diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 6041dea..31bc496 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -33,6 +33,74 @@ if (!process.env.STEAM_INPUT_ENABLE_VIRTUAL_GAMEPAD) {
 // Hint that this is a game/controller-focused app
 process.env.SDL_HINT_JOYSTICK_ALLOW_BACKGROUND_EVENTS = '1';
 
+// =============================================================================
+// STEAMWORKS API INTEGRATION
+// =============================================================================
+// Initialize Steam API to properly signal to Steam that this app handles
+// controller input natively. This is more reliable than environment variables
+// alone for disabling Steam Input's mouse/keyboard emulation.
+//
+// NOTE: Since Nebula is categorized as Software (not a Game), we can't configure
+// Steam Input settings in the Steamworks dashboard. Instead, we initialize the
+// Steam Input API directly to signal native controller handling.
+// =============================================================================
+
+let steamworksClient = null;
+let steamworksInitialized = false;
+let steamInput = null;
+
+function initializeSteamworks() {
+  try {
+    const steamworks = require('steamworks.js');
+    
+    // Initialize with Nebula's Steam App ID
+    steamworksClient = steamworks.init(4290110);
+    steamworksInitialized = true;
+    
+    // Log successful initialization
+    const playerName = steamworksClient.localplayer.getName();
+    console.log(`[Steamworks] Initialized successfully for user: ${playerName}`);
+    
+    // Initialize Steam Input API - this tells Steam we handle controllers natively
+    // and should prevent mouse/keyboard emulation in Game Mode
+    try {
+      steamInput = steamworksClient.input;
+      if (steamInput) {
+        console.log('[Steamworks] Steam Input API available - native controller mode enabled');
+        
+        // Try to get connected controllers to verify input is working
+        try {
+          const controllers = steamInput.getControllers();
+          if (controllers && controllers.length > 0) {
+            console.log(`[Steamworks] Found ${controllers.length} connected controller(s)`);
+          }
+        } catch (inputErr) {
+          // Controller enumeration may not be available, that's OK
+        }
+      }
+    } catch (inputErr) {
+      console.log('[Steamworks] Steam Input API not fully available:', inputErr.message);
+    }
+    
+    return true;
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Not running through Steam, or steamworks.js not available
+    // This is fine - app works without Steam API
+    if (e.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND') {
+      console.log('[Steamworks] steamworks.js not installed - running without Steam API');
+    } else if (e.message && e.message.includes('Steam client')) {
+      console.log('[Steamworks] Steam client not running - running without Steam API');
+    } else {
+      console.log('[Steamworks] Failed to initialize:', e.message || e);
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+// Initialize Steamworks early (before app.ready)
+// This is critical for Steam Input to recognize native controller support
+initializeSteamworks();
+
 const { app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain, session, screen, shell, dialog, Menu, clipboard, webContents } = require('electron');
 const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');
 const { pathToFileURL } = require('url');
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index ca7627d..a2d8885 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
         "dompurify": "^3.1.6",
         "electron-updater": "^6.6.2",
         "highlight.js": "^11.9.0",
-        "marked": "^12.0.2"
+        "marked": "^12.0.2",
+        "steamworks.js": "^0.3.2"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "electron": "^39.2.7",
@@ -313,7 +314,6 @@
       "version": "22.16.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.16.3.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-sr4Xz74KOUeYadexo1r8imhRtlVXcs+j3XK3TcoiYk7B1t3YRVJgtaD3cwX73NYb71pmVuMLNRhJ9XKdoDB74g==",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "undici-types": "~6.21.0"
@@ -1907,6 +1907,14 @@
         "node": ">= 6"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/format": {
+      "version": "0.2.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/format/-/format-0.2.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-wzsgA6WOq+09wrU1tsJ09udeR/YZRaeArL9e1wPbFg3GG2yDnC2ldKpxs4xunpFF9DgqCqOIra3bc1HWrJ37Ww==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=0.4.x"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/fs-extra": {
       "version": "8.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fs-extra/-/fs-extra-8.1.0.tgz",
@@ -3079,6 +3087,19 @@
         "node": ">= 6"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/steamworks.js": {
+      "version": "0.3.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/steamworks.js/-/steamworks.js-0.3.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-iuZdAHBktF/Ov7hYFApmM3tGaIi24hrmE84yzbBtd+E+2UX1ccFgINm5GIiAq8AEIA+BmXUXE9ezzEsXoOm1UA==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "*",
+        "format": "^0.2.2"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 14"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/string-width": {
       "version": "4.2.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/string-width/-/string-width-4.2.3.tgz",
@@ -3254,7 +3275,6 @@
       "version": "6.21.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici-types/-/undici-types-6.21.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-iwDZqg0QAGrg9Rav5H4n0M64c3mkR59cJ6wQp+7C4nI0gsmExaedaYLNO44eT4AtBBwjbTiGPMlt2Md0T9H9JQ==",
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/universalify": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2c339ed..962babb 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
     "dompurify": "^3.1.6",
     "electron-updater": "^6.6.2",
     "highlight.js": "^11.9.0",
-    "marked": "^12.0.2"
+    "marked": "^12.0.2",
+    "steamworks.js": "^0.3.2"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "electron": "^39.2.7",