Aim assist is available to gamepad users on PC, PS5 and Xbox, with the same values on every platform. It has High, Medium, Low and Disabled settings, with High as the default. It works only while aiming down sights (ADS): it subtly slows aiming input as the reticle approaches a visible enemy. It does not snap to a target, stick to one or track movement. Its intended behavior is range-limited and disabled when an enemy is occluded, although the developer is still investigating an edge case involving some small foliage.
Confirmed behavior at a glance
| Question | Official answer |
|---|---|
| Who receives it? | Players using a gamepad on PC or console |
| Strength options | High, Medium, Low and Disabled |
| Default | High |
| When active | Only while aiming down sights (ADS) |
| What it does | Reduces aiming input speed as aim moves toward an enemy |
| What it does not do | No snap-on, sticky lock or automatic tracking |
| Limits | Limited at range and intended to switch off when the target is occluded |
Who gets aim assist on PC and console?
Team17's published rule is input-based: all players using a gamepad across PC and console receive the feature, and the same values are used on both platforms. Under that rule, a PC player on a controller qualifies; a mouse-and-keyboard player does not.
The second sentence is an inference from the official eligibility rule, not a separate promise about every possible input-remapping tool. This guide covers normal, supported inputs only.
When does aim assist activate?
It is active only while ADS. The official explanation says it subtly reduces the player's aiming input speed as aim moves toward an enemy, helping fine adjustment without moving the reticle for the player.
There is no snap when ADS begins, no sticky lock and no automatic tracking of a moving target. Because the developer says it is active only while ADS, ordinary hip-fire movement is outside the published behavior.
High, Medium, Low or Disabled?
The official material names four tiers but does not publish numerical strength values. That means there is no evidence-based universal “best sensitivity” combination. Use the labels as a calibration ladder:
- High: the default and the strongest named tier; start here if you want the most slowdown the normal setting offers.
- Medium: a middle option if High interferes with deliberate corrections.
- Low: keeps the feature enabled with the lightest named level.
- Disabled: the clean baseline for players who want no aim-assist slowdown.
Does crossplay make console aim assist stronger?
No stronger console value has been announced. Team17 explicitly says the same aim-assist values apply to gamepad users on PC and console. Crossplay therefore changes who can share a server, not the published strength table.
The official pre-launch Q&A also says server owners can configure full crossplay, PC-only or console-only access and that players can filter for their preferred platform experience. Availability still depends on the servers currently listed.
Why can foliage appear to trigger it?
The intended rule is that aim assist turns off when an enemy is occluded. Community Update #1 identified a specific exception under investigation: some smaller foliage has no physical collision, so the physics check used by the system cannot always identify that foliage as an obstruction.
The developer says simply adding collision to every affected plant is not viable because of performance and memory costs. This is a known implementation issue—not evidence that the system is designed to see through walls—and the official status remains Under Investigation. Patch 1.2 did not announce a completed foliage solution, so this page will not describe it as fixed.
A sensible setup process
- Choose High, Medium, Low or Disabled before changing other aiming controls.
- Compare visible targets while ADS; do not use foliage behavior as your calibration test.
- Keep controller sensitivity and dead-zone values unchanged during the comparison.
- Play several matches before moving one tier up or down.
- If a setting does not persist, check the latest official patch notes before applying unrelated configuration-file edits.
Frequently asked questions
Is there aim assist on PC?
Yes, for players using a gamepad, according to the official rule.
Does it snap onto enemies?
No. Team17 explicitly says it does not snap, stick to a target or automatically track movement.
Can it detect enemies behind foliage?
It is intended to disable when the enemy is occluded. Some small foliage lacks collision and can defeat that check; the developer is investigating a more complex solution.
What is the best setting?
There is no official universal best. High is the default; Medium, Low and Disabled are legitimate choices based on how much slowdown you want.
Bottom line
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam uses a restrained ADS slowdown for supported gamepad players, not an automatic lock. Start with High because it is the official default, then reduce it only if the slowdown fights your corrections. Treat the foliage behavior as an open technical issue and check future official notes for a confirmed resolution.