What's New
We're excited to introduce the completely redesigned Input System 2.0 for In The Black! This major overhaul brings a modern, flexible input management system that makes configuring your controls easier and more reliable than ever before.
⚠️ WARNING: All previous input settings will be reset! Legacy profiles are not compatible with the new system. Your controls will reset to defaults upon first launch.
Track-IR Head-Tracking Support (NEW)
Track-IR support is now integrated, giving you true head-look in the cockpit for better spatial awareness, target tracking, and immersion.
Look around your cockpit naturally without taking your hands off your flight controls
Keep your nose on target while visually scanning your surroundings
Huge boost to situational awareness during close-quarters dogfights and formation flying
Track-IR can be enabled and configured under:
Settings > Misc > Head Tracking
Tobii Eye/Head Tracking support is in active development and will be coming in a future update.
New Input Profile System
Save & Manage Multiple Profiles
Create unlimited custom control profiles for different playstyles or hardware setups
Switch between profiles instantly from the settings menu
Your last-used profile is automatically remembered
Duplicate existing profiles to use as templates
Import and export profiles to share with friends or use across different computers
Built-in Profile Protection
The "Default" profile is now read-only and can't be accidentally modified
Any attempt to edit the default profile automatically creates a new "Custom" profile
Your personalized settings are always safe from being overwritten
Auto-Save
All changes to your bindings and settings are automatically saved
No more losing your carefully configured controls due to crashes or forgotten saves
Changes apply immediately – no restart required
Multi-Device Support
Dual Joystick (HOSAS) Support
If you're flying with dual joysticks or multiple identical controllers, the new system properly recognizes each device individually:
Identical controllers are numbered sequentially (e.g., "Joystick", "Joystick_2", "Joystick_3")
Each device maintains its own unique bindings
Devices are remembered even when unplugged or reconnected in different USB ports
Supported Device Types
The new system recognizes and organizes controls by device category:
Keyboard & Mouse
Gamepads: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch controllers, and generic gamepads
Flight Controls: Joysticks, throttles, rudder pedals
Custom Devices: Functionality not guaranteed
Improved Control Binding
Easier Axis Configuration
Simple Range Modes: Choose between Full, Limited, or Inverted ranges instead of dealing with offset values
Better Binding Detection: The system now picks up the axis you're moving most, not just the first one
Auto-Commit: Axis bindings automatically confirm when you stop moving the control – no more "must recenter" frustrations
Real-Time Preview: See exactly what the system is detecting as you move controls
Enhanced Sensitivity & Dead Zones
Separate sensitivity controls for different input types
Independent mouse sensitivity settings
Per-axis dead zone configuration
Global pitch and yaw inversion options
Profile Import/Export System
Share Your Configurations
Export your entire control scheme to a file
Import configurations from other players
Three import modes:
Overwrite: Replace your current profile completely
New: Create a brand new profile from the import
Merge: Combine imported bindings with your existing setup
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Profiles exported on one computer work seamlessly on another
Device names are automatically matched even if USB ports differ
Missing devices are gracefully handled without breaking your profile
Quality of Life Improvements
User Interface
Cleaner, more organized settings layout
Device filters make it easy to see bindings by input device
Search and filter your control bindings
Clear visual feedback when configuring controls
Fixed confusing error messages when saving profiles
Reliability
Disconnected devices no longer break your control bindings
Profile files are validated to prevent corruption
Graceful handling of missing or unavailable devices
Improved compatibility with Steam Input and other overlay software
Opening Profile Folders
⚠️ Known Issue: Currently not working as intended. Fix should be out shortly.
One-click access to your profile save directory (when fixed)
Will work correctly in packaged Steam builds
Easy profile file management for backups or manual edits
Input System Known Issues
Axis Range Settings: Can be finicky, particularly the "Range" option. May require toggling the "Range" setting back and forth for the desired value to stick.
Duplicate Mappings: System currently allows duplicate mappings to be added. We recommend checking for duplicates manually.
Profile Selector: Occasionally starts with no profile selected. Choosing an option or using "Save As" to create a new profile should resolve it.
Input System Bug Fixes
Fixed only being able to bind a single device
Fixed controls doubling input when multiple axes were mapped to the same action
Fixed joystick bindings being lost when devices were reconnected
Fixed profile corruption issues when saving during gameplay
Fixed device names changing every time the game launched
Fixed "ghost" bindings from disconnected devices
Fixed profile selector showing system files as options
Fixed errors when importing profiles from other users
Resolved issues with identical devices being treated as the same hardware
Tips & Tricks
Creating Specialized Profiles
Start with the "Default" profile as your base
Make a change (this creates a "Custom" profile automatically)
Using "Save As", name your custom profile to something descriptive (e.g., "HOSAS Setup", "Gamepad Casual")
Create multiple specialized profiles for different ships or playstyles
Sharing Profiles with Friends
Configure your controls the way you like
Go to Settings > Input > Export (Saves to AppData\\Local\\InTheBlack\\Saved\\InputProfiles\\Exported)
Share the exported file with your squadron
They import it via Settings > Input > Import
Backup Your Settings
Profile files are stored in AppData\\Local\\InTheBlack\\Saved\\InputProfiles
Back up this folder to preserve your configurations
Useful before major updates or system changes
Syncing profiles with Steam Cloud is on our TODO list
Experimenting Safely
Duplicate your working profile before making major changes
You can always delete experimental profiles that don't work out
The "Default" profile is always available as a fallback
Asset & Configuration Cleanup
Removed a large number of unused assets, input data tables, and configuration files
Reduced overall build size and project clutter
Cleaned up logging configurations to focus on relevant debug information
Makes future profiling and issue investigation less noisy and more efficient
Additional Known Issues
Drone Sweep Mission Startup
On the Drone Sweep mission, there is a bug where:
The player spawns in
Nothing happens for a short period
Only then does the cinematic play
This behavior is not intended and will be addressed in an upcoming hotfix.
Head Tracking Known Useability Issue
Under SETTINGS > MISC > MOVE LIMIT the default value shows 0cm when it is actually 200cm
Once this value is manually changed, you will be limited to the 0cm-50cm range
Values still persist, this is mainly a UI issue
What's Next
This is just the foundation! We're continuing to improve the input system and network experience based on your feedback. Planned improvements include:
Additional axis curve customization options
More granular per-device sensitivity controls
Enhanced conflict detection and warnings
Visual binding diagrams for common hardware
Developer/Community-made profiles for common hardware
"Clear All" option or blank profile to build a profile from scratch
Clean up, add, improve input mappings.
Improvements to the Ship Editor
Need Help?
If you encounter any issues with the new input system or this update:
Try selecting the "Default" profile to reset to known-good bindings
Check our Discord for community-shared profiles and troubleshooting tips
Report bugs via the in-game feedback system
Fly Safe, Pilots!
The Impeller Studios Team