diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
index 99c085b015..596ee78640 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ struct pad_ensemble
 	std::shared_ptr<PadDevice> buddy_device;
 
 	explicit pad_ensemble(std::shared_ptr<Pad> _pad, std::shared_ptr<PadDevice> _device, std::shared_ptr<PadDevice> _buddy_device)
-		: pad(_pad), device(_device), buddy_device(_buddy_device)
+		: pad(std::move(_pad)), device(std::move(_device)), buddy_device(std::move(_buddy_device))
 	{}
 };
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.cpp
index e09be8a4e0..481fe7078a 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ void fmt_class_string<pad_handler>::format(std::string& out, u64 arg)
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBEVDEV
 		case pad_handler::evdev: return "Evdev";
 #endif
+		case pad_handler::virtual_pad: return "Virtual";
 		}
 
 		return unknown;
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.h b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.h
index 36fc8328fa..dd4cd98d14 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config_types.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ enum class pad_handler
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBEVDEV
 	evdev,
 #endif
+	virtual_pad
 };
 
 enum class mouse_movement_mode : s32
diff --git a/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.cpp b/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c446a49327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#include "virtual_pad_handler.h"
+#include "pad_thread.h"
+#include "Emu/Io/pad_config.h"
+
+virtual_pad_handler::on_connect_cb virtual_pad_handler::mOnConnect = [](auto...)
+{
+	return false;
+};
+
+virtual_pad_handler::virtual_pad_handler()
+	: PadHandlerBase(pad_handler::virtual_pad)
+{
+}
+
+std::vector<pad_list_entry> virtual_pad_handler::list_devices()
+{
+	std::vector<pad_list_entry> list_devices;
+	for (usz i = 1; i <= MAX_GAMEPADS; i++) // Controllers 1-n in GUI
+	{
+		list_devices.emplace_back(fmt::format("Virtual Pad #%d", i), false);
+	}
+	return list_devices;
+}
+
+bool virtual_pad_handler::bindPadToDevice(std::shared_ptr<Pad> pad)
+{
+	if (!pad || pad->m_player_id >= g_cfg_input.player.size())
+		return false;
+
+	const cfg_player* player_config = g_cfg_input.player[pad->m_player_id];
+	if (!player_config || player_config->device.to_string() != "Virtual")
+		return false;
+
+	if (!mOnConnect(pad))
+	{
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	m_bindings.emplace_back(std::move(pad), nullptr, nullptr);
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.h b/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..28a86cfdd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rpcs3/Input/virtual_pad_handler.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "Emu/Io/PadHandler.h"
+
+class virtual_pad_handler final : public PadHandlerBase
+{
+	using on_connect_cb = std::function<bool(const std::shared_ptr<Pad> &)>;
+	static on_connect_cb mOnConnect;
+
+public:
+	virtual_pad_handler();
+
+	static void set_on_connect_cb(on_connect_cb cb)
+	{
+		mOnConnect = std::move(cb);
+	}
+
+	bool Init() override
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	void init_config(cfg_pad* cfg) override
+	{
+		if (!cfg)
+			return;
+
+		cfg->from_default();
+	}
+
+	std::vector<pad_list_entry> list_devices() override;
+
+	connection get_next_button_press(const std::string& /*padId*/, const pad_callback& /*callback*/, const pad_fail_callback& /*fail_callback*/, gui_call_type /*call_type*/, const std::vector<std::string>& /*buttons*/) override
+	{
+		return connection::connected;
+	}
+
+	bool bindPadToDevice(std::shared_ptr<Pad> pad) override;
+	void process() override {}
+};
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
index 0eeda510e2..377c7577ea 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
@@ -1983,6 +1983,7 @@ QString pad_settings_dialog::GetLocalizedPadHandler(const QString& original, pad
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBEVDEV
 		case pad_handler::evdev: return tr("Evdev");
 #endif
+		case pad_handler::virtual_pad: return tr("Virtual");
 	}
 	return original;
 }
@@ -2008,6 +2009,7 @@ QString pad_settings_dialog::GetLocalizedPadName(pad_handler handler, const QStr
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBEVDEV
 		case pad_handler::evdev: break; // Localization not feasible. Names differ for each device.
 #endif
+		case pad_handler::virtual_pad: break;
 	}
 	return original;
 }