Get Your Hands in the Game, Soldier!
Arma Reforger update 1.2.1 has brought a significant overhaul to the control scheme on both the Xbox Gamepad and keyboard&mouse. It has also introduced new features with the PlayStation 5 release and the implementation of its DualSense controller. What's new? What's changed? And what were the reasons behind the changes?
Keyboard & Mouse Changes
Terms:
LMB - Left Mouse Button
RMB - Right Mouse Button
MMB - Middle Mouse Button
ADS - Aiming Down Sights
Ctrl - Control
Focus - The ability to zoom in by holding RMB or aiming down sights
Changes:
Switching between scopes and iron sights (previously Ctrl+RMB)
MMB press while ADS
Toggling reticle illumination (previously Ctrl+MMB)
MMB hold while ADS
This change happened for two reasons. Firstly, they are now exclusive and can be user-remappable without the need to resort to a Hold+Button combo. Secondly, your Ctrl+Scroll to adjust your stance no longer affects your other abilities. Before the update, whenever you wanted to adjust your stance while ADS and focusing on a target further away your character would lose focus and zoom out. That is no longer the case in 1.2.1 and you can freely adjust your stance while staying focused.
Speaking of your Focus ability, you can now adjust the intensity of it when looking through a PIP (Picture-In-Picture) scope. Previously you were able to change your focus intensity while in ADS for iron sights only (It was 50% by default) and PIP scopes were 100% focused at all times. Now you can utilize a new slider in the settings allowing you to change your focus intensity while ADS with a PIP scope. This lets you see what is going on around you without having to lose sight of your target just like you could with iron sights up until now. And just like with iron sights you can, of course, still focus fully to 100% by holding RMB while ADS.
Other notable but important changes include an adjustment to how VON (Voice Over Network) works. You are no longer able to toggle your radio channel to stay open indefinitely. This avoids the issue of having players unknowingly transmit everything in their vicinity to everyone in the platoon. Double tapping Caps Lock now instead switches between your two pre-selected channels (Squad and Platoon by default). The only voice chat that can be now toggled to a constant open mic is proximity voice chat (T 2x).
The next change should be welcomed by all the pilots out there. You can no longer turn the engine off by accidentally pressing R. The action now requires you to Hold Ctrl and press R to prevent mid-flight crashes.
Xbox Controller Changes
The list of Xbox controller changes is extensive and it may require some relearning for Arma Reforger veterans. However, you can switch to the Legacy control scheme in the settings if the original way of playing is preferable to you. The main reasons for the changes were to simplify the amount of inputs needed for basic actions as well as to make room for future functions in the upcoming updates. The game's controls are now more in line with industry standards whilst staying true to the complexity and freedom of Arma sandbox.
Terms:
LS - Left Stick
RS - Right Stick
LB - Left Bumper
RB - Right Bumper
D-Pad - Directional Pad
Key changes to improve consistency with industry standards:
Added quick weapon switch on Y.
Added lean toggle while aiming to LS and RS.
Swapped Map and Inventory/Quick Slots - DPad Right and View.
We also reduced the number of combos requiring your hand to cross the center of the controller or fingers to move away from the sticks.
Specifically, Menu combos for game mode controls were very uncomfortable due to the button being far on the right side.
Quick slot selection is now easier to activate without moving the hand around the controller as it was moved to D-Pad Right.
Other improvements:
Switching grenade launcher, bipod, optics or sight illumination no longer requires a combo.
The fire mode switch is no longer sharing the button with Freelook. Instead, D-Pad Left click switches fire mode, hold to select grenade launcher or toggle bipod.
Pressing and holding Right Stick to adjust stance has been moved to hold A, together with resting weapon, to make it easier to activate.
The improvements come at some cost, however. A couple more changes that can be seen as drawbacks:
The sight illumination and optics are now exclusive controls. It forced a change in the default keyboard control scheme as well to prevent obstruction of stance and lean adjustment controls.
Zoom controls moved to RB + D-Pad Up/Down, so that fire mode or quick slots are not obstructed while aiming.
Reload requires an initial delay on a gamepad to prevent accidental usage when picking up items.
The wristwatch is no longer bound by default; it can be activated from inventory or bound to another combo.
New Control Scheme Summary
Controls Added:
Focus toggle: RB 2x
Inventory: View + D-Pad 1x/2x
Alternate selection combo for slots 4-10, and ability to bind orders to slots 5-10 using D-Pad 1x/2x
Toggle lean left/right while aiming: LS/RS while aiming down sight
Switch weapon: Y (Switch between slot 1 and 2), Y 2x (Equip sidearm)
Cycle squad/platoon transceiver: LB + B
Controls Changed:
Toggle perspective (First person to third person) changed to Menu Hold
Game Master ping changed to View + Y
Perform action from Y to X
VON (Radio)
Select direct/radio talk on LB Click has been replaced with Toggle voice that supports only direct talk now
Push to talk on LB Hold now supports only currently selected radio transceiver
Unified action to toggle long-range radio, acts as toggle both on gamepad and on keyboard. Default: LB + A
Quick slots
Direct bindings for weapons removed from View + XYAB. Use Switch weapon on Y 1x/2x
Increased radial quick slots menu capacity from 6 to 7 items
Inventory, Quick slots, and Quick slots (radial) changed to D-Pad Right
Commanding changed to D-Pad Right + LB
Open the gestures menu changed to D-Pad Right + RB
Unequip changed to D-Pad Right + A
Drop changed to D-Pad Right + B
Inventory
LB/RB is now reserved by an opened container if there are multiple pages, so the Push to talk will not be broadcast while traversing the arsenal
Items
Put away changed to Y
Inspect changed to to Y Hold
Inspect turn changed to to Y Click
Use an item changed to to Right Trigger
Flashlight Toggle changed to D-Pad Up
Compass changed to D-Pad Down 2x
Character
Adjust stance and Adjust lean modifier changed from RS to Hold A
Weapon
Cycle fire modes changed to D-Pad Left
Select grenade launcher changed to D-Pad Left Hold
Toggle bipod changed to D-Pad Left Hold
Safety changed to LS + D-Pad Left Hold
Lower weapon changed to Left Thumb 2x
Raise weapon added to Left Trigger
Rest weapon changed to Hold A
Melee changed to Right Thumb
Repin grenade changed to Y
Switch weapon optics and Toggle illumination changed to D-Pad Right
Zoom in + Zoom out moved to RB + DPad Up/Down, using RB modifier consistently with Alt + Mousewheel
Turret's next weapon changed to D-Pad Left
Vehicle
Start the engine and stop the engine changed to Y
Lights and High beam lights moved to D-Pad Up, freeing D-Pad Left for advanced controls in the future
Helicopter
Freelook is not forced on a gamepad by default so the helicopter can be controlled with the right stick
Cyclic moved to RS to accommodate for pilot controlled weapons in the future
Antitorque moved to LS Horizontal, freeing triggers for weapon controls
Collective moved to LS Vertical
Wheel brakes moved to A
Taxi lights and Landing lights moved to D-Pad Up, freeing D-Pad Left for weapon controls in the future
Engine start default binding changed to Y Hold
Engine stop default binding changed to Left Stick Down + Y
Controls Removed:
The wristwatch from D-Pad Up 2x
Sony DualSense Controller Features
Sony's DualSense controller brings immersive new features by delivering a more natural and tactile gameplay experience, especially for players unable to use a keyboard and mouse. The three main improvements come in the form of adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and motion controls.
Adaptive Triggers
The triggers (or L2 and R2 buttons) are built to simulate weapon triggers when implemented well. Arma Reforger utilizes the built-in tension motors with each weapon type or vehicle uniquely to immerse you even more. When it comes to firing a weapon the trigger has multiple states depending on the type of the weapon and its current status.
If the weapon is empty or not charged the trigger is loose with no tension as would a real trigger. This tells you you either need to reload your weapon or rack the charging handle to chamber a round without having to rely on the HUD elements. The exception is the GP25 UGL for the AK-74 as its double-action trigger has tension even when the grenade launcher is empty.
If the safety is engaged the trigger's resistance is set to maximum to restrict you from pressing it. The real weapon's trigger is also locked forward when the safety is engaged. Disengage the safety or change the fire mode to be able to fire. The only weapon with a loose trigger, when safety is engaged, is the Vz. 58 which disconnects the trigger from the firing mechanism.
When you have a round in the chamber, the weapon is ready to fire, and safety is disengaged the trigger will now behave accordingly:
Wall
Tension appears with individual levels depending on the weapon type used
Creep
Trigger movement with tension for a stronger pull
Break
Tension disappears, the weapon fires, the trigger is fully pressed
Slap
Trigger slightly recoils with each shot
Reset
Disengage the trigger past the Wall to be able to take another shot if your weapon is semi-automatic or burst.
The adaptive triggers also react differently to vehicle types when you're using the brake or the accelerator.
Haptic Feedback
The haptic motors inside the DualSense controller allow for extremely precise vibrations and force feedback in localized spots across the controller. This allows us to immerse you even more with incoming gunfire or distant explosions.
Motion Controls
DualSense controller comes with integrated motion sensors, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer for precise location and rotation speed of the controller. This has been utilized in Arma Reforger in multiple ways. Firstly you are now able to freely aim your weapon by simply naturally moving your hand without even needing to touch the right analog stick. After a few minutes of practice, it'll become a natural way of aiming to improve your speed and accuracy. Analog stick aiming does have its drawbacks compared to mouse and keyboard for some players. The ability to aim using the motion controls is a perfect way to bridge the gap.
Another benefit of motion controls is the ability to use the Freelook ability without needing to resort to holding a specific button or losing the right stick. This will come especially handy in not only land vehicles but also helicopters. You can freely look around you and toggle various switches inside the cockpit whilst keeping the ability to fully control the helicopter.
Should you ever need to stop the motion sensor temporarily or if you need to reset your controller's position all you need is to touch the touchpad in the middle of the controller. As long as you keep touching it, the motion sensor is paused.
Motion controls can be customized to your liking with a specific set of dedicated settings to cater to your exact preferences. Parameters like Motion sensor sensitivity, Precision speed, Acceleration speed, and Smoothing speed ensure you make the controller your own.
Make the Game Your Own
As you can see, the control mechanics of Arma Reforger have changed and improved in a major way on all platforms bringing more options, allowing for even more impressive future updates, and allowing for a level of personalization to truly make the experience cater to your expectations. And for the first time in history PC, Xbox, and PlayStation players can join ranks together and immerse themselves in the world of Arma.
See you on Arland or Everon!
