diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Net/PlayerDriver.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Net/PlayerDriver.cs
index 640f4f5..0691292 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/Net/PlayerDriver.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Net/PlayerDriver.cs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 using Unity.Netcode;
 using UnityEngine;
+using UnityEngine.InputSystem;
 
 namespace Jankenbots.Net
 {
@@ -83,12 +84,18 @@ namespace Jankenbots.Net
             // host, for capsules it doesn't own) skips input entirely — IsOwner is the gate.
             if (!IsOwner) return;
 
-            // Throwaway-prototype input: legacy Input axes are perfectly fine here. WASD / arrows
-            // / left stick map to Horizontal + Vertical out of the box. (The project ships the new
-            // Input System, but its compatibility mode feeds these same axes, so this Just Works
-            // for M1 without authoring an action asset.)
-            float strafe = Input.GetAxisRaw("Horizontal"); // A/D, left-stick X
-            float fwd    = Input.GetAxisRaw("Vertical");   // W/S, left-stick Y
+            // Throwaway-prototype input via the new Input System. The project ships New-only, so
+            // legacy UnityEngine.Input.GetAxis would THROW at runtime — read WASD / arrow keys
+            // straight off the current keyboard instead. No action asset needed for an M1 smoke test.
+            var kb = Keyboard.current;
+            float strafe = 0f, fwd = 0f;
+            if (kb != null)
+            {
+                if (kb.aKey.isPressed || kb.leftArrowKey.isPressed)  strafe -= 1f; // left
+                if (kb.dKey.isPressed || kb.rightArrowKey.isPressed) strafe += 1f; // right
+                if (kb.wKey.isPressed || kb.upArrowKey.isPressed)    fwd    += 1f; // forward
+                if (kb.sKey.isPressed || kb.downArrowKey.isPressed)  fwd    -= 1f; // back
+            }
 
             Vector2 input = new Vector2(strafe, fwd);
             // Normalize so diagonal input isn't ~1.4x faster; keep magnitude for analog sticks.