Osu: Disable Windows key during gameplay

Created on 18 Apr 2020 · 7Comments · Source: ppy/osu

Describe the new feature:
Just like you can disable mouse keys during gameplay, there should be an option to disable the
Windows key during gameplay. I use the default Z/X keys to play osu! and accidentally press the windows key with my ring finger which results in the Windows start menu being opened and gameplay to be paused. I currently avoid this issue by taking the keycap off of my windows key but it does still sometimes happen.

Proposal designs of the feature:
This is Windows specific, so I think the setting should only be there if you are playing on Windows (if lazer supports platform specific settings). Or maybe this shouldn't even be a setting and rather just always disable the key during gameplay. I don't really see a reason to press the winkey during gameplay. When the gameplay is paused or you are in the menus you should be able to use the winkey normally.

gameplay windows input

Source

santerinogelainen

All 7 comments

Disabling the Windows key for an application require setting up a keyboard hook at a low level. While it can definitely be done with C#, should it really be resolved by software ?

The overhead for implementing and maintaining this is such that it doesn't makes it worth to implement imo.

Furthermore, most gaming keyboards now boast a gaming mode, which disables the windows key on the hardware.

Game4all on 18 Apr 2020

I agree with @Game4all, disabling such platform-specific key from a game sounds like something it shouldn't handle at all.

frenzibyte on 19 Apr 2020

This is not something we should be doing, as any solution is going to be very hacky. If you want to disable the Windows key, do it yourself through the registry or buy a gaming keyboard that has a switch that does it.