@mitu - I've done some more digging. The GameStick doesn't seem to be recognized properly by the evdev system. Found some fun log messages via dmesg:

[ 15.328485] hid-generic 0005:0F0D:1011.0003: unknown main item tag 0x0 [ 15.328963] input: GameStick Controller as /devices/platform/soc/3f201000.uart/tty/ttyAMA0/hci0/hci0:11/0005:0F0D:1011.0003/input/input2 [ 15.330713] hid-generic 0005:0F0D:1011.0003: input.hidraw2: BLUETOOTH HID v7.07 Keyboard [GameStick Controller] on b8:27:eb:03:bd:7f

It appears that the "unknown main item tag" error (which, googling around, seems to be a bug), is causing the controller to be detected by evdev as a "Keyboard". Which, obviously, doesn't work so hot for controller stuff, since the various buttons don't seem to map to anything ES's controller setup recognizes as a button or axis.

I'm going to see if there's any kind of config option or something I can pass to allow this to work...

No experience with the GameStick unfortunately, but in relation to this:

@Dopy25 said in Gamestick (bluetooth) controller:

I also attempted to connect a PS3 controller, but after plugging it in to charge and running the setup for it, the original controller does not light up at all, I am hoping this is unrelated.

You cannot currently use the PS3 controller drivers and the normal bluetooth stack at the same time, so that may be why the GameStick no longer connects after trying the PS3 controller.

@BuZz said in Retropie 3.8 Bluetooth Configure Issue:

you cant use ps3controllers and the built in bluetooth stack at the same time currently. Known limitation of the ps3 pairing software.