The Finals aim assist nerfed after weeks of whining

Popular free-to-play multiplayer FPS The Finals is heavily nerfing aim assist for controller users. Currently seen as a major issue against PC players, developer Embark Studios is looking into resolving the problem.

The Finals aim assist has been a major cause for concern in the game. Using “zoom snapping”, controller users could quickly engage and disengage the aim-down-sights mechanic to easily track targets on the move.

As of The Finals patch 1.4.1, aim assist on controller has been massively nerfed. While Zoom Snapping and aim assist is still present in the game, it's been made more reasonable to create a more balanced experience for all.

Take a look at the patch notes below:

• Zoom Snapping Angular Velocity now has a max cap, preventing unintended rapid 90-degree turns.
• Camera Magnetism will be reduced to 35% from 50%, making player aim less sticky and lowering controller accuracy.
• Zoom Snapping Time will be reduced to 0.25s from 0.3s.
• Zoom Snapping will be removed from the SR-84 Sniper Rifle, Revolver, LH1, and all Shotguns, as it buffs them more than other weapons.
• Aim assist will ignore invisible players, fixing a bug with the existing system.
• Clients running key remapping programs on PC will not have access to aim assist.

Alongside zoom snapping, Embark Studios is aiming to kill the rising use of remapping cheaters playing the free-to-play FPS game. With the use of remappers, mouse and keyboard players have been able to achieve controller-quality aim assist by tricking the game.

Aim assist has been a long-time feature of console games all the way back to 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved. It’s a great system for controller users that has only become controversial following the rise of cross-play against PC, which offers more precise aiming by default.

The existence of aim assist in The Finals isn’t an issue, and as someone who’s now played a healthy amount of it, I haven’t felt myself at an advantage or disadvantage due to the system. However, cheaters using remappers to bring aim assist to mouse and keyboard is a huge issue, and is gladly being combatted.

The Finals is available to play for free right now on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.