Targeting with (Xbox) controller

[mk53v3n]

I can't figure out how to reliably target something with my Xbox controller.

When using the mouse, I can simply click on the object I want to target (e.g. asteroid, capital ship turret etc.).

With the controller, the "B" button should do the same thing - but it doesn't. At least not always.

Sometimes it works (e.g. when targeting an enemy fighter), sometimes it selects something different (e.g. the enemy capital ship instead of its turret that I want to target), and sometimes it doesn't do anything at all (e.g. when trying to target an asteroid).

I did a search and it seems that other players have/had issues with their controller targeting as well. But I never found any solution or explanation for this.

Am I overlooking something? Is this a bug in the game? Or do I really need to use the mouse in addition to my controller in order to reliably target something...?

[FuryoftheStars]

For targeting (from memory), there's target nearest hostile, target nearest object, cycle object targets, cycle surface element targets, and select target at mouse cursor.

The last one is what you're doing with the mouse, and obviously doesn't really work with the controller. There's also no "select target at reticle", which I wish there was, because that would do exactly what I want with the controller, too.

[mk53v3n]

Thanks for the explanation! That explains a lot. I assumed that the target button on the controller would work exactly as the mouse click, i.e., target object under reticle. I'm surprised that this is not the case.

I'm still new to this game so I don't know if this will become more of an issue later on.

But it seems to me that this makes playing with the controller almost impossible, doesn't it? I mean, if there is no way to properly target things while flying the ship...

[FuryoftheStars]

It does make it difficult, yes. For now, because navigating the menus is a pita with the controller to me, I keep my kb/m handy, so when I want to target a specific object, I quick grab the mouse and then press the button on it I assigned to that function. I'll go so far as to press the button on the controller I assigned to pause to give myself more time if needed.

[mk53v3n]

That makes a lot of sense. I already noticed that using the menus with the controller is no fun.

I actually tried keyboard + mouse for flying the ship today, and I was surprised that it actually works pretty well. It's not as comfortable and "immersive" as using a joystick or a controller, but it's overall much easier because targeting works flawlessly and is more accurate, and I don't have to switch between controller and mouse all the time.

It feels somewhat strange playing a space sim with keyboard/mouse, but I guess that's the way to go then.

Thanks for the useful advice again!