Controller Enhancement for Steam AC7

Controller users, stop right there.

Yo

I'm really surprised that no one made a tutorial about this. It's been 3 years since the game came out and PA didn't do s*#t about it. I'll just give away the solution here.

Disclaimer:

This tutorial aims to improve the performance of controller users for Ace Combat 7 on Steam specifically. Method for other platforms is unknown.

*Edit (1/25/2023) : Steam updated their interface to match Steam Deck, which simplified the process a lot, which also means the same method works on Steam Deck as well.

No mods are required.

Controllers known that is available for this method:
Xbox, Xbox elite series 1&2, PlayStation, DualShock, DualSense, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Outcome for unknown controllers are not guaranteed.

Why?

When playing AC7 on consoles, all players have the same input platform: the controller,
so there’s not really a problem. But thanks to PA's "optimization" on PC, keyboard and controller have different experiences.

When keyboard do pitch & roll at the same time, it always has full input on both directions of maneuver.
However when controller tries to do the same maneuver, it only has about 75% of speed comparing to keyboard because the joystick’s input deadzone shape is a CIRCLE.

Issues caused by these different logics are slight in early stage gameplay, but as your skills improve, the issues will become obvious, especially in PSM fights.

This method is meant to extend the upper limit of controller users’ performance. You will still need to learn necessary skills and strategies, and a lot of practice to actually improve.

Another thing before we begin, you can enter the free flight mode in game and configure at the same time; this way you can change certain values while testing it out, so you can get the best setup for yourself.

Alright, let’s get started.

Da Way

1. Connect your contoller to your PC and go to the game page in your Steam library.

2. Make sure you enable Steam Input in game properties.

(Credit to Seth845)

3. Go to "Controller Layout".

or "Controller Configuration" from in-game overlay.

4. On the pop-up window, go to "Edit Layout"

5. Go to the Joysticks tab on the left, and click on the gear icon for the left joystick behavior.

6. On the next page, set Deadzone Type to Custom, and Dead Zone Shape to Square.

6. Save and exit.

Yep, that's it.

That's how easy it is. Now you can be as nimble as keyboard would be.

Stay safe, happy hunting.




by. Asuka Hibiki

[ASideWinder]

Honestly, this is something i noticed a long time ago but never felt the need to make a guide about it, kudos to that buddy
and yea i write this 2 years late, i've been off the game for a long time now huh . . .

[Fuel]

I'm going to add this to Project Wingman and AC: Assault Horizon.

[Monolithic]

Wow I can actually execute High-G turns like the AI now.

[VoidsCalling]

I cant even map the keyboard so Im boned WITHOUT the controller. What the hell!

[nathan67003]

???? How would this make a controller user as "nimble" as a kb user? I've been playing with a DualShock 3 only and I've never had any amount of trouble moving the way I want...

[KingSoloMane]

Mapping WSAD to the D-Pad should provide a correct comparison when testing the Left Stick Pitch & Roll? The user under me also asked a good question OP.

[anobs]

Do I also have to use the same values used in the sliding bar?

[A Disembodied Intelligence]

Just got the game (downloading it now), no idea what most of this means but I plan on playing with a controller so I'll make sure to do exactly this once it's downloaded.

Thanks for the simple to follow guide!

[Alive Deadman]

I can't thank you enough for this info. I went from being a clown inside a plane to being able to dogfight in the harder difficulties.

[KingSoloMane]

Do the slider settings matter? Is your pic default? Steam Deck default is at 22-88