Apex Legends brings major aim assist nerf in Season 22

Apex Legends is officially nerfing aim assist in Season 22, as the devs have decided it’s finally time to introduce balance changes for controller.

Aim assist is being reduced by about 25%, but only for controller players in PC lobbies. This doesn’t apply to console lobbies, but if you team up with a PC player on console, or are using a controller on PC, then will receive less assistance.

Controller aim assist was adjusted with the 120hz update, but a more significant nerf is something that has been brewing for many seasons. It’s a controversial topic and PC players have been calling for balance changes in mixed input lobbies for some time now.

During the press meeting for the new season, the devs suggested that the change will improve “competitive integrity.” Simply put, Lead Game Designer Eric Canavese said, “Aim assist is too strong in PC lobbies…so we’re going to reduce its strength.”

Respawn Entertainment

Many in the community have felt that aim assist on controller has allowed players to outperform those on mouse and keyboard. We’ve even seen m&k pro players such as ImperialHal switching to controller for the Apex Legends Global Series due to its strength, which shows just how impactful aim assist has been.

While it is getting a nerf in PC lobbies, Canavese made it clear that “aim assist will never be removed,” as he described it as a critical feature for controller players that helps bridge the gap between the input types.

The nerf was decided after the devs analyzed data, tested solutions, and refined adjustments, as they wanted to make sure it was fair. Once Season 22 launches on August 6, players will be able to experience how aim assist feels, so we’ll have to wait and see how it’s received.

While the nerf may hit the input hard, make sure you have the best controller settings for Apex Legends to maximize your comfort and performance, as well as the optimal audio setup for the new E-District map.