Maybe someone had the same problem and found a fix, because right now I'm losing the will to play. Normally, you move around using W A S D – and that works for me too, but I’m left-handed and I’ve always used the arrow keys (up, left, right, down). Left hand on the mouse, right hand on the arrows. Like, for diagonal movement (up-left), you'd press two keys: W and A. In the previous version of the game, that worked just fine with arrows – pressing up and left at the same time. But now it only goes up or only left – can’t go diagonal.
Weird thing is, diagonal movement like up-right or down-right still works. It’s just up-left and down-left that don’t. It’s not a problem out in the open, but when you're squeezing between machines... it’s a nightmare. You get stuck, try nudging a bit left, then too much, then a bit up. Over and over until it gets exhausting and super frustrating.
I found a thread saying the devs added blueprint movement using the arrow keys, and that might be messing things up. I set all blueprint actions to "undefined" but it still doesn’t work. I also saw a post suggesting it might be the keyboard – like maybe it can’t handle two arrow keys at once. But it’s a multimedia keyboard, barely two years old, and everything worked fine in the previous version of the game.
Anyone know how to make the arrow keys work properly again?
(Win 64-bit 10 HE, 32 GB RAM, laptop HP Omen, keyboard standard PS 2 on USB)
Factorio 2 – Movement Issue
Re: Factorio 2 – Movement Issue
Assigning cursor keys in addition to WASD, then trying to move diagonally with up/right/down/left works perfectly for me. In every of the 8 directions. Check your configuration if you have any other key assignments for one of the cursor keys. These might interfere.
However, if I were left-handed, I would work out a custom keyboard layout where my left hand is on the mouse and my right hand on the right half of the keyboard. I would map any functionality from the left half of the keyboard to the right half to do with the right hand what the left hand of a right-handed keyboard layout would do.
I would use the classic typewriter hand position as a start, i. e. the index finger of the right hand rests on J.
This means, instead of WASD I would use IJKL for movement. Not anything beyond the letter keys. No cursor keys, no number block. Stay over the regular keyboard with your keyboard hand. So unmap any functionality from IJKL and map them as movement keys instead.
Then identify the functionality of the unmapped keys and of all the other keys on the left keyboard half located around WASD and find corresponding keys around IJKL.
This is a complete keyboard remap. I would do this not only for Factorio but for any game I play, since every default keyboard layout is tailored to right-handed people.
Why I know what I'm writing about, although I'm right-handed: I write blind with 10 fingers, without ever looking on the keyboard. For me, this default WASD in all games is horrible, because it's not the proper left hand position. The proper left hand position is with the index finger on the F. Not on the D as with WASD. So the first thing I do when I get a new game is remapping WASD to ESDF, which includes moving the previous functionality of E and F to somewhere else and Q as well. And usually more keys than just these - almost every key on the left keyboard half will move one key to the right.
As left-handed, I would create a fully custom keyboard layout for every game I play. This takes an hour or two, but it pays in the long run.
However, if I were left-handed, I would work out a custom keyboard layout where my left hand is on the mouse and my right hand on the right half of the keyboard. I would map any functionality from the left half of the keyboard to the right half to do with the right hand what the left hand of a right-handed keyboard layout would do.
I would use the classic typewriter hand position as a start, i. e. the index finger of the right hand rests on J.
This means, instead of WASD I would use IJKL for movement. Not anything beyond the letter keys. No cursor keys, no number block. Stay over the regular keyboard with your keyboard hand. So unmap any functionality from IJKL and map them as movement keys instead.
Then identify the functionality of the unmapped keys and of all the other keys on the left keyboard half located around WASD and find corresponding keys around IJKL.
This is a complete keyboard remap. I would do this not only for Factorio but for any game I play, since every default keyboard layout is tailored to right-handed people.
Why I know what I'm writing about, although I'm right-handed: I write blind with 10 fingers, without ever looking on the keyboard. For me, this default WASD in all games is horrible, because it's not the proper left hand position. The proper left hand position is with the index finger on the F. Not on the D as with WASD. So the first thing I do when I get a new game is remapping WASD to ESDF, which includes moving the previous functionality of E and F to somewhere else and Q as well. And usually more keys than just these - almost every key on the left keyboard half will move one key to the right.
As left-handed, I would create a fully custom keyboard layout for every game I play. This takes an hour or two, but it pays in the long run.
Re: Factorio 2 – Movement Issue
Thanks for the long and detailed reply.
"Assigning cursor keys in addition to WASD, then trying to move diagonally with up/right/down/left works perfectly for me."
Surprising. I double-checked the keybinds—there’s no arrow keys assigned anywhere.
"and my right hand on the right half of the keyboard."
Same here, that’s a comfy setup. You barely have to lift your hand off the arrows, and most keys are right there (the numpad has a ton within reach too).
"instead of WASD I would use IJKL"
That’s actually a great idea. I’m gonna try that. It'll take a bit to get used to, but it sounds like a solid plan.
"no number block"
Yeah, I’ve got quite a few changes ahead, but it makes sense if I’m sticking with the main keyboard layout.
"I would do this not only for Factorio but for any game I play"
True that. Why memorize different bindings for every game if one setup works everywhere?
"since every default keyboard layout is tailored to right-handed people."
Good thing most games let you remap controls anyway.
"Why I know what I'm writing about"
Yeah, fair point. Your other tips make a lot of sense too.
No point waiting for devs to make things comfy. What you wrote is super helpful, I’ll use it—and I’ll finally enjoy playing Fucktorio in peace
"Assigning cursor keys in addition to WASD, then trying to move diagonally with up/right/down/left works perfectly for me."
Surprising. I double-checked the keybinds—there’s no arrow keys assigned anywhere.
"and my right hand on the right half of the keyboard."
Same here, that’s a comfy setup. You barely have to lift your hand off the arrows, and most keys are right there (the numpad has a ton within reach too).
"instead of WASD I would use IJKL"
That’s actually a great idea. I’m gonna try that. It'll take a bit to get used to, but it sounds like a solid plan.
"no number block"
Yeah, I’ve got quite a few changes ahead, but it makes sense if I’m sticking with the main keyboard layout.
"I would do this not only for Factorio but for any game I play"
True that. Why memorize different bindings for every game if one setup works everywhere?
"since every default keyboard layout is tailored to right-handed people."
Good thing most games let you remap controls anyway.
"Why I know what I'm writing about"
Yeah, fair point. Your other tips make a lot of sense too.
No point waiting for devs to make things comfy. What you wrote is super helpful, I’ll use it—and I’ll finally enjoy playing Fucktorio in peace
