Despite mounting pressure from mouse and keyboard players, the latest Fortnite update has again seen no nerf to aim assist for controller players, with some even claiming it has received a buff.
A number of pro Fortnite players took to social media to express their amazement and disappointment that Epic had seemingly not addressed aim assist, which has become one of the biggest talking points in the competitive scene over recent weeks and months. The patch notes from update 12.61 – which went live earlier today – make no mention of controller aim assist, yet an earlier teaser of the update which was sent to content creators made mention of “controller adjustments.”
The likes of TSM’s Leon ‘Khanada’ Khim seemed despondent following the update, tweeting: “Well it was a good run kbm boys we [had] high hopes and it’s all gone.” The 2019 Fortnite World Cup Solos champion, Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf, also tweeted his thoughts.
“That moment when they [Epic] did nothing to aim assist,” he says, before satirically predicting a near future where keyboard and mouse players are the minority compared to controller players and are now all in “coaching positions.”
Its 2021, only 13 KBM players out of 100 have qualified for World Cup Solos. A majority of top tier KBM players now are in coaching positions as opposed to actually playing.
— Bugha (@bugha) May 26, 2020
While it is clear that aim assist hasn’t received a nerf, some are claiming that the “controller adjustments” teased by Epic are actually buffs to aim assist, with video evidence appearing to show aim assist working at longer ranges and even through players’ builds.
Pro player ‘Knight’ posted two videos that appear to show this, claiming aim assist on AR weapons is now “busted” and can track through walls and that range has been increased.
AR AIM IS BUSTED ACTUALLY. Aim Assist tracking through builds. pic.twitter.com/WCBJGJPJJl
— Knight (@KnightFN_) May 26, 2020
THEY BUFFED AIM ASSIST. We used to not get Aim Assist past 100 Meters now we get it even farther. pic.twitter.com/fWD9nwGriw
— Knight (@KnightFN_) May 26, 2020
This latest patch will add more fuel to the already large fire that has been burning around controller aim assist in the professional Fortnite scene.
While efforts were made in the Fortnite Champion Series to separate controller and KBM players by running different brackets for console/mobile and PC, there are still plenty of PC players using controllers in competitions.
With Epic seemingly not willing to give aim assist the nerf that KBM players have been begging for, we could potentially see more of them switching over to controller in order to cut out the perceived disadvantage of playing on a keyboard and mouse.
