This gives you the ability to connect a new controller or remap an existing controller to your preference.

From this menu, you can define one mapping per controller. As a result, choose wisely the mapping that will fit most games naturally. The problem we have in the emulation world is that there is not such thing as one unique mapping for all emulated systems. Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Microsoft have all chosen different layouts… plus the multiple arcade systems that Batocera supports: you get the idea.

As mentioned above, unfortunately there is no “One gamepad for all” which covers all differerent original console gamepads.

But there are some pads like the PS3 controllers for example, which have enough buttons to cover a large part of original controllers of different systems (GB, NES, SNES, PS1, N64, Genesis/MegaDrive, Dreamcast and many more) as long as the layout somewhat matches.

Usually, if the standard gamepad of a certain console has Left and Right Shoulder/Trigger Button(s) they are either already mapped to L1/L2 and R1/R2 (on preconfigured Pads like PS3-controller for example) or should ideally be mapped like this for the actual pad you are using.

Also the four action buttons X, A, B, Y (or Triangle, Circle, X and Square) are either already mapped in the same way/orientation as the original pad, or should be mapped like this, if possible. D-Pad and analog stick (s) should of course be mapped appropriately.

For Hotkey it is either a special key on the pad (like PS button in the middle of PS3/4 controller) or if no special key is available it should be the Select Button.

Here are pictures of a small selection of controllers for original consoles with their button layout as a guide/orientation:

And here pictures of the most commonly used controllers for emulation, with the correspoding button mapping/layout: