This steam announcement right there is hyping up a bunch of tech upgrades, and "sub-frame mouse polling" is one aimed squarely at folks like us who rely on precise mouse control for aiming. It's not aim assist (more on that in a sec), but it will make your shots feel snappier and more accurate. Let me explain how it works and why it'll help.
Quick Basics: How Mouse Input Normally Works in Games
- Your mouse sends "polls" (updates) to your PC super frequentlyâmost gaming mice do this at 1000Hz (like my logitech G502x), meaning every 1 millisecond (ms).
- In a typical game, the engine only checks (or "samples") that input once per frame. If you're running at 60 FPS, that's one check every ~16.7ms. Any mouse movement in between? It gets ignored or lumped into the next frame, which can feel a tiny bit "steppy" or delayed, especially during fast flicks or tracking enemies.
- Result: Slight imprecision in super-quick aiming scenarios, like 180-degree turns or micro-adjustments.
What is "Sub-Frame Mouse Polling"?
- "Sub-frame" just means below or within a single frame. This feature lets the game engine sample your mouse input multiple times per frameânot just once at the start/end, but throughout the entire render cycle (e.g., 4â8 times or more, depending on your setup).
- It pulls in those extra polls from your mouse (at its full 1000Hz speed) and smartly interpolates (blends) them into the game's movement calculations. Think of it like upgrading from a flipbook to a smooth video: the game now "sees" and reacts to your tiniest twitches in real-time, even if the screen isn't updating that fast.
- From Activision's announcement: It's specifically called out as "increased mouse precision for aiming," and it's a PC-exclusive tweak for Black Ops 7.
How This Helps You as an M&K Player
- Smoother, More Responsive Aiming: No more "lost" movements between frames. Your crosshair will track exactly where your hand goes, making hip-fire sprays, ADS (aim down sights) transitions, and enemy tracking feel buttery. It's especially noticeable in high-stakes modes like Warzone or multiplayer where split-second precision wins gunfights.
- Reduced Input Lag: That sub-1ms polling granularity cuts down on the tiny delays that add up in intense play. If you've ever felt your aim "stick" or overcorrect in older CoDs, this smooths it out without changing your sensitivity settings.
- Better for High-Refresh Setups: Pairs perfectly with 144Hz+ monitors, but it works independently of your frame rate or refresh rateâit's all about raw input fidelity.
it's all about raw input fidelity
- Real-World Impact: Players testing early builds (or similar tech in other games) report it feels like "aiming with silk gloves"âfaster flicks without jitter, and easier to land headshots on the move. It's a quality-of-life win for competitive M&K users, leveling the playing field against controller players who already get rotational aim assist.
it's [...] leveling the playing field against controller players who already get rotational aim assist.
Is It Aim Assist for Mouse Players?
Nope, not at all! Aim assist is that controller perk where the game magnetically "sticks" your reticle to targets (slow-down or rotational help). This is purely mechanicalâno AI or auto-correction involved. It's just the game respecting your mouse hardware better, like giving your inputs VIP access instead of economy seating. CoD tried to be fair on that front for M&K, and this keeps it that way while making us feel even more in control.
If you're tweaking settings, I'd recommend starting with your usual DPI/sens and enabling this in the input options (it should be toggleable - we'll see about that soon enough !) : 'can't wait to frag with you in it â ïž.
