> You can't do it without going through their fucking app, that asks for every permissions under the sun, including GPS positioning for some reason.

If it uses bluetooth, which it might for the controller?, the permission for bluetooth on Android is fine location --- the same permission as for using GPS. That might be the same permission you need for wifi stuff, too? Because products and services exist to turn bluetooth and wifi mac addresses seen into a fine location.

But who knows what they do with the GPS signal after they ask for it?

No, it doesn't use Bluetooth. Or maybe it does under the hood but the permissions they ask for are GPS and "see nearby devices". You are able to pair your device with Bluetooth disabled in the phone's quick menu.