I Bought a PS5 for aim-assist

PS5 Aim Assist: Thoughts from a Long-Time KBM Player

I’ve been a PC player using keyboard and mouse for over eight years, and like many in the competitive community, I’ve always been frustrated by the perceived imbalance of aim assist on controllers. While I know aim assist was nerfed a few years ago, the recent buff feels noticeable—especially with how often I’ve been eliminated by assault rifles lately.

To better understand the other side, I decided to buy a PS5 and commit to learning controller. After about three months of practice, I feel I’ve gotten pretty good, and I wanted to share some observations:

Aim Assist on Console Feels Much Stronger Than Controller on PC This was one of the biggest surprises. Playing on console, aim assist feels significantly stickier compared to when using a controller on PC. The tracking advantage, especially in mid to long-range fights, is undeniable. My Aim on Controller Surpassed KBM in Just 3 Months After years of aiming with a mouse, I was shocked at how quickly I improved with a controller. The aim assist makes tracking feel effortless, and the consistency is far better than what I could achieve with KBM—even after years of practice. Tracking Feels Too Forgiving Aim assist, especially on console, feels like it removes much of the skill required to aim. While KBM players rely on precision and muscle memory, console aim assist essentially automates tracking for you. This is particularly frustrating in zero-build modes, where aim plays a much bigger role than building or editing mechanics. While I recognize that console players face some disadvantages—like shadows and graphical limitations—it’s hard to ignore how powerful aim assist feels in its current state. I’ve heard the argument that “KBM players have their whole arm to aim,” but aim assist feels like a mechanic that does the work for you rather than rewarding skill.

Because of how consistent my aim has become, I’ve decided to switch from PC to PS5 for now. The aim assist is simply too strong to ignore, and it feels like the better option in the current meta.

That said, I truly believe aim assist needs to be nerfed. However, I doubt Epic will ever make meaningful changes, as the majority of Fortnite players are on console, and any significant adjustment would upset a massive portion of the player base.

It’s frustrating to go up against opponents who rely on what i’ve experienced as automated aim rather than skill, especially in zero-build modes. I’d love to hear other perspectives—do you think aim assist is fine as is, or does it need rebalancing?