Add the New Control System

The new Input System uses Input Actions instead of the old Input.GetAxis().

Here’s how you can get your ship flying again using it:

Step 1: Create an Input Actions asset

Save the asset.

Step 1: The Setup

In your Project window → right-click → Create → Input Actions.

Name it ShipControls.

Double-click it to open the Input Actions editor.

Add a new Action Map called Flight.

Add Actions:

Move (Action Type: Value, Control Type: Vector2)

Bindings:

W/S → Up/Down

A/D → Left/Right

Look (Value, Vector2)

Binding → Mouse Delta

UpDown (Value, Axis)

Binding → Space (1)

Binding → Left Ctrl (-1)

Boost (Button)

Binding → Left Shift

Roll (Value, Axis)

Binding → Q (1)

Binding → E (-1)

1. Open your Unity scene.
2. Create a Cube — name it Ship.
3. Add a Rigidbody to it (so it can move with physics).
   • Check “Use Gravity” off (we don’t want it falling).
   • Set Drag to something small like 0.1.
4. Attach the script we’ll make next.

---

Step 2: The Script

Create a new C# script named ShipController.cs and paste this in:

using UnityEngine;

public class ShipController : MonoBehaviour
{
// Flight speeds
public float thrust = 20f; // Forward speed
public float strafeSpeed = 10f; // Side movement (A/D)
public float liftSpeed = 10f; // Up/down (Space/Ctrl)
public float rotationSpeed = 90f; // How fast it turns
public float rollSpeed = 90f; // Roll tilt
public float boostMultiplier = 2f; // Boost speed factor

// Rigidbody for physics-based movement
private Rigidbody rb;

void Start()
{
    rb = GetComponent<Rigidbody>();
}

void Update()
{
    // --- INPUTS ---
    float moveForward = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");   // W/S or Up/Down
    float moveRight = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");   // A/D or Left/Right
    float moveUp = 0f;

    // Use Space/Ctrl for vertical motion
    if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.Space)) moveUp = 1f;
    if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.LeftControl)) moveUp = -1f;

    // Boost (Left Shift)
    bool boosting = Input.GetKey(KeyCode.LeftShift);
    float currentThrust = boosting ? thrust * boostMultiplier : thrust;

    // --- ROTATION ---
    // Mouse controls pitch and yaw
    float pitch = -Input.GetAxis("Mouse Y"); // Inverted to feel natural
    float yaw = Input.GetAxis("Mouse X");
    float roll = 0f;

    // Q/E roll the ship
    if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.Q)) roll = 1f;
    if (Input.GetKey(KeyCode.E)) roll = -1f;

    // Apply rotation smoothly
    Vector3 rotation = new Vector3(pitch * rotationSpeed, yaw * rotationSpeed, roll * rollSpeed) * Time.deltaTime;
    transform.Rotate(rotation, Space.Self);

    // --- MOVEMENT ---
    Vector3 moveDirection = (transform.forward * moveForward * currentThrust) +
                            (transform.right * moveRight * strafeSpeed) +
                            (transform.up * moveUp * liftSpeed);

    rb.velocity = moveDirection;
}

}