Controller button layout descriptions
Descriptions of the button layouts of various controllers, organized by console generation. Useful for beginner blind gamers.
6th generation (1998–2013)
Nintendo GameCube
For the Nintendo GameCube console, see the tactile hardware guide.
GameCube Controller (DOL-003)
The GameCube Controller is a traditional two-handed gamepad.
Left grip
The left thumb rests on the Control Stick, while the left index finger rests on the L shoulder button. The L shoulder button is pressure-sensitive.
The Control Stick has a concentric circle pattern consisting of one large circle, one medium circle, and one small circle. This pattern may become worn or difficult to feel with use.
The D-pad is diagonally down and to the right from the Control Stick. It is cross-shaped with a circular depression in the center.
A triangle is marked at the end of each direction of the D-pad, with each triangle pointing in its respective direction.
Right grip
The right thumb rests on the A button, while the right index finger rests on the R shoulder button. The R shoulder button is pressure-sensitive.
The A and B buttons are round. B is diagonally down and to the left from A. The B button is also smaller than the A button.
X is diagonally up and to the right from A, while Y is directly above A.
X and Y share the same shape, which is different from the round A and B buttons.
The letters on the buttons are tactile and can be felt.
The C Stick is below the B button.
Center
The Start button is to the left of the B button. "START/PAUSE" is marked above the Start button, and the marking is tactile and can be felt.
Top edge
The Z button is positioned above the R shoulder button. The cable extends out of the middle of the edge.
Sega Dreamcast
For the Sega Dreamcast console, see the tactile hardware guide.
Dreamcast Controller
The Dreamcast controller is a traditional two-handed gamepad.
Left grip
The left thumb rests on the analog stick, while the left index finger rests on the L trigger. The L trigger is pressure-sensitive.
The analog stick has a textured surface with small bumps that provide a tactile landmark for the thumb.
The D-pad is down and slightly to the right of the analog stick. It is cross-shaped and has a small circular depression in the center.
Right grip
The right thumb rests on the A button, while the right index finger rests on the R trigger. The R trigger is pressure-sensitive.
The four action buttons are arranged in a diamond. B is diagonally up and to the right from A, X is diagonally up and to the left from A, and Y is directly above A.
Each action button has its corresponding letter marked on it. The letters are tactile and can be felt.
Center
The Start button is shaped like an upward-pointing triangle. The word "START" is marked below the button.
At the top of the controller is the VMU slot. A tactile Dreamcast swirl logo is located on the controller at the top of this area and remains present when the VMU is removed.
VMU
The VMU is a small rectangular accessory with rounded corners around its button area.
The connectors are on the top edge of the VMU. The VMU is inserted into the Dreamcast controller with the connectors facing downward and clicks into place. To remove it, pinch the sides of the VMU with two fingers and pull it out.
VMU front
The Dreamcast swirl logo and "Dreamcast" text are above the screen. The screen is a dot-matrix display.
Below the screen are the controls.
The D-pad is on the left. It is cross-shaped but mostly circular.
On the right are four buttons. Sleep and Mode are the smaller buttons and are arranged left to right, with Sleep on the left and Mode on the right.
Below them are the larger A and B buttons, with A on the left and B on the right.
VMU back
The back contains the battery door. The battery door is secured by a Phillips screw and cannot be removed without removing the screw.
The bottom edge has a small attachment point where a string or similar item can be attached.
7th generation (2005–2017)
Nintendo Wii
Wii Remote (RVL-003)
The Wii Remote is a long, rounded rectangular controller. It can be held vertically or horizontally, depending on the game.
Unlike most controllers listed, the Wii Remote can be held in either hand.
Vertical orientation
The Wii Remote is held like a traditional remote control, with the buttons facing forward. When held vertically, the thumb rests on the A button, the index finger rests on the B button, and the remaining fingers grip the battery cover.
The power button is above and to the left of the D-pad.
The D-pad is cross-shaped. Each direction has lines marked on it.
The A button is round.
The Minus, Home, and Plus buttons are arranged from left to right.
The speaker is below the Minus, Home, and Plus buttons.
The 1 and 2 buttons are round, with 1 above 2.
Below the 2 button are four square player indicators. They light up when the controller is powered on.
The B button is on the back of the controller. It is shaped like a trigger.
The battery cover is below the B button. It has a small notch that can be pressed with a fingernail to release the cover.
The wrist strap is typically attached near the battery cover.
The accessory connector is above the wrist strap.
The SYNC button is located inside the battery compartment on the original Wii Remote. The battery cover must be removed to access it.
On the Wii MotionPlus Remote (RVL-036), the SYNC button is located on the battery cover and can be pressed through a small opening with a thin object such as a pushpin or paperclip.
Horizontal orientation
When held horizontally, the left thumb rests on the A button, while the right thumb rests on the 2 button.
The D-pad is on the left, and the A button is to its right.
The Minus, Home, and Plus buttons are arranged vertically. Minus is on the bottom, Home is in the middle, and Plus is on top.
The 1 and 2 buttons are on the right side, with 1 to the left of 2.
The B button is on the back.
Variants
The Wii MotionPlus Remote (RVL-036) has essentially the same button layout as the Wii Remote. Wii MotionPlus is built into the controller rather than being a separate attachment.
The Wii Remote may be covered by a removable silicone Wii Remote Jacket. The jacket covers most of the controller but leaves the main controls accessible.
Wii Nunchuk (RVL-004)
The Wii Nunchuk is held in the non-dominant hand and connects to the Wii Remote.
Grip
The thumb rests on the Control Stick. The index finger rests on either the C button or Z button. The remaining fingers grip the underside of the Nunchuk.
Control Stick
The Control Stick has a circular pattern that provides a tactile landmark for the thumb.
Buttons
The C and Z buttons are on the back of the Nunchuk, beneath the index finger.
The C button is above the Z button and is round.
The Z button is below the C button and has a curved, rounded-square shape.
Wii Classic Controller (RVL-005)
The Wii Classic Controller is a flat, rounded controller with no pronounced grips. It connects to the Wii Remote.
Left side
The left thumb can rest on either the D-pad or the left control stick, while the left index finger rests on the L button.
The D-pad is toward the upper-left.
The left control stick is diagonally down and to the right from the D-pad.
Right side
The right thumb can rest on either the B button or the right control stick, while the right index finger rests on the R button.
The four action buttons are arranged in a diamond. The B button is at the bottom of the diamond, where the right thumb can rest.
A is diagonally up and to the right from B. Y is diagonally up and to the left from B. X is directly above B.
The buttons are marked with lowercase letters: "b", "a", "y", and "x". The markings are not tactile.
The right control stick is diagonally down and to the left from the action buttons.
Center
The Plus button is to the left of the Y button.
The Minus button is to the right of the D-pad.
The Home button is between the Plus and Minus buttons.
Top edge
The controller's cable exits from the top edge.
ZL is to the right of L, while ZR is to the left of R.
Between ZL and ZR is a small release button. Pressing it moves the sliding pieces on the back of the controller.
Back
The back panel has a pill-shaped Nintendo logo.
The back panel also contains the sliding pieces operated by the release button.
Xbox 360
For the Xbox 360 console, see the tactile hardware guide.
Xbox 360 Controller
The Xbox 360 controller is a traditional two-handed gamepad.
Left grip
The left thumb rests on the left thumbstick, while the left index finger rests on the LT trigger. The LT trigger is pressure-sensitive.
The thumbstick can be clicked by pressing it downward. It has a circular depression where the thumb can rest, with small raised bumps at the top, bottom, left, and right.
The D-pad is diagonally down and to the right from the left thumbstick. It is a raised, circular control with a cross-shaped directional surface.
Right grip
The right thumb rests on the A button, while the right index finger rests on the RT trigger. The RT trigger is pressure-sensitive.
The four action buttons are arranged in a diamond. B is diagonally up and to the right from A, X is diagonally up and to the left, and Y is directly above A.
The right thumbstick is below and to the left of the action buttons. It has a circular depression where the thumb can rest, with small raised bumps at the top, bottom, left, and right. It can be clicked by pressing it downward.
Center
The Back button is to the right of the left thumbstick. The word "BACK" is marked above and to the left of the button, and a left-pointing triangle is marked on the button.
The Start button is to the left of the X button. The word "START" is marked above and to the right of the button, and a right-pointing triangle is marked on the button.
The Guide button is between the Back and Start buttons. The numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are marked around the Guide button, with 1 at the upper-left, 2 at the upper-right, 3 at the lower-left, and 4 at the lower-right. The Guide button lights up when the controller is powered on.
Top edge
Above LT is LB, and above RT is RB. LB and RB click when pressed.
The Sync button is to the right of LB. On wireless controllers, a charging port is located to the right of the Sync button when using the Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit.
Above the charging port is a tactile logo marked on the plastic. On standard Xbox 360 controllers, the logo reads "Microsoft." On controllers with the Transforming D-pad, the logo reads "Xbox 360."
Front and underside
The accessory jack is centered along the front edge of the controller.
The underside contains the removable battery cover. A release button is built into the battery cover and can be pressed to remove it. The battery compartment holds two AA batteries.
Variants
The Xbox 360 controller was available in wired and wireless versions. Both versions have the same button layout.
The wireless controller uses two AA batteries and has a Sync button. The wired controller receives power through its cable and does not have a battery compartment or wireless Sync button.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with Transforming D-pad has the same basic layout as the standard Xbox 360 controller. Its D-pad has a chrome finish, unlike the plastic D-pad of the standard controller.
The D-pad can be transformed by pinching it with two fingers and twisting it clockwise or counter-clockwise.
In the transformed position, the cross-shaped D-pad is more pronounced and raised. When the D-pad is raised higher, it is in the transformed position. When it is relatively flat and the other parts of the circular control can be felt, it is not transformed.
The thumbsticks on the Transforming D-pad controller do not have the small raised directional bumps found on the standard Xbox 360 controller.
9th generation (2020–present)
PlayStation 5
DualSense
This description assumes you're holding the controller with the buttons facing you.
Starting from the left, there are 4 directional buttons (the D-Pad): up, down, left and right.
Moving down and right a little will be the left analog stick. You can click in the stick, which is called the L3 button.
Further right from that is the PlayStation button, which looks kind of like an arrow pointing downwards.
Below the PlayStation button is the mute button.
Further right is the right analog stick, which can also be clicked in. When clicked, it's the R3 button.
Moving right and a little bit upwards are the action buttons - 4 circular buttons arranged in a diamond shape. The bottom button is the cross button (also sometimes referred to as the X button), right is circle, up is triangle, and left is square.
To the left of the action buttons, and above the PlayStation button is the touchpad, shaped like a large trapeze. Immediately to the left and right of the touchpad are 2 buttons. To the left is the create button and to the right is the options button.
On top of the controller on the left are 2 buttons. The button closer to you is L1, and the other button is L2. Same thing on the right side. The button closer to you is R1, and the other button is R2.