Can a printed logo in the center of a mouse pad mess with tracking?

Yes, but only some logos and only some mice. Cheap pad printing — especially glossy or raised ink — creates a tiny bump or reflectivity shift that can cause older or budget optical sensors to stutter or skip. Mice with top-tier sensors are more tolerant, but for micro-adjustments at low DPI, the inconsistent glide can throw off muscle memory. My rule: don’t buy a pad with a logo in the center; logos on the edge are fine.