What games see, and where it can go wrong.
Remapping tools live close to anti-cheat territory. Here's exactly what Nebula does, so you can decide for each game — before you play online, not after.
Single-player and most casual online games: fine. Competitive games with kernel anti-cheat: some block virtual controllers or simulated input, and macros or turbo can break a game's rules even where the software is allowed. Nebula never tries to hide from anti-cheat, and we can't un-ban an account. When in doubt, check the game's rules or ask its support.
What gets installed
- Nebula itself — an ordinary app in a folder. No kernel driver, no service, and it doesn't start with Windows.
- ViGEmBus (optional) — the free, signed driver that creates the virtual Xbox 360 / DualShock 4 controller. Made by Nefarius; used by DS4Windows and many others. Only needed for the virtual controller.
- HidHide (optional, Pro feature) — the free, signed filter driver that hides your real controller from games. Also by Nefarius. Nebula turns it on only while the mapper runs and puts its settings back afterwards.
How Nebula's input looks to a game
Keyboard and mouse output
Keys and clicks are sent with Windows' standard SendInput, the same way on-screen keyboards and accessibility tools work. Windows marks them as simulated. Most games treat them like any keyboard; some competitive games ignore or flag simulated input.
The virtual controller
Games see a real-looking Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 controller. Some anti-cheat systems detect the ViGEmBus driver or refuse virtual controllers in ranked modes.
Hiding the real controller
HidHide changes which programs can see a device. A few anti-cheat systems don't like device filters; if a game refuses to start, turn "Hide the real controller" off while you play it.
Macros, turbo and gyro
These are game-rules questions more than technical ones. Many competitive games forbid macros and rapid-fire outright. Gyro aiming is widely accepted — it's built into Steam and consoles — but it's still simulated mouse input as far as Windows is concerned.
Our rules
- No hiding from anti-cheat, no injection into game processes, no memory reading. Nebula only sends input any Windows program can send.
- Input goes to the app in front. The optional setting "Turn the mapper off when no listed game is in focus" keeps game keys out of your browser and chats.
- No telemetry. The only thing Nebula sends over the internet is the Pro license check — details.
Antivirus and SmartScreen
Tools that simulate input sometimes trip antivirus heuristics, and early-access builds aren't code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may warn on first run. Download only from nebulamapper.com and compare the SHA-256 on the download page. If your antivirus flags the file, please tell us which one.
Uninstalling cleanly
- Turn the mapper off and close Nebula (HidHide is restored automatically).
- Delete Nebula's folder, and
%LocalAppData%\NebulaControllerMapperif you want your profiles gone too. - Optional: uninstall ViGEmBus and HidHide from Windows' Installed apps.