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Xpadder VS Photon Engine

Compare Xpadder VS Photon Engine and see what are their differences

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Xpadder logo Xpadder

Xpadder simulates the keyboard and mouse using your gamepad What does Xpadder let you do?

Photon Engine logo Photon Engine

Independent networking engine and multiplayer platform.
  • Xpadder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-16
  • Photon Engine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-25

Xpadder features and specs

  • Customizable Controls
    Xpadder allows users to map keyboard and mouse functions to game controllers, providing a high level of customization for different games and applications.
  • Compatibility
    The software supports a wide range of game controllers and works with almost any game or application, even those that don't offer native controller support.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Xpadder features an intuitive and straightforward UI, making it easy for users to set up and configure their game controllers.
  • Offline Functionality
    Xpadder does not require an internet connection to function, which can be beneficial for users with limited or no internet access.
  • Frequent Updates
    The software receives regular updates to improve performance and add new features, keeping it up-to-date with modern gaming requirements.

Possible disadvantages of Xpadder

  • Paid Software
    Xpadder is not free; users need to purchase a license to use the software, which may be a deterrent for some.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    While the interface is user-friendly, the initial setup can be somewhat complex for beginners, requiring time and patience to configure fully.
  • Limited OS Support
    Xpadder is primarily designed for Windows, and does not natively support macOS or Linux, limiting its user base.
  • No Built-in Profiles
    The software does not come with pre-configured profiles for popular games, requiring users to create their own mappings from scratch.
  • Variable Performance
    Performance may vary depending on system configuration and controller compatibility, potentially leading to inconsistent experiences for some users.

Photon Engine features and specs

  • Scalability
    Photon Engine can handle thousands of concurrent users, making it ideal for both small and large-scale multiplayer games.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Photon supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and HTML5, allowing developers to reach a wider audience without platform-specific re-coding.
  • Ease of Use
    The engine provides comprehensive documentation and an intuitive API, which makes it easier for developers to integrate and implement multiplayer functionalities.
  • Real-time Communication
    Photon Engine excels in providing low latency and real-time communication, which is crucial for multiplayer gaming experiences.
  • Community and Support
    A robust community and active forums provide support and shared knowledge to solve common issues and improve development workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Photon Engine

  • Pricing
    While Photon Engine offers a free tier, advanced features and higher CCU (concurrent user) limits require a paid subscription, which can be costly for small developers.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    Despite having good documentation, the complexity of setting up multiplayer features can be challenging for novice developers without prior networking experience.
  • Limited Customization
    Some developers may find the out-of-the-box solutions limiting if they require highly customized networking features not directly supported by Photon.
  • Third-party Dependence
    Relying on an external service for networking can make a project dependent on the service's uptime and business decisions.
  • Latency Variance
    Although generally low, network latency can vary based on server locations, which might affect game performance in some regions.

Analysis of Xpadder

Overall verdict

  • Xpadder is generally considered good, especially for those who need a simple yet powerful tool for adapting their controllers to games lacking native support. Its robust feature set and reliable performance make it a favorable choice for gamers who prefer or require controller use for all of their PC games.

Why this product is good

  • Xpadder is a utility that allows users to map keyboard keys and mouse actions to gamepad buttons. It's often praised for its ease of use, flexibility, and ability to customize controls for a wide variety of games, particularly those that do not natively support gamepads. The software is lightweight and runs smoothly on most systems without consuming much in the way of resources. Users appreciate its ability to enhance gameplay by offering a more ergonomic control scheme, particularly in older or niche titles.

Recommended for

    Xpadder is best recommended for gamers who want to use a gamepad with their PC games, particularly those games that lack built-in controller support. It's also suitable for users who enjoy customizing their control schemes to optimize their gaming experience or who frequently switch between different game genres that may benefit from unique control layouts.

Xpadder videos

+ Add

Xpadder Tutorial - Setup / How To Beginner's Guide - Controller Mapping

More videos:

  • Review - xpadder review/for free
  • Review - Xpadder 5.7 review

Photon Engine videos

+ Add

Unet vs Photon Engine - A comparison

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Xpadder and Photon Engine)

Xpadder

Photon Engine

Gaming
100 100%
Gaming
0% 0
Game Development
0 0%
Game Development
100% 100
Controller Mapping
100 100%
Controller Mapping
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
Developer Tools
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Xpadder and Photon Engine. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Xpadder and Photon Engine

Xpadder Reviews

Top 5 REWASD Alternatives in 2021
Let’s start by talking about the easiest and one of the oldest keymapping solutions in the market, Xpadder. Xpadder allows you to take your gaming to the next level by simply mapping your keyboard and mouse as well as gamepad controls to the device of your choice.
Source: keyboardkings.com
Fantastic Controller Mappers and Where to Find Them
The significant ability of Xpadder is to support almost any controller device: this controller mapper allows you to add each button or analog element that your controller has one-by-one. As a result, you literally build a unique scheme. Once the controller is plugged in, Xpadder asks you to move analog controls to add them to the controller scheme and tune the deadzone. The...
Source: www.rewasd.com

Photon Engine Reviews

We have no reviews of Photon Engine yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Xpadder should be more popular than Photon Engine. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Xpadder mentions (14)

  • free alternative to reWASD
    It mentions some alternatives, though, such as Input Mapper and Xpadder. If your games are on Steam, you could try Steam's controller config thing. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Pinball FX Guide - A Start
    Did you download it from an e-mail sent to you from xpadder.com? The version I'm using is 2022.05.01. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Picked Up a Pair of MyMyBox MXMT6's This Weekend!
    You might be able to use JoyToKey (free) or xpadder ($10) to at least verify different inputs are recognized per button. Source: about 2 years ago
  • My take on a DDR soft pad mod in 2022
    To remedy, I've been using this little app found from another thread. I keep this app open while running stepmania and it remap button presses solving the problem. It seems to poll quickly enough for my needs! https://www.mediafire.com/?asju7uk8shr81co Or there's xPadder - https://xpadder.com/ ($9.99) as a more rounded software solution as well. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Help with remapping a controller analog stick to the arrow keys.
    If it doesn't work out, I'd personally just get Xpadder. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Photon Engine mentions (2)

  • 'Foxhole' players launch organised in-game strike to demand change
    Source: photonengine.com (provides server networking and hosting for tens of millions of daily users on steam and other platforms). Source: over 3 years ago
  • steam vs itch.io
    With Steam you get 70% of the money you make from your game, and it costs $100 to put your game on the platform. But you get stuff like Steam Networking, VAC, Steam Achievements, etc. You might also get more sales if you put your game on Steam. With itch.io however, you get 100% of the money you make, and it's free to put your game on the platform. The problem is you will get less players than if you were to put... Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Xpadder and Photon Engine, you can also consider the following products

DS4Windows - DS4Windows is an open-source gamepad input mapper and virtual emulator designed to use and connect your PlayStation controller (DualShock 3/4 and DualSense 5) to a Windows 10 & 11 PC.

PlayFab - PlayFab is a backend platform for games, delivering powerful real-time tools and services for LiveOps.

JoyToKey - JoyToKey enables users to control the keyboard using any USB compatible controller (Dualshock 3, Xbox 360, etc.)

Nakama - Nakama is an open-source distributed social and realtime server for games and apps.

reWASD - First and only gamepad mapper to make Xbox Elite paddles separate buttons.

Unity Multiplayer - Create real-time, networked games.

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