Core Keeper on a Mac with a controller
The Core Keeper layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: No Mac version. It streams to a Mac from a Windows PC you own. The stream normally passes a controller to the game's native scheme. This layout is for streams that do not see the pad. It starts from the Terraria template, and Core Keeper is top-down with no jump, so give the jump and grapple rows interact and the map, and add up and down to the left stick.
Yes, Core Keeper plays on a Mac with a controller, streamed from a Windows PC you own, and Steam lists full controller support, so try the game's own scheme first. This layout is the fallback, and it starts from Terraria's, which gets the important half right: aim on the right stick, dig on the trigger, hotbar on the D-pad. Core Keeper is Terraria seen from above, so a few rows need changing.
On this page: 8 sections
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Move. The left stick sends A and D for left and right. It has no up or down rows yet, because Terraria walks on a side view.
- Aim. The right stick moves the cursor at speed 18.
- Use. The right trigger uses, attacks and digs (left click), the left trigger is the secondary use (right click).
- Face buttons. The bottom sends Space and the left E, Terraria's jump and grapple. The right sends S, labeled down, and the top quick heal (H).
- Hotbar and menu. Hotbar 1 to 4 on the D-pad. Menu on Start (Escape).
Add up and down to the left stick before anything else, or you only walk sideways.
Tune it
- Up and down. Add two rows on the left stick, up sending W and down sending S.
- Interact, map and inventory. Set the jump, grapple and down rows' outputs to Core Keeper's interact, map and inventory keys.
- Slots 5 to 8. Add chord rows on the D-pad.
- A buzz on the heal. Turn on Vibrate in the heal row's Options.
Two new rows and three key changes make this a Core Keeper layout.
If the game sees the pad
Core Keeper has native gamepad support, and a stream normally passes your pad to it. Use that with this preset off. Press Activate only if the stream ignores the pad. With both running, every press does two things.
Try the game's own pad support first, and keep this layout as the fallback.
If your controller is not working in Core Keeper
When Core Keeper does not react to your controller on a Mac, climb this ladder, smallest step first:
- Check that the Mac sees the controller. Open the gamepad tester and press a button. If nothing lights up there, the problem is the connection, and a controller that is connected but not working covers that first.
- Press a button after the stream has started. A stream only picks up a controller that is paired with the Mac, and a browser shows a controller to a page only after a button press. Start Core Keeper, then press any button. Streaming from your own PC has its own checks, in how to stream PC games to a Mac with a controller.
- Play it from keys. If Core Keeper still ignores the pad, activate this layout. It sends the keyboard and mouse controls Core Keeper already reads. Turn the game's own controller option off while it runs, or a press can arrive twice. The layout works whether or not Core Keeper ever sees the controller.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Core Keeper and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
To check the controller itself first, the gamepad tester shows every button and stick live in your browser.
Core Keeper controls: every button and the key it sends
The Sends column is Core Keeper's default keyboard and mouse controls, as this layout expects them. If you changed a key in the game's settings, change the same row in InputConfig.
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | A | Move left |
| Left stick right | D | Move right |
| Right stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 18) | Aim cursor right |
| Right stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 18) | Aim cursor left |
| Right stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 18) | Aim cursor down |
| Right stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 18) | Aim cursor up |
| Right trigger | Left click | Use / attack / dig |
| Left trigger | Right click | Secondary use |
| A / Cross | Space | Jump |
| B / Circle | S | Down / drop through (S) |
| X / Square | E | Grapple / hook (E) |
| Y / Triangle | H | Quick heal (H) |
| D-pad up | 1 | Hotbar slot 1 |
| D-pad right | 2 | Hotbar slot 2 |
| D-pad down | 3 | Hotbar slot 3 |
| D-pad left | 4 | Hotbar slot 4 |
| Start / Options | Escape | Menu (Esc) |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Does Core Keeper run on a Mac?
Core Keeper does not run natively on a Mac. It streams from a Windows PC you own, and the stream usually passes a controller through. This layout covers a stream that does not see the pad, once you add up and down to the left stick.
Why is my controller not working in Core Keeper on a Mac?
First check the Mac itself sees the controller, with the gamepad tester. If it does and Core Keeper still ignores it, activate the Core Keeper layout in InputConfig, which sends the game's keyboard and mouse controls from the controller.
Can I play Core Keeper on an M1 Mac or a MacBook Air?
Yes, through a stream. Core Keeper runs on the other end, on a cloud service or your own PC, so the Mac only plays the video and sends your input. An M1 MacBook Air streams it like any other Mac.
Does Core Keeper run in CrossOver on a Mac?
I have not tested Core Keeper in CrossOver. CodeWeavers keeps a compatibility list where players report how each Windows game runs. If it runs and the controller is not seen, this layout plays it from the keys and mouse.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
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