) for its nostalgic gameplay and master league depth. However, a frustrating roadblock has plagued PC users for years: the dreaded error message that reads: "PES 2016 Steam Controller could not be located."

This error typically appears when you launch the game via Steam, especially if you are trying to use a modern controller (Xbox One, PS4/PS5, or even generic gamepads). The game freezes, becomes unresponsive, or simply refuses to detect any input.

But what does this error actually mean? Where is the "link" to fix it? And how can you bypass this without uninstalling anything? pes 2016 steam controller could not be located link

In this long-form guide, we will dissect the "PES 2016 Steam controller could not be located link" issue, explore why Steam’s controller configuration breaks this classic title, and provide guaranteed solutions to get you back on the pitch.

3. The Missing "Link": What Steam Input Does to PES 2016

The keyword here is "link." In programming terms, a link refers to the communication pathway between the physical controller, Steam’s driver, and the game’s executable.

When you see the "could not be located link" error, it means: Fixed: "PES 2016 Steam Controller Could Not Be

• The physical controller is connected ✅
• Steam recognizes the controller in Big Picture mode ✅
• The link is broken because PES 2016.exe is looking for a device ID that Steam Input has hidden.

You are essentially trying to plug a modern guitar into a 1980s amplifier without an adapter. The solutions below provide the missing adapter link.

Method 1: The Steam "Generic" Workaround (Most Reliable)

Steam now treats most controllers as generic controllers by default. Sometimes forcing a specific configuration profile bypasses the error.

1. Open Steam and go to Settings > Controller.
2. Click General Controller Settings.
3. Ensure your controller is detected in this menu.
4. Back in your Library, right-click PES 2016 and select Properties.
5. Go to the Controller tab (on the left side of the Properties window).
6. Change the setting from "Use default settings" to "Disable Steam Input."
   • Why? Sometimes Steam Input fights with the game's native detection. Disabling it forces the game to look directly at the hardware ID.
7. Launch the game. If it works, great! If the controller still doesn't work, re-enable Steam Input and proceed to Method 2.

9) Re-pair / Reset controller

• For wireless controllers, unpair then pair again. For Steam Controller, use Big Picture > Controller Settings > Disconnect All Controllers, then re-pair.

6. Fix #3: The x360ce Emulation Link (Third-Party Tool)

If both Steam-native fixes fail, your last resort is x360ce (Xbox 360 Controller Emulator). This tool creates a fake DLL link between your generic controller and the game. The physical controller is connected ✅ Steam recognizes

Step 1: Download x360ce (64-bit version) from the official GitHub. Step 2: Extract the x360ce.exe into your PES 2016 installation folder (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Pro Evolution Soccer 2016\). Step 3: Run x360ce as administrator. It will automatically detect your controller. Step 4: Let it create the xinput1_3.dll file. This file acts as the missing link. Step 5: In x360ce settings, ensure "Enable Controller" is checked and your inputs are mapped. Step 6: Save the configuration. Step 7: Launch PES 2016 directly from the .exe file (not via Steam Play button) or via Steam with Steam Input disabled.

Important Note: Some antivirus software flags x360ce as a threat – it is a false positive. It simply redirects controller input.