Unity3D/2D: Mobile Joystick Tutorial [NO PLUGINS]

In this tutorial I explain how to code a virtual joystick in Unity to be used for mobile or touch screen devices. In this video you will learn:

+ 0:52 - Create a new C# script
+ 1:08 - Create a moveCharacter function
+ 2:50 - Move with arrow keys or physical joystick
+ 3:38 - How to calculate direction
+ 5:08 - Mouse Position - Screen View vs. World View
+ 7:50 - Setup a Visual Joystick
+ 9:45 - Final Product

Download Assets:

Copy & Paste Code Here:

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[ramoncababaan]

This is the waldo everyone is searching for. Clear tutorial and simple codes to follow along. Pls make more mobile tutorials, it's what we need right now

[menesekinci]

Dude this tutorial awesome. I know not much English but I understand many information on this video. Thank you.

[aimesolomon]

Note: this is for inverse mouse input or inverse touch control;
Vector2 offset = pointB - pointA;
Change it get proper direction movement;
Vector2 offset = pointA - pointB;

[janjancababaan]

for those who are having inverted Controls remove the -1 at the circles and add +1 at the movement
circle.transform.position = pointA;
(remove negative)
= pointA; (remove negative)


moveCharacter(direction * +1); (add positive)

[codebrown]

I dont usually comment, but this is probably the best mobile touch control tutorial on youtube. Hands down!

[kick]

I've never seen such a great tutorial about touch control. Keep up the good work!

[dibbelgames]

oh my god, after a so long time i found a great tutorial.
Thx dude

[andrewferguson]

I rarely ever like and comment videos, but this one is so well made, I just had to.

[IFennecYouCODM]

Thank you so much, I was tired of other tutorials, None that i tried was working.

[_moonbeam]

hello, I read all the comments below, poked around and found a great solution. (removed "* -1") and everything began to work as it should.
Also thanks for such a good video.
P.S not tested on phone yet.

Edited Code:
using UnityEngine;

public class Joystick : MonoBehaviour {
public Transform player;
public float speed = 5.0f;
private bool touchStart = false;
private Vector2 pointA;
private Vector2 pointB;

public Transform circle;
public Transform outerCircle;

void Update() {
if (Input.GetMouseButtonDown(0)) {
pointA = Vector3(Input.mousePosition.x, Input.mousePosition.y,

circle.transform.position = pointA;
= pointA;
= true;
= true;
}
if (Input.GetMouseButton(0)) {
touchStart = true;
pointB = Vector3(Input.mousePosition.x, Input.mousePosition.y,
}
else {
touchStart = false;
}
}
private void FixedUpdate() {
if (touchStart) {
Vector2 offset = pointB - pointA;
Vector2 direction = Vector2.ClampMagnitude(offset, 1.0f);
moveCharacter(direction);

circle.transform.position = new Vector2(pointA.x + direction.x, pointA.y + direction.y);
}
else {
= false;
= false;
}
}
void moveCharacter(Vector2 direction) {
player.Translate(direction * speed * Time.deltaTime);
}
}

[StolenGalaxy]

THANKYOU SO MUCH!! Btw I got rid of all the * -1 bits because it just put the joystick in the wrong place and made you go the opposite direction but anyway this was the best video I have ever watched for explaining this!! btw I subbed

[LavaStormPlays]

OIE! I changed some of the code for it to work right. Line 29 = pointA * 1; Line 52 circle.transform.position = new Vector2(pointA.x + direction.x, pointA.y + direction.y) * 1; I took out the Negative (-) before the 1s and the joystick now follows my screen instead of being on opposite side of where i click/push. Also would love a Fixed joystick in one spot and the joystick snapping back to starting position when letting go.

[BBdaCosta]

Great video, very simple and clean. Liked the approach

[ElectronGOD]

Your tutorials are great! Plz keep continue making them.:)

[JungleGAS_]

Nice video, Waldo please create a video about VR-games

[SamuelTsai_]

That was very helpful for me
Thanks for your tutorial video
It's very simple to know how it working

[AaronFormyduval]

Is it possible to change this code for a 3D setup?

[lajocymbalski]

I will try this code once I come back from marketing one of my apps to some retail stores

[lankahelth]

you are a good person, thank you for helping me to learn unity

[tgtgtgtgtgtg]

Hi, Very informative tutorial. Straight to point. And clean as well. I'd like to implement the same "virtual joystick" for rotating a sprite on its z axis. Also so that when you've rotated the object, the next time i rotate it, it rotates from the current rotation to the desired direction! I've tried to change the code as per my knowledge and failed. would you be kind enough to help me out? thanks!