Fast flicks that stop short and slow mouse movements that turn further point to mouse smoothing and negative acceleration in Arc Raiders. Correcting this makes your aim feel consistent, so the same swipe on your pad always gives the same turn in-game.
Arc Raiders mouse smoothing fix via GameUserSettings.ini
Arc Raiders on PC uses Unreal Engine and applies mouse smoothing by default without an in‑game toggle. You can override this by adding specific lines to the game’s configuration file so the engine stops adjusting your input behind the scenes.
Before you start: Close Arc Raiders completely. If the game is running while you edit the file, it can overwrite your changes when it exits.
File path you need:
C:\Users\[YOUR_USERNAME]\AppData\Local\PioneerGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient\GameUserSettings.iniEdit GameUserSettings.ini to disable mouse smoothing
Step 1: Open the Windows Run dialog with Win + R.
This shortcut opens a small box where you can quickly jump to folders and tools without navigating through File Explorer.
Step 2: Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
The %localappdata% command takes you directly to your local application data folder, which is where Arc Raiders stores its config files.
Step 3: Open the PioneerGame folder.
This folder contains all local Arc Raiders data for your Windows account, including saves and configuration.
Step 4: Go to Saved → Config → WindowsClient.
These subfolders narrow you down to the client‑specific configuration that the game reads when it launches.
Step 5: Locate GameUserSettings.ini and open it in a text editor.
You can use Notepad, but a code editor such as Notepad++ makes the file easier to read and reduces the risk of formatting mistakes.
Step 6: Add an input settings section that disables mouse smoothing and view acceleration.
If the file does not already contain an input settings section, add the following lines at the end of the file:
[/script/engine.inputsettings]
RawMouseInputEnabled=Enabled
bEnableMouseSmoothing=False
bViewAccelerationEnabled=FalseIf a [/script/engine.inputsettings] section already exists; place these lines under that header instead of duplicating it.
Step 7: Save the file and close your editor.
Make sure the file remains saved as .ini and not as a text file with a different extension; otherwise, the game will ignore it.
Step 8: Launch Arc Raiders and test your mouse input in a safe area or practice range.
Move your mouse slowly across your pad until your character completes a full 360° turn, then note how far you moved. Repeat with a fast flick across the same distance. With smoothing and acceleration disabled, both movements should produce almost the same rotation instead of the fast flick turning less.
If the input still feels inconsistent after this change, continue with the polling‑rate section below, as some players report that engine behavior can still create negative acceleration at high report rates.
Arc Raiders negative mouse acceleration fix by changing polling rate
Negative mouse acceleration in Arc Raiders appears most clearly when using high mouse polling rates (for example, 1000 Hz and above). At very high report rates, the engine can scale down your turn on fast swipes, so big flicks rotate less than slow drags that travel the same distance.
Adjusting the mouse’s polling rate smooths out this behavior for many players. The polling rate (also called report rate) is how many times per second the mouse sends its position to the PC.
Change polling rate in your mouse software
Step 1: Open your mouse’s configuration software.
Use the official app for your device, for example, the vendor’s suite that you already use to set DPI, lighting, and button binds.
Step 2: Find the polling‑rate or report‑rate setting.
This is usually listed in Hz with options such as 125, 250, 500, 1000, or for some mice up to 8000.
Step 3: Lower the polling rate to 250 Hz or below and apply the change.
Several players report that 250 Hz or lower significantly reduces or removes negative acceleration in Arc Raiders, so aim for 250 Hz as a starting point. If you have issues at 500–1000 Hz, this change typically makes fast flicks register more fully.
Step 4: Re‑open Arc Raiders and repeat the slow‑drag vs fast‑flick test.
If your 360° test now produces nearly identical turn angles for slow and fast swipes, the new polling rate is working better with the engine.
Alternative polling‑rate tweaks via Windows mouse settings
Some devices or drivers limit how low you can set the polling rate in the vendor software. In that case, a simple sensitivity shift can still improve control.
Step 1: Open Windows mouse settings from the Start menu.
Search for “mouse settings” and open the panel where you can adjust primary button, cursor speed, and related controls.
Step 2: Lower the Windows pointer speed slider significantly.
Reducing this to a low value (for example, close to the minimum) cuts how far the cursor moves per input report, which can reduce the effect of engine‑side scaling when paired with a higher DPI.
Step 3: Increase DPI in your mouse’s software to compensate.
Raise DPI until your in‑game sensitivity feels similar to what you used before. This trades some Windows‑level gain for sensor‑level precision, which several players report allows them to keep very high polling rates (even up to 8000 Hz) while still avoiding severe deceleration.
After this adjustment, go back into Arc Raiders and test again with both slow tracking and fast flicks to confirm your new balance feels stable.
Quick comparison of Arc Raiders mouse input fixes
The table below summarizes the main changes you can make and what type of mouse issue each one addresses.
| Method | What you change | Main problem it targets | What you should notice after |
|---|---|---|---|
| GameUserSettings.ini edit. | Add input settings block to disable smoothing and view acceleration. | Built‑in mouse smoothing and acceleration applied by Unreal Engine. | Cursor movement feels 1:1, with no extra “glide” or slowdown at the end of a swipe. |
| Lower polling rate. | Reduce mouse report rate to about 250 Hz or less. | Negative acceleration when using 500–1000 Hz and above. | Fast flicks rotate roughly the same distance as slow swipes over the same pad distance. |
| Windows pointer speed + higher DPI. | Lower Windows cursor speed and raise DPI in mouse software. | Severe deceleration at very high polling rates that cannot be lowered easily. | Aim feels consistent while still running 1000 Hz or more on supported mice. |
Testing whether Arc Raiders mouse input is fixed
After each change, use a simple, repeatable test so you can tell if your tweaks are helping or if you need to adjust further.
Step 1: Load into a safe area or practice mode in Arc Raiders.
A quiet spot with a flat wall makes it easier to track your turns without combat distractions.
Step 2: Pick a reference point on the wall and make a slow 360° turn.
Place your mouse at one edge of your pad, move slowly and steadily until your character completes one full rotation, and note where the mouse stops.
Step 3: Return the mouse to the starting position and perform a fast flick over the same distance.
Swipe quickly from the same starting point to the same stopping point on your pad. Watch how far your character turns.
Step 4: Compare slow and fast turn angles.
If the fast flick turns clearly less than the slow drag, negative acceleration is still present. If the rotation is nearly identical, your configuration is much closer to true 1:1 input.
Step 5: Fine‑tune sensitivity only after input feels consistent.
Once slow and fast movements match, adjust Arc Raiders' sensitivity sliders and your DPI to find a comfortable speed without reintroducing Windows acceleration or other mouse‑side effects.
With the config edit and polling‑rate adjustments in place, Arc Raiders’ mouse input can feel far closer to other competitive shooters, giving you predictable turns on every swipe. Recheck these settings after major patches or driver changes so your aim stays consistent over time.
