Aim Assist in gaming is attracting some strong opinions. Players are pretty divided, and mouse and keyboard players don’t always like that controller players get a clear advantage. In most games aim assists toe a very fine line and has to achieve a delicate balance.
Most players and fans probably know that this isn’t exactly well managed by most games. Some titles fare worse than others though, attracting a lot of attention for how poorly it is managed. This always brings a whole debate back into focus, and re-opens the topic of aim assist vs no aim assist.
Call of Duty Vanguard is the latest title to bring this setting back into focus. In this game, it is way overpowered by all metrics. It is so strong that twitch streamers and other players like DrDisrespect have declared that they’re only going to be using a controller on this game. Playing without it just isn’t fair. So why exactly is aim assist in FPS games such a controversial topic, and is it a good thing for esports?
Aim Assist – How it Works
Aim Assist tries to even the gap between mouse and controller players by snapping the crosshair closer to targets. Functionality varies from game to game, but it is the same effect in essence across all titles with this feature enabled. Using a mouse is objectively a better way to aim. Outside of any opinion, mouse and keyboard has been specifically found to be better for aiming. This is why assisting a payers crosshair’ towards the target, is seen as a necessity for controller users in cross-play titles. There is no aim assist mouse (or is considered cheating), as only controller players need it.
The exact details and strength are going to vary. Aim assisted Fortnite isn’t going to feel the exact same as aim assist Apex Legends. Essentially though, it bridges the gap to make mouse and keyboard a bit fairer against controller. So why exactly is it controversial?
Why is it Controversial?
It is controversial because it interferes with natural gameplay. It gives some types of players an objectively different set of tools to others. If you use one type of input method, the game goes out of its way to help you perform better and aim well. At least that’s what some players think when it comes to esports. To others, it just tries to make controllers more competitive. However, it is undeniable that it does give an advantage in some situations. With n aim assist mouse available, it is debatable if this is fair or not.
The Case for using Aim Assists
The case for should be simple enough if you’re paying with a controller, it makes things easier for you. Whether or not it is a fair type of advantage comes down to how you view the differences between mouse and keyboard. Studies have easily shown that the mouse has too many in-built advantages for controller players to consider the game fair. There is no aim assist on mouse and keyboard because a controller’s stick really needs the help. Otherwise, they just wouldn’t be competitive.
When applied properly, PC aim assist shouldn’t be too controversial. It should help controller players compete, but not in a way that’s unfair for players on a mouse and keyboard. It is hard to get around the advantages for the mouse and keyboard.
In terms of Aim assist PS5 or aim assist PS4, it isn’t controversial. In lobbies that primarily console players, you should expect aim assist and it really isn’t fair to expect anything less. Aiming without it on a console or controller is nowhere near as fun to play.
The Case Against Aim Assist
While it can seem like a harmless enough thing to help out controller players, there are a lot of people who are dead against it even being a thing. To a lot of players, it gives people an unfair advantage. You only have to look at the payback of controller esport players to see that sometimes the tool allows them to aim in superh
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