Petition to Epic Games: Create a Controller-Only Option in Fortnite to Ensure Fair Competitive Balance

To: Epic Games, Fortnite Development Team

From: Concerned Controller Players of the Fortnite Community

Date: [Insert Date]

Subject: Request for a Dedicated Controller-Only Mode in Fortnite

Dear Epic Games Team,

We, the undersigned members of the Fortnite community, are writing to respectfully petition for the creation of a Controller-Only Mode in Fortnite. As long-standing players and fans of the game, we value the competitive environment Fortnite fosters and appreciate the consistent innovations you bring to the experience. However, we believe there is a growing imbalance in gameplay due to the significant advantages that mouse-and-keyboard (M&K) players possess over those who play using controllers—especially when it comes to speed, precision, and inventory management.

The Core Issue:

Unequal Input Capabilities

Fortnite is known for its cross-platform and cross-input support, which is an amazing technical achievement. However, the mechanical disparity between controllers and M&K cannot be ignored:

Inventory Management & Hotkeys:

M&K players can bind individual weapons and items to specific keys, allowing for near-instant selection of any item in their inventory. Controller players, limited to using a radial or sequential scroll system, must cycle through their inventory or rely on less intuitive button mapping. In fast-paced situations—especially build fights, box fights, and late-game rotations—this input method introduces a tangible disadvantage.

Precision & Editing Speed:

While Epic has worked hard to improve controller support, including the implementation of advanced aim assist, the editing and building speed that M&K players can achieve still far surpasses that of most controller users. The ergonomic limitations of analog sticks and button combinations simply do not allow for the same efficiency.

Customization & Flexibility:

The range of custom inputs available to M&K players extends far beyond what is offered on a controller, making it more difficult for controller users to experiment with playstyles, macros, or high-level strategies.

Why a Controller-Only Mode Matters

We are not asking for M&K to be nerfed, nor do we wish to segregate the community in a way that harms matchmaking health. However, a Controller-Only Mode, whether offered in certain competitive playlists or as an optional matchmaking filter, would provide a more level playing field for controller users to test their skills without being at a mechanical disadvantage.

This approach would:

Encourage new controller players to engage more competitively, knowing they are not inherently outclassed by hardware.

Offer a fair platform for tournaments or events focused on controller input.

Help Epic better balance input methods by gathering targeted data from controller-only matches.

Improve the longevity and diversity of the Fortnite player base by retaining players who feel discouraged by the input disparity.

Suggested Implementation:

An optional matchmaking filter: “Controller-Only Mode”

Can be offered in LTMs, Arena, or custom events

Matchmaking would verify controller input at the lobby level (similar to how some consoles limit input-based lobbies)

Input switching mid-game could be disabled to maintain integrity

Our Vision for a Fairer Fortnite

We believe this petition reflects a growing concern in the community. Fortnite is a game that prides itself on skill, creativity, and competitive integrity. By offering a Controller-Only Mode, Epic Games can reinforce its commitment to fairness across platforms and playstyles, ensuring that all players—regardless of input device—have an equal chance to succeed based on their skill, not their hardware.

We appreciate your consideration of this proposal and hope to see a future in which Fortnite remains a space where everyone can compete on a fair and balanced battlefield.

Sincerely,

Dbl.A.Gaming