turn on controller before u start the game??

What controller do you use? And for what its worth try something out of these:
1. Try plugging in the controller before launching the game.
2. Download ANY controller emulator (so it recognizes the controller, and leave it open while playing)
3. See that you dont have any other controller or something of the sort plugged in (maybe the game is recognizing something else as player 1 and leaving the controller as player 2)
4. PC restart (im sure you already tried it)
5. If nothing works, try reinstalling the game

had the same issue , u have to enable steam input for this game in order for the controller to work, go to game page in ur library click on the controller and enable steam input.
hope that help...

Xbox x controller

Did you do any repair or confirmation of file integrity? Reinstall? Testing with other controllers?

I disconnected legion controllers from device my Xbox controller started to work with the game all good now