diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
index 9d8eb6b7..5a8befbb 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
@@ -517,6 +517,12 @@ pub mod pad_gate;
 #[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"))]
 #[path = "inject/pad_slots.rs"]
 pub mod pad_slots;
+/// The generic stateful virtual-pad manager ([`uhid_manager::UhidManager`]) — event routing, frame
+/// merge, heartbeat, and feedback pump shared by the five UHID/UMDF backends; each supplies only
+/// its per-controller protocol via [`uhid_manager::PadProto`] (G12).
+#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"))]
+#[path = "inject/uhid_manager.rs"]
+pub mod uhid_manager;
 /// Linux: virtual Steam Deck via UHID — the kernel `hid-steam` driver binds it as a real Deck.
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 #[path = "inject/linux/steam_controller.rs"]
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/uhid_manager.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/uhid_manager.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ee83f0b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/uhid_manager.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,468 @@
+//! The generic stateful virtual-pad manager ([`UhidManager`]) shared by the five backends that
+//! keep a full per-pad report state (Linux UHID DualSense / DualShock 4 / Steam Deck, Windows UMDF
+//! DualSense / DualShock 4): event routing, the frame merge, rich-input application, the silence
+//! heartbeat, and the feedback pump with rumble + hidout dedup are written once here; a backend
+//! supplies only its per-controller pieces via [`PadProto`]. The stateless backends (Linux uinput,
+//! Windows XUSB) write frames straight through with no state vec / heartbeat / rich plane, so they
+//! use [`PadSlots`] directly instead.
+
+use crate::gamestream::gamepad::{GamepadEvent, GamepadFrame, MAX_PADS};
+use crate::inject::dualsense_proto::HidoutDedup;
+use crate::inject::pad_slots::PadSlots;
+use anyhow::Result;
+use punktfunk_core::quic::{HidOutput, RichInput};
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+/// What one feedback pass extracted from a pad's driver/kernel channel. `rumble` rides the
+/// universal 0xCA plane (deduped against the last-forwarded level); `hidout` carries the rich
+/// 0xCD feedback events (lightbar / player LEDs / adaptive triggers), deduped via [`HidoutDedup`].
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct PadFeedback {
+    /// `(low, high)` motor levels (0..=0xFF00), if the pass saw a rumble report.
+    pub rumble: Option<(u16, u16)>,
+    pub hidout: Vec<HidOutput>,
+}
+
+/// The per-controller half of a stateful virtual-pad backend — everything [`UhidManager`] cannot
+/// share because it differs per protocol: the transport open, the report-state model and its
+/// GameStream/rich-input mappers, the state write, and the feedback poll.
+///
+/// The `&mut self` receivers let a backend carry configuration (the Steam-paddle remap policy, a
+/// pad identity); most implementations are otherwise stateless.
+pub trait PadProto {
+    /// The per-pad transport (a UHID fd, a UMDF shared-memory channel, the Deck transport enum).
+    type Pad;
+    /// The pad's full report state (`DsState`, `SteamState`) — `Copy` like both of those, so the
+    /// manager can hand a snapshot to [`write_state`](Self::write_state) without borrow gymnastics.
+    type State: Copy;
+
+    /// Backend tag in the shared lifecycle log lines, e.g. `"DualSense/Windows"`.
+    const LABEL: &'static str;
+    /// Device name in the create-failure line ("virtual `<DEVICE>` creation failed …").
+    const DEVICE: &'static str;
+    /// Suffix for the create-failure line — empty on Linux, the driver-install hint on Windows.
+    const CREATE_HINT: &'static str;
+
+    /// Open the virtual pad for wire index `idx`, logging its own success line (it knows the
+    /// transport detail worth printing); failures are logged by the manager's create gate.
+    fn open(&mut self, idx: u8) -> Result<Self::Pad>;
+    /// The all-neutral report state a fresh or unplugged pad (re)starts from.
+    fn neutral(&self) -> Self::State;
+    /// Fold one decoded button/stick frame into a new state, preserving from `prev` every field
+    /// that arrives on the rich plane instead (touch contacts / clicks, motion) — the G2 hook, in
+    /// one place per backend. Paddle remap policy is applied here too.
+    fn merge_frame(&self, prev: &Self::State, f: &GamepadFrame) -> Self::State;
+    /// Apply one rich client→host event (touchpad contact / motion sample) to the state.
+    fn apply_rich(&self, st: &mut Self::State, rich: RichInput);
+    /// Write the full state to the pad (best-effort; the next frame or heartbeat re-syncs).
+    fn write_state(&self, pad: &mut Self::Pad, st: &Self::State);
+    /// Poll the pad's driver/kernel channel: answer any pending handshake and return the feedback
+    /// it carried. `idx` is the wire pad index (the DualSense GET_REPORT replies need it).
+    fn service(&self, pad: &mut Self::Pad, idx: u8) -> PadFeedback;
+    /// Whether this pad needs a heartbeat write NOW regardless of the silence gap (the Steam
+    /// backend streams through its gamepad-mode-entry pulse).
+    fn force_heartbeat(&self, _pad: &Self::Pad) -> bool {
+        false
+    }
+}
+
+/// All virtual pads of one stateful backend, driven from decoded controller events — the shared
+/// skeleton of the five UHID/UMDF managers. Method surface (`new` / `handle` / `apply_rich` /
+/// `pump` / `heartbeat`) is exactly what the session input thread already drives, so each backend
+/// re-exports itself as a `pub type … = UhidManager<…Proto>;` alias.
+pub struct UhidManager<B: PadProto> {
+    backend: B,
+    slots: PadSlots<B::Pad>,
+    /// Each pad's current full report — buttons/sticks merged with persisted rich-plane fields.
+    state: Vec<B::State>,
+    /// Last rumble forwarded per pad, so a report that only changes rich feedback doesn't re-send it.
+    last_rumble: Vec<(u16, u16)>,
+    /// Last rich feedback forwarded per pad, so an output report that only changed the rumble
+    /// doesn't re-send unchanged lightbar/LED/trigger state.
+    hidout_dedup: Vec<HidoutDedup>,
+    /// When each pad last wrote an input report — drives [`heartbeat`](Self::heartbeat).
+    last_write: Vec<Instant>,
+}
+
+impl<B: PadProto + Default> UhidManager<B> {
+    pub fn new() -> UhidManager<B> {
+        UhidManager::with_backend(B::default())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<B: PadProto + Default> Default for UhidManager<B> {
+    fn default() -> UhidManager<B> {
+        UhidManager::new()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<B: PadProto> UhidManager<B> {
+    pub fn with_backend(backend: B) -> UhidManager<B> {
+        let state = (0..MAX_PADS).map(|_| backend.neutral()).collect();
+        UhidManager {
+            backend,
+            slots: PadSlots::new(B::LABEL, B::DEVICE, B::CREATE_HINT),
+            state,
+            last_rumble: vec![(0, 0); MAX_PADS],
+            hidout_dedup: vec![HidoutDedup::default(); MAX_PADS],
+            last_write: vec![Instant::now(); MAX_PADS],
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Handle one decoded controller event (create/destroy by mask, then merge button/stick state).
+    pub fn handle(&mut self, ev: &GamepadEvent) {
+        match ev {
+            GamepadEvent::Arrival { index, kind, .. } => {
+                tracing::info!(index, kind, "controller arrival ({})", B::LABEL);
+                self.ensure(*index as usize);
+            }
+            GamepadEvent::State(f) => {
+                let idx = f.index as usize;
+                if idx >= MAX_PADS {
+                    return;
+                }
+                // Unplugs: drop any allocated pad whose mask bit cleared, resetting its state.
+                let swept = self.slots.sweep(f.active_mask);
+                for i in 0..MAX_PADS {
+                    if swept & (1 << i) != 0 {
+                        self.reset_pad(i);
+                    }
+                }
+                if f.active_mask & (1 << idx) == 0 {
+                    return; // this event WAS the unplug
+                }
+                self.ensure(idx);
+                // Merge buttons/sticks/triggers from the frame, preserving the rich-plane fields
+                // (touch + motion arrive separately and must survive a button-only frame).
+                self.state[idx] = self.backend.merge_frame(&self.state[idx], f);
+                self.write(idx);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Apply one rich client→host event (touchpad contact / motion sample) to an existing pad,
+    /// preserving its button/stick state. Rich events never create a pad (a controller must have
+    /// arrived first); they're dropped if the pad isn't present.
+    pub fn apply_rich(&mut self, rich: RichInput) {
+        let idx = match rich {
+            RichInput::Touchpad { pad, .. }
+            | RichInput::Motion { pad, .. }
+            | RichInput::TouchpadEx { pad, .. } => pad as usize,
+        };
+        if idx >= MAX_PADS || self.slots.get(idx).is_none() {
+            return;
+        }
+        self.backend.apply_rich(&mut self.state[idx], rich);
+        self.write(idx);
+    }
+
+    /// Re-emit each live pad's CURRENT report if it's been silent for `max_gap` (or the backend
+    /// forces a write). The UHID/UMDF drivers treat a multi-second input silence — a held-steady
+    /// stick produces no wire events — as an unplugged controller; re-sending the current state is
+    /// idempotent (a stale-but-correct frame, never a phantom input).
+    pub fn heartbeat(&mut self, max_gap: Duration) {
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        for i in 0..MAX_PADS {
+            let Some(pad) = self.slots.get(i) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            if self.backend.force_heartbeat(pad)
+                || now.duration_since(self.last_write[i]) >= max_gap
+            {
+                self.write(i);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Service every pad: answer any pending driver/kernel handshake and route a game's feedback
+    /// back out. `rumble` is invoked `(index, low, high)` only when the motor level *changes* (the
+    /// universal 0xCA plane); `hidout` is invoked per rich feedback event that isn't an exact
+    /// repeat of the last-forwarded value (the 0xCD plane). Call frequently — kernel/driver init
+    /// handshakes block until answered.
+    pub fn pump(
+        &mut self,
+        mut rumble: impl FnMut(u16, u16, u16),
+        mut hidout: impl FnMut(HidOutput),
+    ) {
+        for i in 0..MAX_PADS {
+            let Some(pad) = self.slots.get_mut(i) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let fb = self.backend.service(pad, i as u8);
+            if let Some(r) = fb.rumble {
+                if self.last_rumble[i] != r {
+                    self.last_rumble[i] = r;
+                    rumble(i as u16, r.0, r.1);
+                }
+            }
+            for h in fb.hidout {
+                // Skip rich feedback that repeats the last-forwarded value (a game's output report
+                // re-sends unchanged lightbar/LED/trigger state alongside every rumble update).
+                if self.hidout_dedup[i].should_forward(&h) {
+                    hidout(h);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Write the pad's current state (if it exists) and reset its heartbeat clock — on every write
+    /// (real input or heartbeat), so an actively-used pad emits no extra reports.
+    fn write(&mut self, idx: usize) {
+        let st = self.state[idx];
+        if let Some(pad) = self.slots.get_mut(idx) {
+            self.backend.write_state(pad, &st);
+        }
+        self.last_write[idx] = Instant::now();
+    }
+
+    /// Gate-checked create; a FRESH pad starts from neutral state + re-armed dedups.
+    fn ensure(&mut self, idx: usize) {
+        let backend = &mut self.backend;
+        if self.slots.ensure(idx, |i| backend.open(i)) {
+            self.reset_pad(idx);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Reset one pad's sibling state (on create and unplug) so the first frame/feedback after a
+    /// (re)connect starts from scratch and is always forwarded.
+    fn reset_pad(&mut self, idx: usize) {
+        self.state[idx] = self.backend.neutral();
+        self.last_rumble[idx] = (0, 0);
+        self.hidout_dedup[idx].clear();
+        self.last_write[idx] = Instant::now();
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::cell::RefCell;
+
+    /// Scripted mock: `open` fails while `fail_opens > 0`; `service` replays canned feedback;
+    /// `MockState` carries a marker for the frame-merge preserve check.
+    #[derive(Default)]
+    struct MockProto {
+        fail_opens: RefCell<u32>,
+        feedback: RefCell<Vec<PadFeedback>>,
+        force_hb: bool,
+    }
+
+    #[derive(Clone, Copy, Default, PartialEq, Debug)]
+    struct MockState {
+        buttons: u32,
+        /// Stands in for the rich-plane fields (touch/motion/clicks): set by `apply_rich`,
+        /// must survive `merge_frame`.
+        rich_marker: u16,
+    }
+
+    /// Per-pad transport stub recording every state write.
+    #[derive(Default)]
+    struct MockPad {
+        writes: RefCell<Vec<MockState>>,
+    }
+
+    impl PadProto for MockProto {
+        type Pad = MockPad;
+        type State = MockState;
+        const LABEL: &'static str = "Mock";
+        const DEVICE: &'static str = "mock pad";
+        const CREATE_HINT: &'static str = "";
+
+        fn open(&mut self, _idx: u8) -> Result<MockPad> {
+            let mut fails = self.fail_opens.borrow_mut();
+            if *fails > 0 {
+                *fails -= 1;
+                anyhow::bail!("scripted open failure");
+            }
+            Ok(MockPad::default())
+        }
+        fn neutral(&self) -> MockState {
+            MockState::default()
+        }
+        fn merge_frame(&self, prev: &MockState, f: &GamepadFrame) -> MockState {
+            MockState {
+                buttons: f.buttons,
+                rich_marker: prev.rich_marker, // the preserve-rich-fields contract
+            }
+        }
+        fn apply_rich(&self, st: &mut MockState, rich: RichInput) {
+            if let RichInput::Touchpad { x, .. } = rich {
+                st.rich_marker = x;
+            }
+        }
+        fn write_state(&self, pad: &mut MockPad, st: &MockState) {
+            pad.writes.borrow_mut().push(*st);
+        }
+        fn service(&self, _pad: &mut MockPad, _idx: u8) -> PadFeedback {
+            let mut fb = self.feedback.borrow_mut();
+            if fb.is_empty() {
+                PadFeedback::default()
+            } else {
+                fb.remove(0)
+            }
+        }
+        fn force_heartbeat(&self, _pad: &MockPad) -> bool {
+            self.force_hb
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn frame(idx: i16, mask: u16, buttons: u32) -> GamepadEvent {
+        GamepadEvent::State(GamepadFrame {
+            index: idx,
+            active_mask: mask,
+            buttons,
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn touch(pad: u8, x: u16) -> RichInput {
+        RichInput::Touchpad {
+            pad,
+            finger: 0,
+            active: true,
+            x,
+            y: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn mgr() -> UhidManager<MockProto> {
+        UhidManager::new()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn arrival_eager_creates_the_pad() {
+        // G10 as a generic regression test: Arrival must build the device before the first frame.
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&GamepadEvent::Arrival {
+            index: 2,
+            kind: 1,
+            capabilities: 0,
+        });
+        assert!(m.slots.get(2).is_some());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn button_frame_preserves_rich_fields_and_writes_merged_state() {
+        // G2 as a generic regression test: rich-plane state must survive a button-only frame.
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0));
+        m.apply_rich(touch(0, 777));
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0xA));
+        let pad = m.slots.get(0).unwrap();
+        let writes = pad.writes.borrow();
+        let last = writes.last().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(last.buttons, 0xA);
+        assert_eq!(last.rich_marker, 777); // preserved across the merge
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn removal_frame_never_recreates_the_pad_it_swept() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&frame(1, 0b10, 0));
+        assert!(m.slots.get(1).is_some());
+        // Bit 1 cleared and the frame IS pad 1's removal — sweep, then early-return (no ensure).
+        m.handle(&frame(1, 0b00, 0));
+        assert!(m.slots.get(1).is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rich_event_for_an_absent_pad_is_dropped_and_never_creates() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.apply_rich(touch(3, 42));
+        assert!(m.slots.get(3).is_none());
+        // …and it left no state behind: a later create starts truly neutral.
+        m.handle(&frame(3, 0b1000, 0));
+        assert_eq!(m.state[3].rich_marker, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn create_failure_backs_off_then_state_still_tracks() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        *m.backend.fail_opens.borrow_mut() = 1;
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0x1));
+        // Open failed: no pad, but the merged state is tracked (matching the old managers).
+        assert!(m.slots.get(0).is_none());
+        assert_eq!(m.state[0].buttons, 0x1);
+        // Next frame inside the backoff window: still no pad, no panic.
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0x3));
+        assert!(m.slots.get(0).is_none());
+        assert_eq!(m.state[0].buttons, 0x3);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rumble_dedup_forwards_changes_only_and_rearms_on_recreate() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0));
+        let collect = |m: &mut UhidManager<MockProto>| {
+            let out = RefCell::new(Vec::new());
+            m.pump(|i, lo, hi| out.borrow_mut().push((i, lo, hi)), |_| {});
+            out.into_inner()
+        };
+        let rumble = |r| PadFeedback {
+            rumble: Some(r),
+            hidout: Vec::new(),
+        };
+        *m.backend.feedback.borrow_mut() = vec![rumble((100, 0)), rumble((100, 0)), rumble((7, 7))];
+        assert_eq!(collect(&mut m), vec![(0, 100, 0)]); // first value forwards
+        assert_eq!(collect(&mut m), vec![]); // exact repeat deduped
+        assert_eq!(collect(&mut m), vec![(0, 7, 7)]); // change forwards
+                                                      // Unplug + recreate re-arms the dedup: the same level forwards again.
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b0, 0));
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0));
+        *m.backend.feedback.borrow_mut() = vec![rumble((7, 7))];
+        assert_eq!(collect(&mut m), vec![(0, 7, 7)]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hidout_dedup_drops_exact_repeats() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0));
+        let led = |r| HidOutput::Led {
+            pad: 0,
+            r,
+            g: 0,
+            b: 0,
+        };
+        *m.backend.feedback.borrow_mut() = vec![PadFeedback {
+            rumble: None,
+            hidout: vec![led(10), led(10), led(20)],
+        }];
+        let out = RefCell::new(0u32);
+        m.pump(
+            |_, _, _| {},
+            |_| {
+                *out.borrow_mut() += 1;
+            },
+        );
+        assert_eq!(out.into_inner(), 2); // 10 forwarded once, 20 forwarded; the repeat dropped
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn heartbeat_reemits_silent_pads_and_honors_force() {
+        let mut m = mgr();
+        m.handle(&frame(0, 0b1, 0x5));
+        let writes = |m: &UhidManager<MockProto>| m.slots.get(0).unwrap().writes.borrow().len();
+        let after_frame = writes(&m);
+        // A pad written just now is NOT re-emitted under a huge gap…
+        m.heartbeat(Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        assert_eq!(writes(&m), after_frame);
+        // …but a zero gap counts it as silent and re-emits the CURRENT state.
+        m.heartbeat(Duration::ZERO);
+        assert_eq!(writes(&m), after_frame + 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            m.slots
+                .get(0)
+                .unwrap()
+                .writes
+                .borrow()
+                .last()
+                .unwrap()
+                .buttons,
+            0x5
+        );
+        // The backend's force flag overrides the gap entirely (the Steam mode-entry pulse).
+        m.backend.force_hb = true;
+        m.heartbeat(Duration::from_secs(3600));
+        assert_eq!(writes(&m), after_frame + 2);
+    }
+}