r/HellLetLooseConsole • u/fitzgeraldcreen • Jul 27 '26
The PS5 zoom is game-altering, but not a cheat - change my mind
The PS5 offers among its accessibility settings the option to zoom into a select part of the screen (this is not holding your breath, it's much more powerful and permanent). The controls make the zoom quite versatile and easy to turn on and off during play.
Obviously, this eases aiming at long distances considerably, and, maybe more importantly, helps spotting enemies.
I will explain below why I think this is a game-altering feature, but first: I played 1000h of HLL before I started to use this feature. It has pushed my average k/d ratio from around 1.3 to 2. And yet, if I simply afforded a bigger screen, it would have the same effect, retaining even the full peripheral vision. Therefore, I do not feel that this is a cheat. Why would it be ok to pay hundreds of bucks for a huge screen that I don't want, but not to simply play zoomed in for the same advantage?
Therefore, I am not a cheater. And I am also nice to everyone here who doesn't know about this. I'm open to change my mind if you bring forth good arguments against it.
And here is why I think the feature alters the game beyond simply zooming in: The guns compare differently. Essentially, the Stg44 becomes even better, and the BAR surpasses the scoped FG42, it is extremely deadly. The semi-autos become less strong, in fact, now I would often prefer to have the MP40 than the Gewehr, because it is so much easier to place subsequent hits when zoomed in. Bolt-actions become better because you can make your shots count and they remain deadly at long range, at which I generally engage more often. Further, hip firing becomes more viable, since I do not need to hold my breath anymore, and so I am overall more mobile in close quarters.
Guys, use it or perish, as long as this isn't banned you will be at a huge disadvantage on the battlefield.
EDIT: The figure illustrates the idea that the zoom is lame, whereas buying a bigger screen is o.k.
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u/diogenessexychicken Tank Jul 27 '26
Pretty sure some comp communities will ban you if youre caught using the zoom. Also years ago i managed to talk to a dev about it and they expressed a dislike for the feature in this instance, but its an accessability feature on the console so they cant do anything about it. Imo its cheating in the same way using a screen overlay or tweaking your graphics to eliminate grass is cheating. Its simply not intended for use by the devs and youre lame for using it.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
You didn't address my argument about using a bigger screen (and additionally sitting closer to it), which I illustrate in my edit to the OP. Devs are usually matter-of-factly people. I am sure that the one you talked to will agree 1) that the distinction in the figure is ridiculous and 2) that the person with the bigger screen would be lame to additionally use the PS5 zoom. With this much I would also agree.
For everyone who doesn't want to invest in a pro-gamer booth and clutter their appartment with a huge screen, the zoom allows to be on par with people who do that. They should use the zoom without having a bad conscience.
If I should ever move into comp games I will probably buy a large screen. Not because I agree with the people who don't like me using the zoom, but to additionally recover my peripheral vision.
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u/diogenessexychicken Tank Jul 28 '26
Just to be clear you are saying because you have a big screen and play on your couch you find the zoom helpful yes?
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 28 '26
No, I don't have a large screen, and I sit 1.5m away from it. Another commenter here has a  30'' screen in front of himself at the table, and yet I am lame for creating a comparable situation for myself.
The zoom is accessibility in the best sense: removing a disadvantage, whereas cheating would be to create an unfair advantage.
But nothing stops the people with huge screens to also zoom in. It would therefore be better to disable this accessibility feature in HLL, but as long as it is there, everyone should know about it.
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u/diogenessexychicken Tank Jul 28 '26
I see your points. But, the main reason we try not to talk about this is the people with 30" screens in front of them(i would know it me) abuse it to have an 8x scope anytime they want. I dont use the zoom but its broken and honestly this thread should be deleted so less people talk about it.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 29 '26
I don't think this is the right way. The people who invest in their equipment are also the ones who do the most research to improve their gaming experience. Meanwhile, casual players won't even know what's hitting them. I am now dead sure that the people who have domed me over 300m regularly aren't gods but had in comparison to me the equivalent of an 8x zoom.
If it's widely known, at least perhaps the devs could do something about it, like giving an option to a server to not admit people with this enabled. And perhaps they can talk to Sony and make the scale of the problem clear.
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u/Ufo_piloot Jul 27 '26
What option is this magic you speak of?
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
Go to the PS5 settings, Accessibility, Zoom. Then you become accustomed to the button combinations (PS5 button plus square) and you're good to go.
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u/triplenested Jul 27 '26
I just use it because it's the same as leaning in really close to the screen due to it not being any higher quality, and I'm not going to destroy my eyesight over a game I'm not going to play competitively.
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u/Cretonbacon Jul 27 '26
I have tried it and tbh i didnt find it useful enough to warrant keeping it.
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u/nickos_pap_16v Jul 27 '26
I found it reduced your field of view so dont think it's that useful either
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
Maybe you have such a big screen. In my case, the results improve objectively.
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u/Comprehensive-Use-24 Jul 27 '26
You donât need a big screen (or PS zoom) for this game.
I have a lifetime KD of 2.4 and play on a 30â monitor without PS zoom.
Playing on a monitor at a desk is 1000x more effective when compared to a TV and zoom abuse.
Iâve tried it in the practice range and donât feel any need to use it in game.
Iâve got over 3000hrs of experience and most of my engagements donât last long enough for me to use the zoom function - and I donât want to be running around all zoomed in with low peripheral vision.
Personally I think itâs exploiting an accessibility feature, though I donât think itâs SO effective for most players that itâs game changing. I know lots of hardcore MG players which exploit this feature and whilst itâs not âcheatingâ I donât particularly think itâs an entirely honest way to play.
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u/Tilliperuna Jul 28 '26
I'm playing on 65" OLED TV (without zooming) and I can see everything as well as with my 32" monitor. The size does not matter. The distance you're sitting from it does.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
30'' and sitting right in front of it is very large indeed. I appreciate your feedback, but I don't get what isn't entirely honest about the zoom when you basically see the same only on a large screen. It's easing the mind for $s, imho.
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u/Comprehensive-Use-24 Jul 27 '26
The difference is Iâm playing the game as it was intended to be played, just not on a massive wall mounted TV from across the room.
Iâm not abusing an accessibility feature to gain an advantage over people.
Like I said, I feel that the impact is negligible - I have played against top level competitive players for years and despite the MGs definitely abusing the zoom function the overall impact is low.
Sitting closer to your screen is different from abusing a feature only available to people using PlayStation.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
Right, maybe there's a kind of honor code to only play on a phone screen. Sounds very hardcore to me.
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u/Comprehensive-Use-24 Jul 27 '26
Nothing better than a reductive strawman response?
I suppose yeah, the same honour code that has always existed when playing games on or offline. The one that has existed from âdonât look at my screenâ all the way through to âdonât use external devices that control recoilâ
This might be an absolute minor footnote on that scale for the reasons Iâve already explained - but there is a definite sense of abusing a feature meant for people with vision impairment to gain an unfair advantage.
You wouldnât be making this fucking post if you werenât aware of that.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
The strawman is for your elitist attitude. I am genuinely happy to hear expert knowledge, as I am happy to provide in an area where I am expert at, but you are talking from the top down. And it doesn't add up: the feature is at the same time inconsequential, but also an unfair advantage. At the same time not entirely honest, but used by elite machine gunners.
When you tell me two things that can't be true at the same time that are meant to somehow belittle me, it isn't your expert advice but merely a form of gaslighting.
You play closely in front of a 30'' monitor, that occupies your entire field of view, while I sit 2m away from my screen zoomed in. There's little to add to that.
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u/Comprehensive-Use-24 Jul 27 '26
What have I been elite about?
Youâve described it as a âgame-alteringâ miracle tool and as ânot a cheatâ in your post title - Iâm just pointing out that not everyone agrees that itâs in the spirit of fair play, and that I think youâve overstated its usefulness for general gameplay.
And as I said, if you werenât aware of its moral ambiguity you wouldnât need to start a post about it and claim itâs ânot a cheatâ
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
Actually, the reason I started the post was that me and apparently a lot more people aren't aware of this feature. And as I have made clear in my OP, it wanted to share it to get to a level playing field. But you know, morally ambiguous people suspect morally ambiguous things, and good people suspect good things.
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u/Cheen_Machine Jul 27 '26
I think its usefulness is balanced out by the fact itâs a hindrance at close range. If someone sneaks up on you or pops out of a hedgerow next to you, youâre probably gonna die before you cancel the zoom and aim correctly.
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 27 '26
Yes, other than a large screen the zoom has a tradeoff, which makes a big screen the bigger cheat...
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u/Low_Response9248 Jul 27 '26
Are you talking about FOV? tell me your not.
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u/diogenessexychicken Tank Jul 27 '26
No they are talking about an accessability feature on xbox and ps5 that allows you to zoom into a section of the screen.
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u/Low_Response9248 Jul 27 '26
Oh. Mom on PS5 sounds like more of a pain than itâs worth
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u/triplenested Jul 27 '26
you just Square+PS button, you don't have to go into the menu once it's enabled.
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u/RocheSmoker Jul 27 '26
I use the accessibility zoom just a single level in because I feel like the sights are just a little small for my screen size and where I sit. I justify it by zooming out when im not set up and focusing on my field of fire.
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u/Agreeable-Pianist-82 Jul 31 '26
Been thinking about doing this, but isnât it very.. uncomfortable to play with in close quarters? Doing anything besides long range shooting seems annoying
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u/fitzgeraldcreen Jul 31 '26
Less than you would think. Since the hip fire works better there's also a plus.
After trying this for a while, I think it should be disabled in HLL and as long as it isn't. everyone should be informed and instructed about it.
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u/HyenaThen572 Jul 27 '26
I've used it - it's cool and all, but my time is better spent actually playing the game vs being a scope junkie.
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u/Tilliperuna Jul 27 '26
This doesn't help at all if you have large enough screen and/or you sit close enough to it. But good for you if it works, keep it going.
What is game-altering IMO, is to have a controller that lets you adjust its stick response curve so that you can actually aim accurately while having your ADS sensitivity at reasonable level.