If you are encountering the "controller not working Space Bross" bug where menus glitch or a floating cursor ruins your aim, you are not alone. Lavega Games shipped their 2.5D tower defense roguelite with native support strictly for Xbox (XInput) gamepads, leaving PlayStation 5 DualSense users and non-WASD keyboard players stranded. Because the engine aggressively polls for simultaneous mouse and gamepad inputs, players experience a persistent crosshair drift, unresponsive menu buttons, and a complete inability to map custom keys natively. Fixing these input drops requires forcing Steam’s controller translation layer, parking your physical mouse to prevent polling conflicts, and leveraging external remapping tools.
The Root of the Input Drops: XInput vs. DirectInput
Space Bross relies on a rigid XInput implementation. When you plug in an Xbox controller, the game recognizes the hardware identifiers and maps the twin-stick shooter controls automatically. Connecting a PS4 DualShock or PS5 DualSense sends DirectInput signals, which the game engine ignores. This results in the game defaulting to a hybrid mouse-and-keyboard state while you are pressing gamepad buttons.
The underlying architecture of Space Bross utilizes a framework that natively hooks into Microsoft's XInput API. XInput has been the industry standard for PC gaming since the Xbox 360 era, providing a reliable, plug-and-play experience for Windows users. However, this reliance means that the game expects a very specific array of 4 axes, 10 buttons, 2 triggers, and an 8-way directional pad. When a player connects a PlayStation controller, the device communicates via DirectInput or the newer raw input APIs. Because the developers at Lavega Games are a small team initially focused on mobile and transitioning to their first major PC release, building a custom input wrapper for every peripheral on the market was outside their launch scope. The result is a game that reads the raw axis data from a PS5 controller as chaotic, unassigned variables, causing menus to scroll infinitely or the character to spin in circles.
Forcing Steam Input for PS4 and PS5 Gamepads
Steam Input acts as a software bridge, tricking Space Bross into believing your PlayStation pad is a standard Xbox controller. Activating it requires bypassing the global Steam settings and forcing it on a per-game basis.
Space Bross in-game screenshot
Step-by-Step Steam Configuration
- Open your Steam Library and right-click on Space Bross.
- Select Properties from the context menu.
- Navigate to the Controller tab on the left sidebar.
- Click the dropdown menu next to "Override for Space Bross" and select Enable Steam Input.
Launch the game. The main menu should now display Xbox button prompts (A to select, B to go back) instead of keyboard prompts. If the menu still behaves erratically, disconnect any secondary peripherals like flight sticks or steering wheels, as the game engine will attempt to pull axis data from the first active USB controller it detects.
Optimal Steam Input Configurations for High-Wave Survival
To truly master the roguelite progression, the default XInput layout can be heavily optimized using Steam’s advanced controller settings. The standard layout forces your right thumb to leave the aiming stick to press the face buttons for dodging and interacting with base elements. In a twin-stick shooter, taking your thumb off the aim stick during a swarm is a death sentence.
Binding Dash to the Bumpers or Paddles
By default, the dash mechanic is mapped to a face button. Open your Steam Input layout for the game and rebind the Dash action to the Left Bumper (L1) or a rear paddle if you are using an Xbox Elite or DualSense Edge controller. This allows Achilles to maintain continuous fire and precise aiming while executing evasive maneuvers.
Adjusting the Right Stick Response Curve
The native deadzones in Space Bross are notoriously stiff, requiring a heavy push to register diagonal aiming. Inside Steam Input, navigate to the Joysticks tab, select the Right Joystick behavior, and change the Response Curve from "Linear" to "Aggressive" or "Custom". Lowering the inner deadzone slider to 5% or 10% will make the plasma rifle feel significantly more responsive, mimicking the tight controls of established twin-stick shooters.
Creating an Action Set for Base Building
The tower defense phase requires precise grid placement, which is tedious with an analog stick. You can create a "Base Building" Action Set in Steam Input that activates when you hold the Left Trigger. This secondary layer can remap the left analog stick to output D-Pad directional clicks, allowing for perfectly snapped turret placement on the grid without the analog drift ruining your layout.
Fixing the "Floating Cursor" Twin-Stick Bug
Even with Steam Input active, you will likely encounter the floating cursor bug. The game engine continuously polls the physical mouse position. When you push the right analog stick to aim your plasma rifle, the game registers the stick’s directional vector but immediately snaps back to the static X/Y coordinates of your idle mouse cursor.
Space Bross in-game screenshot
The engine's input manager does not feature an "exclusive lock" toggle. In modern PC titles, pressing a button on a gamepad immediately hides the Windows mouse cursor and locks the game to controller polling. Space Bross lacks this automatic handoff. Instead, it listens to both the mouse and the gamepad simultaneously. Because the aiming mechanic uses the screen's coordinates to calculate the angle of Achilles' weapon, the game receives conflicting data: the right stick telling it to aim at 45 degrees, and the mouse telling it to aim at 180 degrees. The engine prioritizes the mouse, causing the crosshair to snap away from your intended target.
The Parking Strategy
Before pressing start on the main menu, physically move your mouse cursor to the extreme bottom-right corner of your monitor. This pushes the overlapping coordinate off the active gameplay plane. By moving the mouse to the absolute edge of the screen, its static coordinates are less likely to overwrite the dynamic vectors generated by your right analog stick, provided the physical mouse remains perfectly still.
Disable Steam Desktop Configuration
Sometimes Steam's desktop mode bleeds into the game. Open Steam Settings > Controller > Desktop Layout > Edit, and temporarily set it to a blank template while playing. This prevents your right stick from accidentally triggering Windows mouse movements in the background.
Fullscreen Exclusive Mode
Ensure the game is running in true Fullscreen, not Borderless Windowed. Borderless mode allows background Windows processes to ping the mouse driver, triggering the cursor reset in-game.
Keyboard Remapping Workarounds for Non-WASD Players
A major complaint on the Steam forums is the lack of native keybinding options. If you rely on ESDF, Arrow Keys, or a specialized ergonomic setup, the hardcoded WASD movement makes dodging alien hordes impossible. Because the in-game settings menu lacks a remapping tab, you must use external software to intercept your keystrokes.
Space Bross in-game screenshot
Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager
Microsoft’s PowerToys Keyboard Manager is the safest and most user-friendly method for system-level remapping.
- Download and install Microsoft PowerToys from GitHub or the Microsoft Store.
- Open the Keyboard Manager tool and click Remap a key.
- Map your preferred forward key (e.g., 'E') to output 'W'. Repeat this for your entire movement cluster.
- Leave PowerToys running in the system tray while playing Space Bross.
AutoHotkey (AHK) Scripts
Alternatively, AutoHotkey allows for game-specific scripts that automatically suspend when you tab out. A basic script to convert ESDF to WASD looks like this:
#IfWinActive ahk_exe SpaceBross.exe
e::w
s::a
d::s
f::d
Save this text as an .ahk file and run it before launching the game. It ensures your typing returns to normal the second you close the application.
Surviving Without Auto-Aim (The Developer's Philosophy)
During the Steam Next Fest and subsequent launch, players repeatedly requested an auto-aim toggle to compensate for the clumsy controller aiming. Lavega Games officially declined, stating that auto-aim "made the player feel like just another turret sitting there." Playing as Achilles requires active engagement; you are meant to miss shots when panicked.
Space Bross in-game screenshot
Lavega Games' decision to omit auto-aim fundamentally changes how you approach the roguelite progression tree. In games with generous aim assist, players can invest heavily into glass-cannon builds, relying on the software to guarantee their high-damage shots connect. In Space Bross, building purely for damage is a trap if you are playing on a controller. Instead, prioritize the "Tech Tree" upgrades that enhance your automated defenses.
The Cryo-Turret Synergy
Manual aiming becomes drastically easier when targets are slowed. Placing Cryo-Turrets at the perimeter of your base reduces the movement speed of the alien swarms by up to 40%. This wider window allows you to line up shots with the right analog stick without fighting the stiff deadzones.
Shotgun and Spread Weapons
Ditch the precision plasma rifles as soon as the loot pool allows. Weapons with a wide cone of fire, such as the scattergun or the flak cannon, negate the need for pinpoint accuracy. The spread ensures that even if the floating cursor bug causes a slight aim drift, a portion of your projectiles will still impact the swarm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Space Bross support the Steam Deck? Lavega Games has stated that a Steam Deck port is planned for the future. Currently, the game runs on the Deck via Proton, but you must manually select a community controller layout to fix the missing menu inputs.
Why can I not click anything in the main menu? This happens when a DirectInput controller (like a PS4 pad) is plugged in without Steam Input enabled. The game detects the device but cannot map the "Confirm" action. Use your mouse to navigate to the options, or enable Steam Input before launching.
Will native key remapping be added? The development team acknowledged the lack of keyboard remapping on the Steam community forums, stating it is on their radar for an upcoming quality-of-life patch. Until then, external tools like PowerToys remain the only solution.
Can I play local co-op with one keyboard and one controller? Space Bross is currently a single-player experience. The input polling issues make simultaneous keyboard and gamepad usage conflict with the main player character, Achilles, rather than spawning a second entity.