Are Wacom Drivers Good for Playing Osu?

Osu is a very popular music game that helps many professional gamers improve their cursor and mouse skills. Most people who play this game like to do so on their tablets, specifically their Wacom tablets. However, many wonder: are the standard Wacom drivers good for playing Osu?

Generally, people do not have issues playing Osu with Wacom drivers installed on their tablets. However, it should be noted that these drivers are not necessarily intended for gameplay, so they may not be the right option for you. A couple of popular alternatives include Hawku and OpenTabletDriver.

Below, we’ll discuss how you can go about using Wacom drivers while playing Osu, as well as a couple of other options that are popular among gamers. Keep reading to learn more!

Are Wacom Drivers Good for Osu?

The driver you use with your computer, tablet, or smartpad will directly influence how your device interacts with various programs. In most cases, downloading the most recent tablet driver for your Wacom device will ensure you can access all the features it offers in a simple, seamless manner.

Generally, Osu gameplay will not be affected by a Wacom driver. Some people use these drivers exclusively, including a few of the top Osu players, while others prefer the Hawku driver or OpenTabletDriver.

Up until a couple of years ago, Osu players used Wacom drivers more often than any other driver. In recent years, however, third-party drivers have become more popular among some gamers. You’ll typically find mixed opinions about Wacom drivers online, so the best course of action is to try a variety of drivers, including the standard Wacom options, and see which works best for you.

What Are Wacom Drivers Good for?

While people have mixed opinions on whether Wacom drivers are good for playing Osu, it’s generally agreed upon that they do offer great functionality. They’re best for creative purposes, including:

  • Animation
  • Video editing
  • Photo editing
  • Graphic design

Wacom drivers are not necessarily intended or recommended for gaming purposes. However, many people have had great experiences using them while playing Osu. If you find that these drivers are not as compatible with your gameplay as other drivers, you may want to test out a few others.

What is Osu?

Osu is a free, downloadable music game that’s often used by professional gamers. The game plays through hundreds of songs with “beat maps” made by other Osu players, allowing you to tap along to the beat to practice your aim and improve your gaming skills.

This game offers tons of customization options, and you can even create your own beat maps to play along to your favorite songs and share them with others. You can download Osu through their official website and create an account to keep track of your scores. Osu can be played on computers, tablets, and the Nintendo Switch.

What Are the Best Wacom Tablets for Playing Osu?

If you’re wondering if Wacom drivers are good for playing Osu, it’s safe to assume that you either already own a Wacom tablet or are considering purchasing one. If you’re an avid Osu player, you may be wondering: what are the best Wacom tablets for playing Osu?

Generally, the Wacom One (also known as Wacom 472) and Wacom Intuos (also known as Wacom 480) are the best Wacom tablets for Osu players. They come highly recommended among players and are also excellent choices for digital artists.

Let’s discuss what each of these tablets has to offer users. 

Wacom One

The Wacom One, sometimes referred to as the Wacom 472 tablet, was specifically made for people who don’t have a lot of experience using tablets. It’s also one of the most affordable pen tablets on the market. The Wacom One features an accurate, reliable stylus, making it a top choice for Osu players and digital artists alike.

Wacom Intuos

Another popular Wacom tablet for Osu players is the Wacom Intuos. It’s one of the best tablets for on-the-go users because it’s not only incredibly durable, but also very lightweight. It features some of the best pen pressure responsiveness on the market and offers all the professional-level shortcuts you could need.

Which Drivers Are Good for Playing Osu?

If you’re looking for the perfect tablet drivers to play Osu, you may be wondering what’s worth looking into. Some of the tablet drivers Osu players have had luck with in the past include Hawku and OpenTabletDriver. Let’s discuss the benefits of each and where you can download them.

Hawku Driver

Hawku is a driver that was originally released on GitHub in 2018. Many Osu players like using Hawku because it was specifically made for this purpose! Hawku features:

  • Windows Ink test canvas
  • Customizable smoothing filter
  • Windows Ink pressure settings
  • Pen and tablet button mapping
  • Custom tablet data format configuration

Hawku is a low latency driver that uses both C++ and C# programming languages. One of the biggest benefits for Wacom tablet users is that it can still be used while the official Wacom drivers are installed.

OpenTabletDriver

OpenTabletDriver is an open-source, user-mode tablet driver that is compatible with all major operating systems, including:

  • Linux
  • MacOS
  • Windows

OpenTabletDriver offers low latency and is supported by most Wacom tablets, including the 472 (One) and 480 (Intuos). You can find a list of the exact tablets it supports on the driver’s official website. Since the driver is open-source, more support is being added every day.

While OpenTabletDriver is a very popular choice for Osu players, some people report issues while using it to play the game. This is because it uses the Windows SendInput API to position your cursor, and not in a way that the program’s raw input considers standard cursor movement.

To fix this, all you have to do is disable the “map raw input to osu! window” option in the in-game settings. Then, you’ll be able to play Osu with no problems whatsoever.

Final Thoughts

Some people love playing Osu with the standard Wacom drivers installed, while others prefer the gaming experience with third-party drivers like Hawku and OpenTabletDriver. The best course of action is to try a couple of different options and see which best fits your particular style of gameplay.