XInputh

XInputh is a fictional input API described as an extension of the XInput framework, the Windows API historically used to read input from Xbox-compatible game controllers. It is presented in speculative discussions as a cross-platform, backward-compatible interface intended to broaden device support and expose advanced input capabilities beyond those offered by traditional XInput.

Overview and design: The proposed design emphasizes a modular core that provides a simple polling model while also offering optional event-driven updates for lower latency. XInputh is described as supporting multiple device types through a single API surface, with platform-specific backends behind a unified abstraction layer. The goal is to preserve compatibility with existing XInput-enabled games while enabling access to newer hardware features.

Features and capabilities: Reported features include higher-resolution buttons and axes, improved dead zones, motion sensing via accelerometers and gyroscopes, force feedback and nuanced haptics, pressure-sensitive triggers, touch or surface input regions, and per-device capability negotiation. The API would also support input remapping, per-profile configurations, and cross-device identity management.

Compatibility and usage: In speculative discussions, XInputh is proposed to provide wrappers or adapters so current XInput titles can run with newer controllers, with a recommended path for new projects to adopt the extended API. Some proposals suggest optional fallbacks to legacy XInput paths for non-supporting platforms.

Development status: As of the present, XInputh remains a hypothetical concept with no official standard or broad industry adoption. It appears in discussions and experimental repositories as a reference point for extending gamepad APIs, rather than as a sanctioned successor to XInput.