Microsoft has released a patch to remedy a number of mouse-related issues plaguing Windows 8.1 gamers. The root of the problem stems from a batch of new mouse input handling code implemented for low latency interaction scenarios. As such, mouse inputs behave differently in Windows 8.1 compared to previous releases.
We published a story earlier this month highlighting some of the difficulties that gamers were having under Microsoft’s latest OS release. Pointer-related issues ranged from mouse jitters to movements not scaling properly on the screen when hardware acceleration was disabled.
Specifically, Redmond claims the hotfix addresses mouse pointer stutters or freezes when playing certain games in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. The patch currently only supports the handful of games listed below.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops - Multiplayer
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Multiplayer
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Zombies
• Call of Duty: Ghosts - Multiplayer
• Call of Duty: MW2
• Call of Duty: MW2 - Multiplayer
• Call of Duty: MW3
• Call of Duty: MW3 - Multiplayer
• Call of Duty: MW
• Call of Duty: MW - Multiplayer
• Counter Strike: Global Offensive
• Counter Strike: Source
• Deus Ex : Human Revolution
• Deus Ex : Human Revolution Director's Cut
• Hitman Absolution
• Hitman Sniper Challenge
• Half Life 2
• Metro 2033
• Portal
Interestingly enough, the patch doesn’t quite fix every mouse pointer problem in Windows. As The Tech Report points out, at least two other issues are discussed in the knowledge base including a workaround for games that have input scaling problems on high-DIP displays and another that addresses overly aggressive tap filtering on touchpads.
