by globglob3D·Workflow
Images © globglob3D. Used for product review; image policy.
Stands out in the blender_extensions library because it works out of the box with any controller across Windows, Mac, and Linux, and reaches into both Blender's driver system and Geometry Nodes.
Controller Link lets you use a game controller or gamepad as a real-time input device inside Blender. It converts controller inputs into animatable properties, which can drive bones, geometry nodes, object transforms, and more. globglob3D positions it for animation, rig testing, live performances, and procedural systems.
Joystick and button inputs become Blender properties you can connect through drivers: right-click a controller input property, copy it as a driver, then paste it onto any property you want it to control. For Geometry Nodes, adding the CL node group to a tree links controller input directly. You can also record inputs, then use Blender's native Bake Animation operator to keep a recording and start a fresh one without overwriting earlier work.
Recording turns inputs into keyframes. Controller Link works out of the box with any controller on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer. It is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.
Controller Link is best for animators, riggers, and artists who want physical, real-time control for animation, rig testing, live performances, and procedural systems in Blender.
Controller Link is completely free to download and use.
Controller Link is compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, so current LTS releases and later builds are covered. The add-on is at version 1.0.1, updated in June 2025, with a fix for a bcl bug in that release. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. You can install it by dragging the extension into Blender or installing it from disk, and issues can be reported on the developer's GitHub page.
Controller Link works out of the box with any controller on Windows, Mac, and Linux. To start, open the Controller Link tab and click the button to pick up your controller inputs. From there, joystick and button movements become animatable Blender properties. The add-on does not require special permissions and is around 15.5 MB in size. Because it supports any gamepad across all three major desktop platforms, you do not need a specific brand or model to begin.
Controller Link uses Blender's driver system for linking inputs to properties. Right-click a controller input property and choose copy as driver, then right-click any property you want controlled and choose Paste Driver. For Geometry Nodes, you add the CL node group to your tree to route controller input there. You can also record your inputs, then run Blender's native Bake Animation operator to keep a recording and make a new one without overriding your existing work.
Controller Link can record inputs and turn them into keyframes, so live controller movements become editable animation. After recording, you can use Blender's native Bake Animation operator to preserve that take and start a fresh recording without overwriting the earlier one. The workflow suits animation, rig testing, live performances, and procedural systems, since inputs can drive bones, geometry nodes, object transforms, and more. Recording is optional, so you can also use the controller purely for real-time, unrecorded control.
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