Corsair Cove Full PC Keybindings
Default keyboard shortcuts for camera, construction, demolition, simulation speed, and interface layers.
This page lists every verified default PC keybinding for Corsair Cove, Hooded Horse’s vertical pirate city builder launching July 31, 2026 with a public Steam demo available now. Bindings below match preview and demo builds; if a patch changes defaults, compare against your in-game settings screen and report differences on the controls hub.
New players should skim the table once, then practice camera and placement keys in the tutorial ravine before reading Getting Started objectives. Veterans coming from flat city builders usually underestimate R, F, and numpad zoom until a cliff-side sawmill hides behind a tavern roof.
Camera movement and rotation
Vertical construction means camera height is as important as horizontal panning.
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move camera forward | W |
| Move camera backward | S |
| Move camera left | A |
| Move camera right | D |
| Move camera up | R |
| Move camera down | F |
| Rotate view left | Q |
| Rotate view right | E |
| Zoom in | Numpad + |
| Zoom out | Numpad - |
Use WASD to orbit your pirate camp, Q and E to swing the angle when placing housing on a ledge, and R / F to peek over rope bridges or drop below a suspended galley. Numpad zoom helps inspect connection nodes before you commit a zipline.
Simulation speed and pause
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Pause / unpause | Space |
| Normal speed | 1 |
| Fast speed | 2 |
| Very fast speed | 3 |
Pause before rezoning a production chain or answering a refugee event—you cannot undo cohesion penalties. Speed keys accelerate waiting on stew, planks, or cannon parts, but drop to normal speed before sending a ship into Crown waters. Naval outcomes depend on stats you built at home; see ship tier rankings for which hulls survive early encounters.
Interface, map, and overviews
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Toggle HUD | Scroll Lock |
| Info layer | Left Alt |
| Overviews menu | I |
| Toggle camera mode | Z |
| Island / map view | M |
| Cycle through pirate camps | Enter |
Left Alt overlays logistical information once your settlement spans multiple heights—missing connections show up here before pirates complain in the overview panel. I opens structured overviews for population, production, and needs. M zooms out to island scale; Enter jumps between camp centers when Empire compass investments unlock a second or third hub.
Building, rotation, and placement modifiers
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Rotate building left | , (comma) |
| Rotate building right | . (period) |
| Continuous placement | Left Shift |
| Block auto-connections | Left Ctrl |
| Focus selection | T |
Rotation keys sit away from WASD on purpose—some players remap in other games using Alt + mouse wheel, which Corsair Cove does not yet support in the demo. Left Shift chains placement for rows of tents or repeated warehouse slots. Left Ctrl prevents the builder from snapping a path you are routing manually—a common need when sending moonshine from a cliff still to a beach tavern, as described in demo settlement tips.
Demolition
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Demolish mode | X |
| Demolish selected structure | Del |
Toggle X to enter demolish mode, click the structure, or select first and press Del. Mis-clicks hurt more in Corsair Cove than in flat builders because rebuilding on cliffs may require new bridges. Pause with Space before large teardowns.
How keybindings connect to progression
Shortcuts do not replace strategy. They let you execute a Wealth compass route without fighting the camera while placing a third warehouse, or a Seafaring compass route while fitting a pier and shipyard on limited shoreline.
Combat itself is turn-based with cards and dice once you engage map events. Captain abilities and ship stats matter more than hotkeys on that screen—consult captain tier rankings before assigning Teach or Scarlet to your first custom hull.
Mouse and future rebinding
The demo emphasizes keyboard camera control. Middle-mouse drag behaves differently from many RTS titles—community feedback requests optional rotate-on-MMB or Shift+MMB. Until Hooded Horse ships a remapping menu, treat this table as canonical and note personal workarounds in your own play notes.
Practice drill for the first session
Spend ten minutes in an empty save repeating: pan with WASD, raise with R, rotate view with E, rotate a tent with period, hold Shift to place two structures, hold Ctrl to deny an auto-bridge, pause with Space, open map with M, cycle camps with Enter if available. Then follow the tutorial through tavern supply linking in Getting Started. Muscle memory here saves more time than any single compass unlock in hour one.
Related pages
- Controls hub — overview and FAQ
- Compass investment priorities — what to unlock after controls feel natural
- Demo settlement layout — apply these keys to the Rum Ravine demo map
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Does Corsair Cove use mouse wheel to rotate buildings?
Not in current demo defaults. Use comma and period keys, or watch patch notes for remapping options.
Which key pauses the game?
Space toggles pause. Use 1, 2, or 3 to change simulation speed while unpaused.
How do I stop automatic path connections?
Hold Left Ctrl while placing buildings or paths to block auto-connections.
What key opens the Technology Compass overviews?
Press I for the overviews menu. The compass itself is accessed through the journal UI with the mouse.
How do I demolish a misplaced cliff building?
Press X for demolish mode or select the structure and press Del. Pause first to avoid accidental clicks.