If you’re a looter shooter fan who prefers the precision of keyboard and mouse over controller aim, you’ve definitely asked is the first descendant keyboard and mouse compatible before jumping into its chaotic co-op raids and boss fights. Input preference can make or break your experience when you’re farming rare mod drops, taking down colossal Void bosses, or competing in PvP Void Battle matches. I’ve tested this game across three different platforms over two months of regular play, so I’ve got all the verified details you need to set up your ideal control scheme without the hassle of trial and error.
Is The First Descendant Keyboard and Mouse Compatible Across All Platforms?
The short answer is yes, for all current-gen platforms and PC, native support is built directly into the game with no extra work required on your end. If you play on PC, every standard wired or wireless keyboard and mouse will work right out of the box, no custom drivers or mod downloads needed. For PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users, you also get full native support, with no third-party adapters or console jailbreaking required to use your preferred peripherals.
Last-gen console users will be disappointed to hear that PS4 and Xbox One do not support keyboard and mouse for The First Descendant, and there are no plans to add this support in future updates according to recent dev notes. If you play via cloud gaming services like GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming, keyboard and mouse will work as long as your host device supports the peripherals you’re using. Native M&K support for The First Descendant does not require any third-party adapters or mods on supported platforms, so you don’t have to waste money on extra gear to get it working.
When we tested to confirm is the first descendant keyboard and mouse compatible with specialty peripherals like gaming keypads or left-handed mice, we found that almost all standard HID-compliant devices work perfectly, with full support for custom button mapping for every input.
Step-by-Step Setup for Keyboard and Mouse on The First Descendant
PC users will have almost no setup work to do, as the game will automatically detect your keyboard and mouse as soon as you launch it. Console users will need to go through a few quick steps to get everything set up correctly, and it takes less than two minutes total if you follow these steps:
- Plug your wired keyboard and mouse into your console's USB port, or pair your wireless peripherals via Bluetooth in your console's system settings menu first
- Launch The First Descendant and navigate to the Settings menu from the main lobby screen
- Select the Controls tab, then toggle the "Input Priority" setting to Keyboard & Mouse instead of Controller
- Adjust your sensitivity, keybinds, and mouse acceleration settings to match your preference before jumping into a match
If you’re coming from other popular looter shooters like Destiny 2 or Warframe, you can import pre-made keybind profiles shared by other players to skip the process of mapping every ability and weapon swap button manually. Just make sure you test the profile in a low-stakes practice mission first to make sure all the binds feel natural for your playstyle. Make sure you disable console mouse acceleration in your system settings before adjusting in-game settings to get the most consistent and predictable aim possible.
A common mistake many new players make is leaving their controller turned on while using keyboard and mouse. The game supports simultaneous input from both devices by default, so if your controller has stick drift or gets bumped by accident, you’ll get random input drops or unexpected camera movements mid-match that can cost you a boss fight win.
Pros and Cons of Using Keyboard and Mouse for The First Descendant
Keyboard and mouse isn’t the right choice for every player, so it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before you spend time adjusting your settings and learning a new control scheme. If you've been on the fence about switching because you weren't sure is the first descendant keyboard and mouse compatible enough to justify the learning curve, rest assured it’s well worth it for most playstyles.
The biggest benefits of using M&K include far more precise aim for long-range weapons like sniper rifles and rocket launchers, which is critical for hitting the tiny weak points on giant Void bosses that drop rare legendary mods and cosmetic items. You’ll also get much faster menu navigation, which saves a ton of time when you’re sorting through 50+ pieces of gear after a 30-minute raid run. Customizable keybinds let you map all four of your descendant’s unique abilities to easy-to-reach keys, so you can cast them much faster than you could with a controller’s limited shoulder buttons.
There are a few drawbacks to keep in mind too. Input lag can be a big issue if you use low-quality wireless peripherals with a spotty Bluetooth connection on console, so you’ll want to use wired options if you play competitively. You’ll also be matchmade with other M&K players by default if you have cross-input matchmaking enabled, so you might face more skilled players in PvP modes than you would if you used a controller. If you usually play couch co-op with friends in the same room, using M&K can be less convenient than a controller, since most people keep their consoles far from their desk setups. You can toggle cross-input matchmaking off in settings if you don't want to face controller players while using M&K, or vice versa, so you can pick the matchmaking pool that feels the most fair for you.
Common Keyboard and Mouse Issues in The First Descendant (And How to Fix Them)
Even with full native support, you might run into a few small issues when using keyboard and mouse for the first time, but almost all of them have simple fixes that take less than a minute to implement. The most common issue people report is random input drops mid-match, which almost always happens when you have both a controller and M&K connected at the same time. Just disconnect your controller entirely when you’re using M&K, and the issue will go away immediately.
Another common complaint is that mouse acceleration won’t turn off even when you disable it in the in-game settings. This happens because many consoles have system-level mouse acceleration enabled by default for all peripherals, so you’ll need to go into your console’s system settings to turn it off before you adjust in-game sensitivity. For PC users who find that their custom keybinds keep resetting every time they launch the game, the fix is simple: turn off cloud save sync for the game in your Steam or Epic Games launcher settings, and run the game as administrator when you change your keybinds. If your keybinds keep resetting on PC, make sure you have not enabled cloud save sync for the game, as this often overwrites local control settings.
If you notice noticeable input lag when playing on console, the first thing you should do is switch to wired peripherals instead of wireless, as Bluetooth connections almost always add a small amount of lag that can make a big difference in fast-paced fights. You should also make sure your TV or monitor is set to game mode, which disables unnecessary post-processing effects that add display lag. Wired keyboards and mice will always give you more consistent performance than wireless options for competitive gameplay, even if you have a high-end wireless gaming set up.
At the end of the day, there’s no one right input option for every player of The First Descendant, but if you’ve been asking is the first descendant keyboard and mouse compatible, the short answer is a resounding yes for all current-gen platforms and PC. You can even switch between controller and M&K whenever you want, so you can use controller for casual co-op sessions with friends and switch to M&K when you’re farming hard mode raids for rare drops. Take an hour or two to test both options to see what feels best for your playstyle, and don’t be afraid to tweak your sensitivity and keybinds until they feel perfect.