Strafe Acceleration- How to solve the accuracy problem on mouse and keyboard without affecting controller players

Games Halo Infinite
1

First of all, I am not suggesting a nerf to aim assist, as while it is strong, halo is the flagship title for xbox, and it was developed to be played on controller. Controller players make up the majority demographic of the game, so if there is one group that should have the short end of the stick, it should be mouse and keyboard players. With that being said, there are major problems with accuracy on PC. There was a post here that showed how controllers have on average 20-30% more accuracy than mnk players. Pros have stated that they do not see mnk ever being used in the competitive scene. At the end of a slayer match you can look and see for yourself: that some players will have 60+% accuracy while others will have 30-50.

If you play on PC, you’ve probably noticed this. When an enemy is strafing back and forth, changing directions like crazy, it is extremely difficult to track onto them. At the higher ranks and higher sbmm in social, it only gets worse. Most everyone will strafe like crazy making the game feel jittery, and you’ll notice that most players will be on controller. This all goes away however, if an enemy is standing still, jumping through the air and telegraphing their movement, or simply not strafing and traveling in a straight line.

Now why is this? It is because of the rate at which you can hit top speed while strafing. For example, when you press forward in this game, you will immediately travel at 100% walk speed. If you are shooting at someone strafing right, they can immediately change directions to the left with no warning; and immediately be traveling at full speed. It wouldn’t matter if you are the best pro mnk player in the world; the human brain can literally not react to an object that can change its direction and speed instantaneously.

How this benefits controller and punishes mnk: I’ve put about 100 hours into this game, about half and half with each input. On controller, the game will automatically track onto a strafing enemy. On controller, the aim assist will automatically track enemies moving left and right (video evidence linked below). On PC however, you must correct your crosshair every time the enemy moves manually. This is punishing to PC players, as if you perform well and rise through the ranks/social matchmaking queues, instead of meeting players with better skill and aim than you, you are met with people who have a flat advantage over you.

Now to solve this, all that must be done is to simply reduce the rate at which you can hit full speed. So lets say if you were to walk forward, instead of hitting max speed instantly, you would start 25% speed, and over the duration of a second or so your speed would gradually increase to the maximum. This would not slow down the gameplay, as you would still be able to move as fast as you could before, it would just make everyone move less jittery and unpredictable. The sprint would remain unchanged as well, so if you needed to hit full speed to escape a grenade for example, you still could. This would make tracking far easier with a mouse, and it does not affect the aim assist of a controller player at all. Both sides get what they want, both inputs can be competitively valid, and halo infinite will more accessible and fair no matter which platform you chose.

Why I know this will work: Every previous Halo

In all of the previous halos that can be played on mnk through MCC, you’ll notice that it is far easier to track strafing enemies moving left and right across the screen. This is because none have the instant strafe acceleration infinite has that I explained. The aim assist is still strong in MCC (if not even stronger), but PC players can still hold their own so long as they have good aim and tracking. However in this game, having good aim with mnk is punishing and discouraging. Again I’m not calling for a nerf to aim assist, as it’s important for every to be able to do well. But there is a clear divide between the two inputs, and halo infinite should be as fair and accessible as possible.

Works Cited:

Demonstration of how controllers track strafing enemies

Controller vs Mnk Accuracy post https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/r3es60/accuracy_stats_for_kbm_vs_controller/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

7 Likes
2

I do have to laugh a bit at these “tests” of aim assist because they are usually only testing a fraction of the equation by ignoring the motion of the shooter (who will also likely be strafing to avoid fire), and the recoil control adjustments from the weapon being fired.

That said, you do make an excellent point about the lack of momentum carrying through movements. I agree that momentum should be reintroduced as a mechanic of movement.

2 Likes
3

Or just hit ur shots and quit complaining. The whole reason for the strange being like that is so u can dodge.

4

notice how the frag grenades explode different in this one? thats because 343 thought up how they were going to blend mouse and keyboard players who cant walk strafe with controller players. theres balance thats why the controllers default in this one is hold to zoom. most people that say the controls are wacky only have played one or the other. plug them both in and give it a go.

5

I don’t think controller aim assist really works that well against strafing enemies, at least not on consoles (I’ve heard aim assist on PC is different). I can never hit strafing enemies. It definitely doesn’t do it automatically, otherwise I’d be a lot higher in rank by now.

1 Like
6

I always find these video examples of aim assist using stationary players quite pathetic. In game, players do not stand still and are constantly adjusting their aim and movement without even a thought of aim assist.

I can honestly say that I’ve never relied upon aim assist and barely notice it’s even there as my move and look thumbsticks are doing the work as best they can to stay on target…it certainly doesn’t help me track moving or strafing players in the middle of a gunfight. We had this ridiculous argument with COD players when crossplay was implemented and here we go again with PC players complaining about it in Halo…oh yeah, and all the accusations of legal “aim bot” are really pathetic considering all the advantages a half decent PC player has at their disposal.

I can’t speak for the whole community but give us all the option to disable platform based crossplay…we should all be on the same level playing field and quite clearly both console and PC players have their gripes and think that we’re not…so to settle the argument let’s call it quits and let us play against the players on the same platform so we know we’re at least playing the same game by the same rules.

For the record, input based crossplay isn’t enough…it needs to be platform based. There are very few players that use M&K on console and I’ll happily play alongside or against those players as it removes the majority of the other platform based issues.

4 Likes
7

I sti disagree about the aim assist. I’m on controller on PC and compared to other Halos on MCC the aim assist is too weak and inconsistent. The strafe lacking momentum and crazy acceleration not only looks cartoony, but it makes everything feel super ice skatey.

1 Like
8

Aim assist is not strong in this at all, but I do agree. The momentum of strafing is always what kept it under control in past titles, having it be instantaneous directional change is just generally bad

2 Likes
9

I hope they do something soon. I like this game. I really do, but I can’t stand how inconsistent things feel all the time. Specifically the aim assist. I’ve been enjoying myself, but I could go play MCC right now, and have aim that feels solid and smooth.

If they need to change strafe acceleration to help curb this issue, then do it, and soon.

2 Likes
10

really good argument there, all you could say is Hit YouR ShoTs

Maybe it’s better for the discussion to actually come up with points rather than silly remarks like these

3 Likes
11

At this pace it’s just better to turn off crossplay for the pc and xbox, there’s no reason to kill off the multiplayer on pc just because of silly issues like these. If 343 can’t/won’t balance things out they should simply solve the issue by removing crossplay all together

1 Like
12

Calling a valid point pathetic is bad form for discussions. Whilst it’s true that this video doesn’t fully put things in to context it does examplify that there is quite strong aim adjustment done by the game. To add upon that you use a personal experience to disprove the statement which is basically a: “I’m not experiencing it so it doesn’t exist” type of argument. It’s quite obvious that someone on controller wouldn’t notice aim assist, it’s always been there and if you’ve never played without how could you notice. The example shown in tthe video would make a huge difference when people are moving, whilst the game helps controller players stay on target there’s no such luck for players on M&K.

Whilst I certainly dislike the “legal aimbot” remarks, one cannot deny that there’s a stark contrast in the aim accuracy of pc vs console players. Just refer to this reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/r3es60/accuracy_stats_for_kbm_vs_controller/

Turning off crossplay would certainly lessen this issue, and I’m all for that.

1 Like
13

Mnk players have asked for less strafe acceleration since day one, but 343 has said nothing about it.

2 Likes
14

100% agree.

only a software (aim assist/cheats…) can have a 0.00sec time respond reflex to adjust a player who strafe to the other side, as MNK player you have to PREDICT it, with a controller you don’t have to think about this and can just focus on your strafe.

We are humans and yeah aim assist will never be gone, because controller aren’t made for first persons shooter, even if the feeling is good, but please give MNK players a chance at least

2 Likes
15

I’m a controller player and I also would like less strafe acceleration. Maybe I’m just not as good as other controller users, or maybe I’m just too used to the older Halo games, but how fast players can strafe just doesn’t feel right to me. I’d support this change.

3 Likes
16

Yeah, I play on both inputs and it’s annoying for both. The aim assist helps a little but it could be better.

2 Likes
17

I’m literally confused. You’ve played with both, can M&K players not strafe?

18

I don’t think you read the posts correctly. The high strafe accel makes tracking with mnk annoying and taxing while controller has similar issues the aim assist somewhat compensates. Everyone strafes because of how effective it is. It needs a slight nerf.

1 Like
19

So what’s the difference between tapping back and forth on the arrow keys compared to using the controllers stick? Sounds like simply a tracking issue that controller has an easier time with? I feel with the quicker turn speed and mouse point accuracy there are give and takes between both inputs.

1 Like
20

Read the thread title. Thanks.