Fortnite Developer Discusses Aim Assist Nerfs in v31.20 and Upcoming Changes

Fortnite’s v31.20 patch introduces a significant update to aim assist for controller players. Say goodbye to the previous “superhuman” aim tracking and welcome a more “human” aiming experience.

According to the patch notes, the v31.20 update features a redesigned aim assist mode available across all platforms. This new human-like assist mimics actual human reaction times, particularly when it comes to tracking moving targets.

Unlike its predecessors, the updated aim assist is designed to feel more natural for controller players, while still providing a competitive balance against keyboard and mouse users. This adjustment is expected to enhance the aiming experience across various skill levels, and Epic Games intends to monitor the outcomes for further refinement.

Senior Fortnite developer Jibb Smart took to X to announce this significant change. He referred to the new system as his “baby” , emphasizing that these modifications are intended to provide a subtle yet impactful improvement.

A Fortnite player helping the seven reclaim the daily bugle — Epic Games

While the majority of Fortnite’s aim assist remains unchanged, Smart highlighted that the latest system decreases the “superhuman stickiness” present in previous aim assist versions.

He explained how traditional aim assist often granted controller players an unrealistic advantage, allowing for precision that exceeded normal human reaction capacities. This unfair advantage impacted cross-platform competition. The new model aims to rectify this by emulating actual human reflexes within the aim assist framework.

Smart clarified that the human-like aim assist is not about increasing or decreasing strength. Instead, it eliminates unrealistic benefits while ensuring the aiming experience remains smooth and intuitive for controller users. He stated that this adjustment will “enhance the feel of aiming for controller players AND uphold competitive integrity when facing mouse players.”

This mid-season update provides Epic with an opportunity to evaluate player performance and fine-tune the system before any further adjustments are made. While the aim assist overhaul may appear subtle, Jibb Smart’s objective is clear: achieving balance and fairness across all platforms. He concluded his thread by encouraging players to submit their feedback, saying, “We’re not finished tuning aim assist.”

Furthermore, the v31.20 Fortnite patch includes new Iron Man mythics and introduces the intense Day of Doom LTM. To discover more about the changes brought on by this update, be sure to check them out.

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