I'm playing on PC and use both keyboard/mouse and controller, depending on what I'm doing, but every time I want to use my controller, I have to go back to the system menu and re-select it.
I understand what's happening, and I get the logic of why, but is there a way to force the game to keep the controller selected, so I don't have to set it manually every time? This could probably use a patch.
Anyway, here's what's happening.
1) Set controller (fine while using)
2) Stop using controller for a bit
3) Controller turns off to save battery life
4) FFXIV realizes the controller is "not connected" (turned off) and removes it from the list of available devices.
5) Turn controller back on to use it again.
6) FFXIV adds the controller to the list of available devices again now that it is "connected" (powered on).
7) Manually need to re-select controller. FFXIV does not re-select it for me.