Game Error ARC Raiders

Steam Deck Keyboard and Mouse Input Bug - ARC Raiders Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 2 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Switch the Steam Deck from Gaming Mode to Desktop Mode and back, then restart ARC Raiders to resolve the erratic mouse input.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Steam Deck keyboard and mouse input bug in ARC Raiders is a control interface malfunction. This error manifests as erratic, uncontrollable mouse cursor movement, often described as "tweaking out" or "spazzing," when using external input devices. The problem is specific to the Steam Deck platform running the Linux-based SteamOS. It occurs across both Gaming Mode and Desktop Mode, though the frequency and trigger conditions differ. This is an occasional error, not present in all gameplay sessions. The severity is moderate; it does not cause game crashes but renders precise aiming and menu navigation impossible, creating a significant gameplay disruption. No specific error codes or in-game messages accompany this behavior. The issue is isolated to input handling between SteamOS and the game's engine when external USB or Bluetooth peripherals are active.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is rapid, uncontrolled, and erratic mouse cursor movement on the screen. This movement occurs independently of user input and typically manifests as continuous jittering or rapid snapping to screen edges. The error initiates during standard gameplay with keyboard and mouse peripherals connected. The mouse input becomes non-responsive to deliberate user commands. The game continues to run without framerate drops or audio distortion. Menu navigation becomes impossible due to the cursor moving without input. The keyboard input may remain functional, but the mouse instability prevents effective play. The system does not generate crash reports or error dialogues related to this specific input failure.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific Technical Explanation: A conflict between SteamOS's built-in controller translation layer (Steam Input) and ARC Raiders' native mouse input handling. Both systems attempt to process the mouse signal simultaneously, creating conflicting coordinate data. Why this causes the problem: The game receives two conflicting input streams, resulting in the erratic on-screen cursor movement. Category: Configuration Error Specific Technical Explanation: Incorrect controller order or desktop configuration in SteamOS settings. The Steam Deck may incorrectly prioritize the virtual gamepad or touchpad input over the physical USB/Bluetooth mouse. Why this causes the problem: Input focus oscillates between devices, causing the mouse cursor to jump as the active input source changes. Category: Game Bug Specific Technical Explanation: ARC Raiders' input polling rate is incompatible with the Steam Deck's USB or Bluetooth stack timing in certain power states. The game fails to properly handle sleep/wake cycles or mode switches. Why this causes the problem: After a state change, the game reads cached or incorrect mouse position data, leading to spastic movement. Category: Hardware Issue Specific Technical Explanation: Insufficient power delivery from the Steam Deck's USB-C port to a connected USB hub or wireless dongle for the peripherals. This causes intermittent signal loss. Why this causes the problem: The mouse disconnects and reconnects rapidly, with each reconnection causing a cursor position reset. Category: Software Conflict Specific Technical Explanation: Outdated or corrupted Steam Deck client firmware, particularly components related to peripheral management and Bluetooth drivers. Why this causes the problem: The system-level driver fails to maintain a stable data stream from the input device to the game. Category: Configuration Error Specific Technical Explanation: In-game mouse sensitivity or acceleration settings set to extreme values, which interact poorly with SteamOS's own input smoothing algorithms. Why this causes the problem: The compounded acceleration curves produce massive, unpredictable cursor movement from minor physical mouse movement.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: SteamOS Mode Cycling

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

From Gaming Mode, press the Steam button.
Navigate to Power > Switch to Desktop. Wait for the transition to complete.
On the Desktop, move the mouse physically to confirm basic functionality.
Click the Return to Gaming Mode icon on the desktop taskbar.
Once back in Gaming Mode, fully close ARC Raiders from the Steam menu (Highlight game > Menu button > Manage > Close).
Relaunch ARC Raiders and test keyboard and mouse input.

Technical Explanation: This process resets the Steam Input service and reloads all USB/BT driver stacks, clearing any conflicting state between the game and the OS's input management layer. Verification: The mouse cursor in ARC Raiders moves 1:1 with physical mouse movement without any autonomous jittering or snapping.

Solution 2: Disable Steam Input for ARC Raiders

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

In Steam Deck Gaming Mode, navigate to your Library and highlight ARC Raiders.
Press the Menu button (three lines) and select Properties.
Go to the Controller section.
In the Override for ARC Raiders dropdown, select Disable Steam Input.
Close the properties window and restart ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: This prevents Steam's controller translation layer from interacting with keyboard and mouse signals, allowing the game to receive raw, unprocessed input directly from the peripherals. Verification: Controller glyphs in-game may change, and the mouse responds directly to hardware input without SteamOS post-processing.

Solution 3: Configure Controller Order and Desktop Layout

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button and go to Settings > Controller.
Select Controller Order and ensure your external mouse/keyboard are listed and prioritized above "Steam Deck Virtual Controller."
Return to the Controller settings menu and select Desktop Layout.
Click Edit and ensure the configuration is set to Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad or a layout that does not assign mouse-like functions to joysticks or trackpads.
Apply changes and restart the Steam Deck.

Technical Explanation: This ensures the system correctly identifies the primary pointing device and prevents the virtual controller from sending conflicting cursor position data. Verification: In Steam's own menus, the mouse operates without interference from joystick or trackpad movement.

Solution 4: Update SteamOS and Game Files

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 10 minutes (varies with bandwidth) Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Internet connection Steps:

Connect the Steam Deck to a stable Wi-Fi network.
In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, go to Settings > System.
Under Software Updates, select Check for Updates. Install any available OS updates.
Reboot the Steam Deck when prompted.
Navigate to your Library, highlight ARC Raiders, press the Menu button, and select Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity of game files.
Allow the process to complete and download any repaired files.

Technical Explanation: This installs fixes for known input driver bugs in SteamOS and replaces any corrupted game configuration or binary files that may be mishandling input. Verification: The system confirms successful update installation and file verification reports "All files successfully validated."

Solution 5: Adjust In-Game and SteamOS Sensitivity Settings

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 4 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Launch ARC Raiders and navigate to the Settings > Controls menu.
Set Mouse Sensitivity to a median value (e.g., 30). Disable any Mouse Acceleration or Smoothing options.
Exit the game.
In Steam Deck Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, go to Settings > Controller > Mouse.
Set Trackpad Sensitivity to Medium and ensure Trackpad Acceleration is disabled.
Restart ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: Eliminates multiplicative acceleration effects that can cause extreme cursor movement from minor hardware jitter or conflicting input signals. Verification: Mouse movement in-game is predictable and scales linearly with the speed of physical mouse movement.

Solution 6: Use a Powered USB Hub for Peripherals

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High (for specific hardware setups) Prerequisites: Powered USB-C hub Steps:

Power off the Steam Deck completely.
Connect a powered USB-C hub to a wall outlet, then connect it to the Steam Deck's USB-C port.
Connect the keyboard and mouse receivers (or cables) directly to the powered hub.
Power on the Steam Deck and launch ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: Provides consistent, adequate power to wireless dongles or peripherals, preventing voltage drop-induced disconnects that corrupt the input stream. Verification: No momentary input drops occur, and device connection remains stable as reported in the SteamOS Quick Settings menu under Bluetooth & Devices.

Solution 7: Perform a Steam Deck Factory Reset (Last Resort)

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 30+ minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Backup of game saves (via Steam Cloud), full device reconfiguration required. Steps:

Ensure all critical saves are backed up to Steam Cloud.
In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, go to Settings > System.
Scroll down and select Factory Reset.
Follow the on-screen prompts to reset the Steam Deck to its original software state.
After reset, update SteamOS to the latest stable version.
Reinstall ARC Raiders and reconfigure settings.

Technical Explanation: Removes all deep-seated software corruption, conflicting user-level configurations, and outdated system files that may contribute to the input pipeline failure. Verification: The issue is absent on a clean OS install with default configurations before any third-party modifications.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain SteamOS on the latest stable branch by enabling automatic updates in Settings > System. Before launching ARC Raiders, verify the controller order in SteamOS settings prioritizes the intended keyboard and mouse. Use a dedicated, powered USB-C hub for peripherals to ensure consistent power delivery. Avoid putting the Steam Deck to sleep while peripherals are connected and the game is running; exit the game first. Periodically verify the integrity of ARC Raiders game files through Steam. Monitor SteamOS patch notes for fixes related to input handling or specific game compatibility.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Embark Studios/ARC Raiders support if the error persists after applying all solutions, including a factory reset of the Steam Deck. Provide diagnostic information including the SteamOS version (from Settings > System), ARC Raiders build version, and the make/model of the affected peripherals. Include details of any third-party plugins or non-standard system modifications. Official support channels are located on the ARC Raiders website and the game's official Discord server, which should be accessed from the game's main menu or website for a verified link.