Soapbox: Fortnite's Motion Controls Leave a Lot to Be Desired

Epic does constantly make improvements unlike some studios who are allergic to updates

I was looking forward to trying this out then realised the wife and I play together with me playing mostly handheld only to swap if I need charging.

Can't imagine motion while attatched to the system so haven't bothered.
Sigh...

This is where frame rate comes in. Splatoon 2's motion controls were smooth, Fortnite & Doom, not so much.

Motion controls are fully customizable and well implemented. Even friends that own different platforms are in love with the implementation. I fully disagree with the author's opinion.

What do you guys recommend for the setting of Splatoon 2?
And also for Fornite

I agree with the points made, but overall I still feel like I'm a lot better at Fortnite with motion than without it. Sure it's not ideal, but it still allows for higher precision and you can now swiftly aim at jumping enemies.

@loconathan Yeah, I use a very low sensitivity setting too (0.30, 0.30, 0.15 IIRC) and I much prefer that to not having it at all

I certainly think that Alex made some valid points in the video - and, like him, I prefer the way that they are implemented in Splatoon 2...but I'm pretty happy with the way I have it set up now - and any further improvements can only add to these already solid foundations

I don't think they are that bad...

At least we got them!

Give it time, I'm sure Epic will continue to make the controls better.

I just use sticks anyway because it's more comfortable, and I mainly play in handheld mode, so moving the screen about is annoying.

The controls in general stink. Needs more customization and binding options.

How does Doom compare?

Splatoon 2's leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. Can't move the camera on the vertical axis just using the stick if motion is on, and it just doesn't work when you're lying down because the camera will be pointed way up even if you press Y to reset the position.

@DABYX That's how I play, works fine for me

This'll likely have been affected by the frame pacing issues Fortnite exhibits on Switch. Splatoon 2's got a mostly locked 60fps with almost perfect frame pacing for a buttery smooth experience.

A better comparison would be Doom's or Wolfenstein 2's more taxing areas since the gyro performance there would be comparable to Fortnite's.

That said, there are certainly some refinements that can be done to improve Fortnite's gyro performance but I think trying to stabilise the framerate and frame pacing would help alot.

I absolutely love motion control in DOOM on Switch, they did a fantastic job.

Personally, I love Fortnite’s motion controls more than Splatoon.

I like how I can use the right stick to look up and down, even when gyro is on.
In most (or majority) of modern console shooters, the right stick isalways used to look up and down. So having the option to use the right stick for vertical movement is a great addition for me. (TBH I wish Spatoon didn’t disable vertical aiming when motion is on)
The auto adjusting isn’t a big deal (for me) at all. Just use the right stick to re position, and BOOM!

I think you’re just to used Splatoon... if you play a lot of console shooters, then you probably won’t have a problem with Fortnite’s controls at all. But that’s just me 🤔

Works better in handheld mode. Trying to use them when the system is docked and holding a joycon in each hand doesn't work nearly as well.

Also, the game is prone to being laggy, which doesn't help.

The motions controls are great, my settings are .40 .40 and .20 and the fact that to center them all you have to do is aim with the r stick is genius no button pressing needed. I disagree completely.

@TheMadPolarBear I encoutered frame issues too when its down to the final stretches of 50v50 with gyro controls on. So yeah, Im forced to have no gyro, but have gotten a hang of stick controls since then. Really need to fix the framerate issues with gyro when theres so much action happening

I'd say that this is a framerate problem more than anything. Splatoon is a much better game anyway.

Oh, I didn't know it had motion controls now! I almost jumped to get back in the game. Then I saw Alex demonstrating the sniper and died a bit. It's nice of Epic Games to have them implemented so fast, but they surely need another update. However, I'm going try it out later for myself to see if it's as bad as it looks.

@Cosats how would people on other platforms b able to utilize motion?

After the several victories I have had using normal controls I don't see any reason to need motion controls, hopefully they improve them for those that require them. This game has aim assist while Splatoon 2 doesn't as far as I know so they are much less needed.

Objectively Fortnite’s motion controls are less accurate than Splatoon’s. There is a fair bit of dead space, so if your trying to shoot someone at a distance then Fortnite’s motion controls don’t recognize your very fine movements. Splatoon is buttery smooth even when making a very small adjustment to your aim.

Can anyone in this thread tell me if Splatoon 2's motion controls are buttery smooth?

I’ve set the Fornite motion controls at .35 .35 and .25, and haven’t turned off aim assist. I have used motion in Splatoon 2, Wolfenstein and Doom on their default settings which are right in the middle (I think). Maybe it’s the fact they don’t work as well when they’re cranked up to the 80s or 90s?

PS anybody mentioning motion controls with split joy cons? I’m thinking that isn’t how they’re designed to work? I think you’d want to put the joy cons in a grip

@Moonlessky I agree. I find it genius as well. I wish centering via the right stick was possible in Splatoon

The reason Splatoon 2's motion controls feel "smoother" is because of the FPS. 60 fps is naturally going to feel smoother than 30, thats a given. But that doesnt mean Fortnite's motion controls are worse by any means.

Honestly, Splatoon 2 is the one that could learn from Fortnite. Not the other way around. Fortnite offers more control customization options and has better friend connectivity options too. Why is "Team Turfwar" not an option? Oh wait, gotta save that game mode exclusively for Splatfests for some reason. And don't even get me started on Salmon Run. Lol

Don't get me wrong I love Splatoon as much as the next guy but if you stop and look at these games objectively, you'll see that Fortnite is hands down the superior multiplayer experience

@Switch_will_fail Most of what you said is irrelevant to the conversation - which is strictly comparing the motion controls. I do agree with you, the major difference is due to the frame rate. However, when making fine adjustments (ADS/Sniping) the crosshairs do tend to jump a bit sporadically at times in Fortnite. For me, it's no question which has the better motion controls, even if there are several things Splatoon could learn from Fortnite.

“...that the devs wanna aim for...”

HA!

@roadrunner343 Aiming options are directly related to motion controls. That's about as relevant as you can get. Lol

The friend connectivity issues? Eh, not so much. But I do feel these issues are worth addressing (relevant to the article or not)

@Switch_will_fail I said "most" - and considering the next two paragraphs were completely unrelated to motion controls, that is accurate. There's not much sense in comparing other aspects of the games here.

@roadrunner343 yeah, I guess you're right

@derty ANSWER TO MESSAGE #29 (somewhere up there)
I mean friends of mine that own other platforms but have tried the motion controls on my Nintendo Switch.

@NINTENDOLIFE Change this paleolithic comments system.

I'm glad they added them and I play way better now with them on especially coming from Splatoon. With updates I think they'll get better, cause they seem very wobbly at the moment.

BS

You have THREE sensitivity sliders for motion controls on Fortnite, when this feature was added FINALLY I was able to steady my aim, breathe and shoot to kill.

If Splatoon 2 does the gyro better well... Splatoon 2 is a better game overall ¯(ツ)/¯

they should add a switch to turn off gyro controls for anything with a scope (for example bolt action sniper rifle)

I am in the seeming minority of Switch fans who really has no interest in motion controls. Yes, I even play Splatoon without them. Over 90 hours. Call me old fashioned.

But on this issue, Splatoon is a lovingly crafted masterpiece of a game designed with motion control in mind. Fortnite is a widely popular fad whose popularity isn't even based around its original gameplay idea. Motion controls are yet still, another after thought. And to my knowledge, Epic Games hasn't really worked with motion controlled games much, if at all, before. I quickly skimmed a list of their games and nothing stands out in that regard. So it seems silly to expect them to get it right on the first, or first serious, try.

@Equinox I hear quite a few people say that.. my entire friend group has moved to higher levels of play and we're all adults. when you play in squads with adult humor and jokes being thrown around, it's a great time. I respect the crowd that doesn't latch onto this game though.

The big difference is Splatoon started production a long time ago and used motion controls from the start. It wasn't released on any other platform before needing converting. Add that to it being a big budget AAA game released for full retail price.

Fortnite is Epic's first FPS to use motion controls (not Nintendo's... ) And are doing so for motion controls designed by another company (Splatoon has the luxury of being made by the same company that makes the platform and the motion controls) and on a game that was created for a different platform. It has been out a matter of weeks, and isn't finished. It is a "live" service.

To cast shade this early on is a joke. And a little bit silly. By that standard we should judge children harshly "what do you mean you cannot use calculus and differentiation to find the optimal cuts to make the biggest box! You're 8! A 24 year old degree level engineer could! Your first attempt was rubbish!"

Instead people should be thankful they are trying, as I personally wouldn't. I find the idea of using motion controls as a gimmick and in solo game, it's fine. But in a team player based game (squads) an idiot with motion controls can let the team down. And then there is this idea that it's better... It really isn't. It's like analogue sticks... They are great and all... But the top Street Fighter/MK/etc players still use D pads or fight sticks. Not analogue thumbsticks.

I think it is great for people with disabilities. And needed. But for every day use? I think it is a gimmick and there is a reason that Sony, MS and the PC market havent brought in motion for online FPS.

The irony is that if you wanted to be at your best you'd call for Ninty to release a keyboard and mouse. And don't say about handheld, because using motion in handheld mode is just dumb if you live anywhere with sunlight.

I didn't really like FN's gyro controls for two reasons.

1. Input delay is too much imo, because of this it feels so sluggish and imprecise.

2. There's an invisible low res grid that makes it impossible to aim at certain pixels at distance. Like if i'm trying to aim at an enemy and my crosshair is 3-4 pixels to the right, i then naturally try to make slight adjustments, it then jumps past the enemy and now it's 3-4 pixels to the left, like there's nothing in between.

I'm sure they'll work on it to make it better.