Ubisoft just launched its technical test for Hyper Scape on PC, and while the gameplay is thrilling, you should not try this battle royale with just a controller. It won’t end well for you. Trust me, wait until the console launch later this year.

This isn’t Call of Duty, Fortnite, or even Apex Legends; Hyper Scape is a different beast. It’s just as fast as an arena shooter, like DOOM or Quake. Players zip around like The Flash, and the game is very vertical as opposed to other battle royales, making it almost impossible for controller players to compete on PC. You have to be very accurate in this game and constantly on the lookout for enemies from all vantage points. Hyper Scape is not a forgiving game.

The lock-on process is long and arduous while using a controller, and as you’re trying to be pinpoint accurate, as everyone moves so fast, it is easy to lose a foe. There is a mode within the game that can be voted on by the Twitch audience that makes players’ jumps zero-gravity. In the middle of the air, you’ll be stuck in a deluge of action on screen, and aiming with the thumbsticks is next to impossible. The thumbstick is being moved frantically up, right, left, and down; there’s a lot going on. You have to be snappy, and that can only be done with a mouse. If you wait for the console version, at least everyone will be on the same playing field.

The only saving grace is the D-Tap, which auto-targets your enemies in a wide reticle, but (and this is a big but), the weapon does minimal damage when stacked against an assault rifle from the opposing team.

During one hour of playtime, I had no kills and half a dozen assists. All that was left from that effort was frustration and the wish that a technical test for consoles would be alongside the PC version. Alas, the PS4 and Xbox One will be getting the game later with cross-play enabled. How much later has yet to be determined.

If you’re still curious about the game, you can sign up for the beta, or, like Valorant, watch streamers play it to receive a drop on your Uplay account. Just make sure you have your Uplay connected to your Twitch account and that the streamer has drops enabled. However, only certain regions can gain access to the technical test right now. Those include:

  • Austria Belgium Canada Denmark France Germany Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom USA

Despite not being able to fully enjoy the game with a controller currently, Hyper Scape is incredibly fun with its Twitch integration and constantly changing mechanics to switch up the game. The weapons feel unique in this battle royale space, and the virtual/futuristic graphical style of Hyper Scape feels like a breath of fresh air.