Windrose Adds Full Controller Support on PC
The pirate fantasy survival-crafting game, Windrose, has officially launched into Steam Early Access Steam Early Access with Procedural World Steam Early Access with Procedural World and Four-Player Co-op”>and Four-Player Co-op“>with Procedural World and Four-Player Co-op”>Steam Early Access, bringing its intricate world of ships, exploration, and building to a growing audience. A significant addition alongside this release is the implementation of full controller support on PC, providing players with more flexibility in how they navigate the game’s many systems. This guide details the complete control schemes for both keyboard and mouse and the newly supported gamepad, offering a comprehensive reference for adventurers setting sail. While controller functionality is available, the developers have noted it remains a work in progress, with refinements expected throughout the early access period.
Complete Keyboard and Mouse Controls in Windrose
Playing Windrose with a keyboard and mouse offers the most direct and currently polished control scheme, especially for managing the game’s complex building and inventory systems. The following tables break down the inputs for character movement, combat, building, menu navigation, and ship command.
Character Movement and Combat Controls
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Move Forward/Backward/Left/Right | W, S, A, D |
| Sprint | Shift |
| Jump | Space |
| Dash | Ctrl |
| Walk | Caps Lock |
| Interact | E |
| Target Lock | T |
| Aim | Alt |
| Fire / Light Attack | Left Mouse Button |
| Heavy Attack | Right Mouse Button |
| Block | Middle Mouse Button |
| Reload | R |
| Remove Weapon (hold) | R (hold) |
| Special Attack | F |
| Use Item Slots 1 – 8 | 1 – 8 Keys |
Building Mode Controls
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Enter Building Mode | B |
| Open Catalog | Right Mouse Button |
| Build / Quick Build (hold) | Left Mouse Button |
| Rotate Object | Mouse Scroll |
| Building Options | Q |
| Toggle Destroy Mode | Middle Mouse Button |
| Camera Mode | V |
| Snapping Mode | P |
| Shift Block | Z |
| Rotation Step | L |
Ship Controls
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Speed Up | W |
| Slow Down / Reverse | S |
| Camera Mode | F |
| Toggle Shanty | B |
| Turn Right/Left | D, A |
| Begin Boarding | Space bar |
| Next Shanty | N |
| Leave Helm | E |
| Interact (from ship) | Space bar |
| Aim Cannon | Right Mouse Button |
| Fire Cannon | Left Mouse Button |
| Select Cannonballs | 1 |
| Select Chain Shots | 2 |
Complete Gamepad Controller Support in Windrose
Windrose now offers full controller support, allowing players to experience the pirate life from the comfort of their couch. The mapping is comprehensive, covering all major actions. Below is the primary controller layout, with mappings for both Xbox and PlayStation controllers via Steam Input.
| Action | Xbox Controller | PlayStation Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | LT / L2 | |
| Block | LB / L1 | |
| Move | Left Stick | |
| Sprint (press) | Left Stick (press) / L3 | |
| Open Inventory | View / Touchpad (tap) | |
| Open Map (hold) | View / Touchpad (hold) | |
| Game Menu | Menu / Options (tap) | |
| Remove Weapon (hold) | Menu / Options (hold) | |
| Heavy Attack | RT / R2 | |
| Light Attack | RB / R1 | |
| Jump | A / Cross (X) | |
| Dash | B / Circle | |
| Sprint (hold) | B (hold) / Circle (hold) | |
| Interaction | X / Square | |
| Secondary Interaction (hold) | X (hold) / Square (hold) | |
| Reload | Y / Triangle | |
| Switch Action Slots (hold) | Y (hold) / Triangle (hold) | |
| Look | Right Stick | |
| Target Lock | Right Stick (press) / R3 | |
| Use Item 1, 2, 3, 4 | D-pad Up, Right, Down, Left | |
| Special Attack | LB + RB / L1 + R1 |
Developer Note: The developers have explicitly stated that controller support is not as polished as the keyboard and mouse experience at this stage of Early Access. Players can expect improvements and refinements to gamepad responsiveness and mapping as development continues.
Can You Remap Controls in Windrose?
A key consideration for any PC player is input customization. Currently, Windrose allows for full rebinding of keys for the keyboard and mouse control scheme, giving players the freedom to tailor actions to their preferred layout. However, controller remapping is not currently available. This means that while you can play with a gamepad, you are locked into the default configuration outlined above. This limitation is another aspect likely to be addressed as the game evolves during its Early Access phase.
Keyboard and Mouse vs. Controller: Which is Better?
In its current state, Windrose is arguably best experienced with a keyboard and mouse. The precision required for tasks like building placement, aiming cannons, and navigating dense menus is more intuitively served by this setup. The sheer number of contextual actions—from managing your shovel’s modes to toggling between different building options—flows more naturally across a keyboard’s plethora of keys. That said, the addition of full controller support is a vital step for accessibility and player choice. For more relaxed exploration or sailing, a controller can provide a comfortable and immersive experience, even if managing the survival-crafting minutiae might feel slightly more cumbersome for now.
The journey through Windrose’s early access will be one of constant evolution, not just for its world and mechanics, but for how players interact with it. The foundational controller support now in place promises a future where commanding your ship and crafting your haven can be done with equal finesse, regardless of your preferred input device. As the developers continue to refine these systems, the ultimate goal is a seamless pirate fantasy accessible to all playstyles.
