Ninja claims Fortnite controller aim assist is an “aimbot”

Popular Mixer streamer and Fortnite veteran Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins has called out Epic Games’ battle royale for a lack of balance between controller and mouse and keyboard.

The mouse and keyboard versus controller debate is not a new discussion, particularly in the Fortnite community. Despite being less than three years old, Epic’s acclaimed BR has been the subject of constant debate following the decision to allow controller players to compete against those using a mouse and keyboard.

Among others, we have seen World Cup Winner Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf try his hand at Fortnite with a controller. The 16-year-old was concerned it was too strong, and explained how he thinks it could be better balanced.

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Now, Fortnite’s most prominent content creator and one of the game’s pioneers has weighed in on the discussion, coming firmly down on the side of most mouse and keyboard players. 

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In an April 3 tweet, Ninja explained that, having played with a controller via a PC, he found aim assist to be far too strong when compared to a mouse and keyboard player. 

“Just played with a controller on PC for the second time in two days,” Blevins said. “I have competed in several games at a competitive level on both controller and mouse and keyboard. You cannot tell me that with 100% strength aim assist and linear settings that using a controller isn’t aimbot.” 

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Prior to his streaming career, Ninja played professional Halo – a game that is played exclusively with a controller on Xbox. He has since switched to mouse and keyboard gaming, including on Fortnite.

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When using a mouse and keyboard players do not receive any aim assist as a result of the more precise movements that come with a mouse. Ninja clearly feels this is an unfair trade-off.

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It’s important to distinguish between controller play on a PC and a console. When playing on a console, players are limited in terms of frame rate, input lag and other graphical settings.

On a PC, most of these caps are improved, but players still receive the same level of aim assist. It is the latter which Ninja thinks is too strong.

While Ninja’s criticism is echoed by a large number of mouse and keyboard players, there are just as many controller players who argue that the accuracy of a mouse is far greater than joysticks. It is for this reason that Epic are backed into a corner.