Fix Xbox Controller Issues | Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar PC
There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting down with your controller, ready to dive into a cozy game session, and… nothing happens.
That’s exactly what’s been happening for many players trying to play Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar on PC with an Xbox controller.
Instead of peacefully tending stalls, chatting with villagers, or fishing by the river, some players quickly discovered that their Xbox 360, Xbox One, or even Xbox Series controllers simply don’t behave properly in this game.
Joysticks stop responding, button prompts flicker between keyboard and controller, and sometimes the entire pad feels invisible to the game. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry, some people experience the same.
Let me walk you through what’s going on, share some stories from other players who ran into the exact same headache, and explain the fixes that finally got my controller working again.
Common Controller Issues Players Are Experiencing

Here are the main Xbox controller problems reported in Grand Bazaar:
- Joysticks not working: Especially the left analog stick, which means no character movement at all. Pretty game-breaking.
- Buttons responding inconsistently: Some buttons register fine, while others do nothing.
- Random prompt switching: The game keeps flipping between showing keyboard icons and controller icons on-screen, which is confusing during gameplay.
- Controller not detected: A few unlucky players reported their Xbox controller simply doesn’t show up in the game, even though it works elsewhere.
If you’ve run into one or more of these, know that you’re not imagining things—it’s a widespread issue.
“I Thought It Was Just Me!” – Other Players Report the Same
At first, many players thought their old Xbox controllers were simply wearing out. But after checking the Steam Community discussions, it quickly became clear that this was a widespread issue—not just an isolated problem.
Here are some snippets of what players shared:
- “I was just talking to a friend who bought the game and is also having this problem. I imagine they’ll fix it soon.” – Solarlord
- “Yes. I had to turn on Steam Input and then it worked fine.” – seasonalhans
- “As a workaround I remapped the left analog stick directions to the WASD keys using the Steam menu… at least I can play until they fix this issue.” – uroboloss
- “None of these suggestions worked for me, I have no controller inputs functioning even with Steam Input enabled.” – Kyde
In short, the issue isn’t limited to one person. Some players discovered quick fixes, while others are still struggling. The good news is that a few workarounds seem to work for most people.
The Quickest Workaround: Remapping Controls in Steam
The most reliable solution right now is to bypass the broken joystick inputs by remapping controls directly through Steam. It’s not perfect, but it works well enough to let you move your farmer around the bazaar.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode
- Open Steam.
- In the top-right corner, click the Big Picture Mode icon (looks like a controller).
2. Open Controller Settings
- In Big Picture Mode, go to Settings (gear icon).
- Under the “Controller” section, choose Controller Settings.
- Make sure your Xbox controller is detected.
3. Calibrate Your Joysticks
- Select your controller.
- Follow the calibration steps to make sure Steam recognizes your analog sticks.
4. Edit Your Game’s Layout
- While still in Big Picture Mode, go to your Library and select Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.
- Click Manage Game > Controller Options (or Controller Configuration).
5. Remap the Left Analog Stick to WASD
- In the configuration screen, remap the Left Stick Up/Down/Left/Right to the W, A, S, D keys.
- This makes the analog stick mimic keyboard movement.
6. Rebind Other Buttons (Optional)
- If you want, you can also reassign buttons to better match the in-game controls. For example, remap jump, interact, or menu buttons so they feel natural.
It may feel clunky at first—especially since the button prompts on screen still flip between keyboard and controller icons—but it’s the fastest way to get back into the game until an official fix arrives.
General Xbox Controller Fixes You Should Try
If the Steam remap doesn’t help, or you’d rather try fixing the detection issue first, here are some general troubleshooting steps:
1. Enable Steam Input for the Game
- In your Steam Library, right-click Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar.
- Go to Properties > Controller.
- Set it to Enable Steam Input.
This alone solved the problem for some players.
2. Update Your Controller’s Firmware
- Plug your controller into your PC via USB.
- Open the Xbox Accessories App (free on Windows Store).
- Check if there’s a firmware update available.
3. Switch from Wireless to Wired
Bluetooth connections can sometimes cause lag or missing inputs. Try plugging your controller in with a USB cable and see if that improves things.
4. Power Cycle the Controller
- Hold the Xbox button down for 5–10 seconds until the controller turns off.
- Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
Sometimes a quick reset is all it needs.
5. Disable “Run as Administrator”
- Go to your Steam installation folder and find the game’s .exe file.
- Right-click > Properties > Compatibility.
- Make sure “Run this program as an administrator” is unchecked.
Some players reported that this solved detection issues across different Steam games.
Player Experiences (and What Finally Worked)

Some players who launched Grand Bazaar with their Xbox 360 controllers were excited to finally enjoy this farming classic on PC.
But that excitement quickly turned into confusion when their farmers refused to move—the joystick inputs simply didn’t respond.
Different fixes were tested. Many tried enabling Steam Input, power cycling their controllers, or switching USB ports, but the problem often persisted.
One workaround that actually worked for several players was the Steam remapping trick, binding the left stick to WASD.
With that solution, movement became possible again. Players could walk around, interact with villagers, and continue farming.
The downside was that the game prompts often switched back and forth between keyboard and controller icons, which could be distracting—but at least the game was playable.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it gave players a way to keep enjoying the game until Marvelous (the developers) release a proper patch.
Will the Developers Fix This?
The good news is that this seems to be a software issue, not a permanent incompatibility. Other Story of Seasons titles have had similar controller quirks at launch, and patches eventually resolved them.
Considering how many players have reported the issue on Steam, it’s safe to say the developers are aware. For now, the best thing you can do is use the Steam remap workaround or stick to the keyboard until a fix lands.
Don’t Let Controller Issues Stop the Fun
The most effective fix right now is to remap your joystick and buttons through Steam’s Big Picture Mode, essentially tricking the game into reading controller input as keyboard input.
Other things like enabling Steam Input, updating firmware, or using a wired connection are also worth trying.
Yes, it’s frustrating, but it’s only temporary. With a little patience and these workarounds, you’ll be back to running your stall, befriending villagers, and enjoying the relaxing life in Zephyr Town.
And honestly, once you got it working, it reminded you why you love these games so much—even if you had to jump through a few technical hoops first.