What’s up Respawni would like to inquire about mouse and keyboard plug ins specifically on Xbox and Ps4. I play Xbox and I’m currently playing diamond ranked with the top pred teams in the game. I’ve found that some of the top players I encounter have snap like aim and much to my demise I’m playing with these teams every game. I believe that mouse and keyboard plug in on console is cheating to a severe degree considering the consistency to aim and aim assist that one gains from using said plug in. The fact of the matter is I can confirm that the top preds are using this advantage and hope that you look into this sooner than later. Please get back to me with an official stance on this situation because your announcement on dashers came far to late, and this situation is much more serious as it heavily interferes with the gameplay experience for those playing fair and using controllers.

@Condor442Respawn has stated clearly in a check-in post last July that they didn’t condone mouse and keyboard use on consoles. And they were investigating ways to detect if players were doing it.You can read the full post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/apexlegends/comments/cffkqb/719_respawn_checkin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmfThey also said that they would revisit it. I’m still waiting for the implementation of the detection mechanism.

@Lausekittel Unfair advantage = cheatingTwo inherent unfair advantages of using mouse and keyboard I can think of are:1. Strafing (The so-called ADAD movements)Because thumb sticks are spring loaded, controller players need to combat the spring force to push the thumb stick to one side. When pushing the stick to the other side, the stick would first snap to the center, which makes it much more difficult to smooth out the movement, then they need to combat the spring force to push the stick to the other side.Because of the spring force, it takes much more effort and time to strafe using a controller. On the other hand, strafing using a mouse is much more agile and smoother. It’s just a matter of spamming A and D.As a result, controller players have no chances to match the movement of a strafing m & k players.2. Snap turnsBecause mouses are not spring loaded, mouse movement is much more accurate than thumb stick movement. Anyone can swipe a mouse across a mouse pad in no time. But the travel distance of a thumb stick is extremely restricted.This is another obvious inherent advantage.

@DeathRaven_1983I agree that a m&k player has a natural advantage against a casual controller player. But an experienced controller player can equal this out. There are many settings in the game to have a much more direct movement and response. Like dead zone, movement speed etc.Further more, the m&k emulate the controller on the console. It does not feel the same like it does on PC.Respawn could include the support and could implement hardware based matchmaking.

Let's be absolutely clear, it is cheating.Anyone trying to debate otherwise, no matter how passive, is doing so because more than likely they are using one. Ignoring the comments about the XIM forums for a moment (which is not a true indicator) go on eBay and look for the XIM Apex. Any listing, you will notice sales in the hundreds, that's just for that listing, and most of the time there's a few live at once. Often a listing ends, a new one goes up, and once again, sales in the hundreds in hours. I own an eBay store, and ever since they have appeared I've been keeping track of their sales, both in the US & UK ( i'm a multi platform gamer I have a gaming pc as well as PS4 Pro and Xbox 1 etc) in disgust. You can also check comments on one of the many Youtube videos showing people using them, or forums from various cheat forums (where scripts can be added to the XIM on PC, yes people use XIM on Apex PC to abuse aim assist).Ever since the XIM has appeared, any competitive FPS on console with ranking has players using it. They pay $100 for it FOR A REASON, and it's not just because "they can't use a pad".XIM users have been getting away with using that kit for far too long now. There needs to be more effort involved to detecting it's use, and keeping it up to date as the seller of the kit tries to get round protection each time.The sellers of XIM know precisely why it's being purchased, they market it as such and big up the advantage you have.

If you feel like you are at a disadvantage, then why don't you go use a mouse and keyboard yourself to even out the playing field? Seems like the easiest solution to me. complaining that people are using mouse and keyboard seems to be the same to me as complaining that people are using Scuff controllers or back paddle attachments. It just seems to be moot to me.

Is Mouse & Keys On Console Cheating?

35 Replies

TheFecesLord
6 years ago
@F1YBYN1GHT wrote:
What’s up Respawn
i would like to inquire about mouse and keyboard plug ins specifically on Xbox and Ps4. I play Xbox and I’m currently playing diamond ranked with the top pred teams in the game. I’ve found that some of the top players I encounter have snap like aim and much to my demise I’m playing with these teams every game. I believe that mouse and keyboard plug in on console is cheating to a severe degree considering the consistency to aim and aim assist that one gains from using said plug in. The fact of the matter is I can confirm that the top preds are using this advantage and hope that you look into this sooner than later. Please get back to me with an official stance on this situation because your announcement on dashers came far to late, and this situation is much more serious as it heavily interferes with the gameplay experience for those playing fair and using controllers.
Shouldn't be, as the device is made specific to those with special needs. But you'd probably have to read through the million page terms of service to get an answer, since they only pick and choose topics to respond to.
Condor442
6 years ago
If you feel like you are at a disadvantage, then why don't you go use a mouse and keyboard yourself to even out the playing field? Seems like the easiest solution to me. complaining that people are using mouse and keyboard seems to be the same to me as complaining that people are using Scuff controllers or back paddle attachments. It just seems to be moot to me.
DeathRaven_1983
6 years ago
@Condor442Respawn has stated clearly in a check-in post last July that they didn’t condone mouse and keyboard use on consoles. And they were investigating ways to detect if players were doing it.

You can read the full post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/apexlegends/comments/cffkqb/719_respawn_checkin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

They also said that they would revisit it. I’m still waiting for the implementation of the detection mechanism.
Lausekittel
6 years ago
The problem is, that apex on console has no native mouse and keyboard support. That means players with those devices use adapters to make it work. That also means that the console thinks it's a controller and gives them additional aim assist.
Of mouse and keyboard would be supported natively, it would be like on PC. controller players get aim assist, mouse and keyboard don't.
If you use such devices you can be a fair one and set your ATS and Hip fire to the speed of 8. That disables aim assist.
Devices are never cheating but they give you an advantage. It's like saying "hey, I play with my stereo TV against players with dolby surround headsets, that's cheating!"
It's just a disadvantage.
DeathRaven_1983
6 years ago
@Lausekittel Unfair advantage = cheating

Two inherent unfair advantages of using mouse and keyboard I can think of are:

1. Strafing (The so-called ADAD movements)

Because thumb sticks are spring loaded, controller players need to combat the spring force to push the thumb stick to one side. When pushing the stick to the other side, the stick would first snap to the center, which makes it much more difficult to smooth out the movement, then they need to combat the spring force to push the stick to the other side.

Because of the spring force, it takes much more effort and time to strafe using a controller. On the other hand, strafing using a mouse is much more agile and smoother. It’s just a matter of spamming A and D.

As a result, controller players have no chances to match the movement of a strafing m & k players.

2. Snap turns

Because mouses are not spring loaded, mouse movement is much more accurate than thumb stick movement. Anyone can swipe a mouse across a mouse pad in no time. But the travel distance of a thumb stick is extremely restricted.

This is another obvious inherent advantage.
Lausekittel
6 years ago
@DeathRaven_1983I agree that a m&k player has a natural advantage against a casual controller player. But an experienced controller player can equal this out. There are many settings in the game to have a much more direct movement and response. Like dead zone, movement speed etc.
Further more, the m&k emulate the controller on the console. It does not feel the same like it does on PC.
Respawn could include the support and could implement hardware based matchmaking.
DeathRaven_1983
6 years ago
@Lausekittel We are talking about the advantages of mouse and keyboard use.

There might be controller players who can compete with mouse players. But it doesn’t change the fact that mouse and keyboard players have an unfair advantage over controller players.

True. The emulated mouse and keyboard is not as responsive as their PC counterparts. But they still have a huge advantage over spring loaded controllers.
Zeelmaekers
Hero+
6 years ago
It's currently gray area and just comes up to you.
You can use it but as @DeathRaven_1983 said, they don't want people to use this as this give's an unfair advantage.
Pallo420
6 years ago
The device is called a "XIM". You can view their forums and judging by the number of members, they make up about 0.00001% of all FPS gamers. The overwhelming majority of console players are on controller.
These high level players have snap aim because they have 80+ days into the game and highly tuned muscle memory. That being said there are probably a few M&KB in high level play. I have noticed a few people in the over 4000+ games I have played. Predator lobbies and 50+ s4 wins. It is not as prevalent as people think. Some of the best people I have played with are clearly using a controller.
Usually you can tell by hearing "clacking" sounds if you are on voice chat. And honestly some of those players are terrible. The amount of configurations possible are mind boggling. It is not just plug and play to rekt. Again based off the XIM forums.
DeathRaven_1983
6 years ago
@Pallo420Any source for your statement that only 0.00001% of all FPS gamers using mouse and keyboard adapters?

I’ve said it in my last post. No matter how experienced some controller players maybe, they are still at a disadvantage compared to mouse and keyboard players.

Let me give you a simple example, A clean sprinter might win a race against one using dope, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t at a disadvantage. That’s why doping is forbidden in sports.