Gamepass game does not allow controller on PC

I have attempted to play a game from XboxGamePass using the EA app. XboxGameBar has a built-in controller emulator. this kind of question has appeared on here before, notably on this post:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/Xbox-One-controller-for-PC-not-working-through-any-EA-App-games/m-p/11488366#M7315

the issue is that the only 'solution' provided to people in that post was to install 'an old' Origin app and launch the game through there.. (an app that does not successfully download on all installers, as the set-up screen informs you that "there is a problem", and that origin has been replaced with the EA app).
the EA app does not seem to have a built-in controller emulator. so any attempt to use an xbox controller doesnt work.
i have tried using steam, and adding a non-steam game into the library and launching the game that way, but the steam launch always redirects to the EA app when launching, essentially blocking steam from using it's own built-in emulator.

it sucks to have to use an app DESIGNED for downloading games, but doesnt support a controller. if anyone has a fix for this, please let me know. the EA app has little-to-no settings at all