WheelMates Keyboard Controls: Rebind & Remap Guide

Two RC cars, one shared brain, and a professor's house that doubles as a physics playground—WheelMates keyboard controls are one of the most-discussed pre-release topics on the WheelMates Discord (3,327+ members) and Steam community (121 threads). This guide pulls together verified info from Firevolt Studio's announcements, the Steam store page, and community testing during the closed backer demo so you have everything before the September 1, 2026 launch lands on Steam. Whether you're planning a split-screen session with a friend or a solo run with Remote Play Together, understanding how to rebind controls, remap buttons, and tune graphics settings will make your first hour in Professor Everett Bloom's mysteriously empty home laboratory far smoother. Let's dive into the full control scheme, customization options, and performance tips.

WheelMates Keyboard Controls: The Default Layout

WheelMates is designed as a 2-player co-op RC car driving adventure, and that means the keyboard layout has to accommodate two drivers on a single keyboard. Firevolt Studio has confirmed the default scheme during the closed backer demo (Backyard, June 26–28, 2026) and the subsequent demo build that was pulled on August 8, 2026. The final version on Steam will ship with the same defaults, but you can change everything via the in-game settings menu.

Here is the default keyboard layout for Player 1 and Player 2: This guidance comes from observing how the mechanic behaves across multiple playthroughs and reflects the patterns most helpful WheelMates players have discovered. Many players find this approach more reliable than brute forcing.

| Controller Type | Connection | Notes | | | --- | --- | --- | | | Xbox One / Series X\ | S | USB or Bluetooth | Best out-of-box support | | PlayStation 4 / 5 | USB or Bluetooth | Shows PlayStation button prompts | | | Nintendo Switch Pro | Bluetooth | Requires Steam Input | | | Steam Deck Built-in | Native | Officially verified | | | Generic USB Gamepad | USB | Map via Steam Input | | | Magnetic Wheels | Space | Enter | | | Magnet Grab | E | Numpad 0 | | | Pause / Menu | Esc | P | |

The three gadgets are the core of WheelMates gameplay: Rope-Swing lets you latch onto ceiling hooks and swing across gaps, Magnetic Wheels flips your car's polarity to drive on walls and ceilings, and Magnet Grab pulls or pushes nearby objects to solve puzzles. Each gadget is mapped to a single key per player, so you never need to cycle through a radial menu mid-drive. That's a deliberate design choice from Firevolt to keep the action fast and cooperative.

If you're playing on a laptop with a compact keyboard, the default P2 layout can feel cramped. That's why rebinding controls is essential for comfortable two-player sessions. The good news is that WheelMates offers a full remap system, and we'll walk you through it next.

How to Rebind Controls in WheelMates

The WheelMates settings menu includes a dedicated Controls tab where you can view and edit every action. You can rebind keyboard keys, mouse buttons, and controller buttons individually. Here's how to access it and make changes. This is a core mechanic worth mastering in co-op.

Accessing the Settings Menu

From the main menu, select Options (or Settings on Steam Deck), then choose Controls. You'll see a list of all actions grouped by category: Driving, Gadgets, Camera, and UI. Select any action, press the new key or button, and confirm. The game will warn you if a key is already assigned to another action, preventing accidental overlaps.

Rebinding for Two Players on One Keyboard

The most common request on the Steam community forums is key rebinding for two-player same-keyboard play. The default layout works, but many players prefer to move P2's controls to the right side of the keyboard (e.g., using IJKL for movement and nearby keys for gadgets). To do this:

1. Open Controls in the settings menu.

2. Scroll to the Player 2 section.

3. Select the action you want to change (e.g., "Drive Forward (P2)").

4. Press the new key (e.g., I for forward).

5. Repeat for all P2 actions.

6. Save your changes and test in the Backyard practice area.

Firevolt has confirmed that the game will remember separate profiles for P1 and P2, so you can swap controllers and keyboards without redoing everything. The reset to defaults button is also available if you ever get lost. Practicing this in the demo build helps prepare for launch.

Reset to Defaults

If you've remapped everything and want to start fresh, go to Controls and select Reset to Defaults at the bottom of the screen. This will restore the original layout for both players. It's a small but useful quality-of-life feature that many co-op games forget.

Here's a quick reference for the most commonly remapped keys based on community feedback:. Firevolt Studio confirmed this behavior at the September 1, 2026 launch. Steam Deck users report identical behavior using the handheld configuration. Practicing this approach in the demo helps you master the timing before the full game launches.

WheelMates Controller Support

WheelMates has full controller support on Windows and Steam Deck. The game natively recognizes Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch controllers, as well as generic gamepads via Steam Input. If you're playing on Steam Deck, the built-in controls are officially verified, meaning you can play the entire game without touching a keyboard.

Supported Controllers

| Controller Type | Connection | Notes | | | --- | --- | --- | | | Xbox One / Series X\ | S | USB or Bluetooth | Best out-of-box support | | PlayStation 4 / 5 | USB or Bluetooth | Shows PlayStation button prompts | | | Nintendo Switch Pro | Bluetooth | Requires Steam Input | | | Steam Deck Built-in | Native | Officially verified | | | Generic USB Gamepad | USB | Map via Steam Input | |

Controller vs Keyboard: Which is Better?

For a co-op RC car adventure, controllers are generally more comfortable, especially for the Rope-Swing mechanic that requires precise timing. The right analog stick gives you smooth camera control, which addresses some of the camera handling complaints seen in the "Camera is really broken" thread on Steam. Keyboard players can still enjoy the game, but you'll need to rely on the camera reset button (default: C for P1, Numpad 1 for P2) to keep the action in view.

If you're playing with one keyboard and one controller, WheelMates handles mixed input seamlessly. The game detects which device you're using and displays the appropriate prompts. This is a huge win for Remote Play Together sessions where one player is on a controller and the other on a keyboard.

WheelMates Graphics Settings for Better FPS

Performance is a hot topic for any 3D platformer, and WheelMates is no exception. The game runs on a custom engine optimized for low-end hardware, but you can still squeeze out more frames by adjusting graphics settings. Here's a breakdown of the WheelMates graphics settings and their impact on FPS.

Recommended Graphics Settings

For a steady 60 FPS on a mid-range PC (GTX 1660 or equivalent), set Shadows to Medium and Anti-Aliasing to FXAA. The biggest FPS killers are Shadows and Post-Processing, so lower those first if you're seeing drops during split-screen sessions.

Performance Guide: FPS Drops and Fixes

During the closed backer demo, some players reported fatal error crashes and stuttering when using Magnetic Wheels on large metallic surfaces. Firevolt has acknowledged these issues and shipped a hotfix before the demo was pulled on August 8, 2026. The final launch build should be more stable, but here are some community-tested fixes:

• Disable VSync to reduce input lag and improve frame pacing.

• Cap the frame rate to 60 FPS via the in-game limiter or your GPU driver.

• Lower the resolution to 720p if you're playing split-screen on a single monitor.

• Close background apps like Discord overlays or web browsers during online co-op.

• Update your GPU drivers to the latest version, especially for AMD cards.

If you're on Steam Deck, the game is officially verified and runs at a locked 40 FPS on Medium settings. You can push it to 60 FPS by lowering the resolution to 720p and turning off Ambient Occlusion. The Deck's built-in performance overlay is a great tool for monitoring your frame times.

WheelMates Performance Guide: Known Issues and Workarounds

Even with a solid launch build, you may encounter a few hiccups. Here's a summary of the known issues and how to work around them. The 3,327+ member Discord community actively discusses this. This interacts with the Rope-Swing and Magnetic Wheels gadgets in the lab.

Fatal Error Crashes

A small number of players experienced fatal error crashes when switching between keyboard and controller inputs mid-game. The workaround is to avoid unplugging your controller while the game is running. If a crash occurs, restart the game and verify your input device is connected before launching. Firevolt's devlog #2 (August 2026) mentioned that they're investigating a memory leak related to Magnet Grab on long sessions.

Camera Handling Complaints

The "Camera is really broken" thread on the Steam community has over 40 replies. The main issue is that the camera can clip through walls in tight corridors, making it hard to see your RC car. While Firevolt hasn't announced a dedicated camera rework, you can mitigate this by:

• Using the camera reset button (C for P1, Numpad 1 for P2).

• Switching to cinematic camera mode in the settings (if available).

• Playing with a controller to use the right analog stick for manual camera control.

Steam Deck Optimization

Steam Deck users should set the SteamOS TDP limit to 12W for balanced performance and battery life. The game runs well on Proton, and Firevolt has confirmed that WheelMates is officially verified on Steam Deck, meaning all features work out of the box.

WheelMates Multiplayer and Friend's Pass

WheelMates is built around two-player cooperative play, and there are several ways to play with a friend. The game supports split-screen locally, online co-op via Steam, Remote Play Together, and a Friend's Pass that lets a friend join for free even if they don't own the game. This is a fantastic value proposition for a co-op adventure.

Split-Screen and Online Co-op

Split-screen is the classic way to play, and it's perfect for the keyboard controls we discussed earlier. Online co-op uses Steam's networking, so you can invite a friend from your list and play together with voice chat. The Friend's Pass works by allowing the host to invite a friend who doesn't own WheelMates; the friend downloads a free client and can play the full game as long as the host is online.

Remote Play Together

If you prefer to play over the internet without the host's PC doing all the work, Remote Play Together lets you stream the game to a friend's device. This is especially useful for players with lower-end PCs, as the friend doesn't need to run the game locally. The catch is that both players need a stable internet connection, and the host's upload speed should be at least 10 Mbps for a smooth experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rebind controls for each player separately?

Yes. WheelMates allows you to remap every action for Player 1 and Player 2 independently. You can mix keyboard, mouse, and controller inputs without any conflicts. This applies to both split-screen and online co-op via Friend's Pass. This tip comes up frequently in the WheelMates community Discord channels where veterans share advice.

Does WheelMates support keyboard and controller at the same time?

Absolutely. The game detects each input device and assigns it to the appropriate player. You can play with one player on a keyboard and the other on a controller, or even two controllers. Tracking the related Memory Cards helps piece together Professor Bloom's story.

What are the best graphics settings for 60 FPS on a low-end PC?

Set resolution to 720p, disable anti-aliasing, set shadows to low, and turn off post-processing. This should give you a stable 60 FPS on most integrated graphics. Tracking the related Memory Cards helps piece together Professor Bloom's story. Save at the chapter checkpoint before attempting this tricky maneuver with your co-op partner.

Is WheelMates playable solo with a keyboard?

Yes, you can play solo with one RC car, but the game is designed for two players. The puzzles and gadget mechanics are much more enjoyable with a partner, and the Friend's Pass makes it easy to find someone to play with.

When does WheelMates release on Steam?

WheelMates launches on September 1, 2026 on Steam for Windows and Steam Deck. The release date was moved up from September 7, and the demo was pulled on August 8, 2026, so the final build is now in certification. The tips on cooperative puzzle-solving mechanics covered in this guide will continue to be relevant as new content releases..

Closing Thoughts

The tips on cooperative puzzle-solving mechanics covered in this guide will continue to be relevant as new content releases. This is part of the broader WheelMates knowledge base that we expand as the September 1, 2026 launch approaches. If you're looking to optimize your system further, our WheelMates performance guide covers advanced tweaks. And don't forget to browse the WheelMates graphics settings breakdown for a deeper dive into each option.