In video games, aim assist is a gameplay feature designed to help players with their aiming. It is commonly found in first-person shooter (FPS) games, and is an element particularly designed for players who use controller inputs, as opposed to a mouse and keyboard (MnK).

Aiming down the sights or scope of a gun is a key component of first-person shooters. Allowing for more precise movements and aiming, the mouse and keyboard is considered the easier and more intuitive input.^[1][2] With a controller's thumbsticks being harder to use, developers of FPS games include aim assist as tool for those using controllers.^[1][3]

The aim assist function helps guide a controller player's crosshairs automatically.^[3] Contemporary player versus player (PvP) games employ the feature by way of "slowing down crosshair movement when an enemy enters a certain range of the player's crosshair."^[2] Games also have been noted to include aim assist as a feature that can be toggled off.^[2] An element of aim assist is zoom snapping, which Morgan Park of PC Gamer described as an "invisible force that guides a controller player's reticle to an enemy's head or body when aiming as long as they're looking in the enemy's direction, and keeps the aim locked there for a time".^[4]

Some players have utilized third-party re-mapping programs, a software that spoofs their MnK input to trick a console into thinking they are using a controller. This allows for the player to receive benefits from a mouse's precision and the aim assist setting.^[4][5] In response, developers use anti-cheat software to detect these third party re-mapping programs and have banned players for using them.^[6]

With the rise of games employing crossplay, aim assist began to be more considered by players, developers, and video game media writers. PC players largely use the MnK input,^[7] though the aim assist feature is usually available for all controller players, even when they play on PC platforms.^[1] Such players have expressed feelings that aim assist is an overpowered mechanic, giving controller players an unfair advantage.^[7] Often times, developers of games including the mechanic have "politely ignored" requests to nerf the feature.^[4] Indeed, instances of patches to the feature designed to tone down its perceived advantages, such as with The Finals' 1.4.1 patch in January 2024, are considered rare.^[4] This particular patch addressed zoom snapping and camera magnetism elements of aim assist, as well as prohibiting clients running key remapping programs on PC access to the feature.^[4] The complete disabling of the feature in PC–console crossplay matches has been another response from developers,^[8] though this is not an available route for games that do not present an option for players to disable crossplay.^[7]

Though players have stated concerns about unfair advantages allowed by the tool, aim assist is not considered "cheating".^[1] Players have indeed been noted to actively switch from MnK to controller for competitive advantages.^[8] As an intentional feature of games, the aim assist tool is used in professional esports. After winning the ALGS Year 3 Split 1 Playoffs tournament, the professional Apex Legends player ImperialHal cited his switching to controller as helping improve his play.^[9]

Though it is often discussed in the context of the FPS genre and PvP settings, aim assist has been noted to exist in other types of games. The role-playing game (RPG) Diablo IV, which features player versus environment (PvE) gameplay, has an auto aim system. The feature can be turned off in the game's settings.^[10]

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