How Cross-Game Sensitivity Conversion Works
Different games use different internal rotation scales — the same numerical sensitivity setting produces entirely different mouse speeds across games. The universal bridge is cm/360°: the physical centimeters your mouse must travel for a full 360° in-game rotation. If two settings produce the same cm/360°, the physical hand movement required for any given rotation is identical. The formula is cm/360° = (360 × 2.54) / (DPI × sensitivity × game_yaw), where the "yaw" is each game's internal rotational scale factor. The target sensitivity is then back-calculated as: target_sens = (source_DPI × source_sens × source_yaw) / (target_DPI × target_yaw).
Game-Specific Yaw Values
CS2 and CS:GO use a yaw of 0.022 — the industry reference point for FPS sensitivity. Valorant uses 0.07, which is why a CS2 sensitivity of 1.0 at 800 DPI converts to approximately 0.314 in Valorant at the same DPI. Apex Legends uses the same 0.022 as CS, so sensitivities transfer directly. Overwatch 2 uses 0.0066, meaning it requires a much higher numerical sensitivity to match the same physical feel. These values reflect the games' internal rotational speed per cursor count.
Understanding eDPI
eDPI (Effective DPI) is simply DPI × in-game sensitivity and gives a single number to compare sensitivities across different DPI settings within the same game. A player using 400 DPI at 2.0 sens has an eDPI of 800, identical to a player using 800 DPI at 1.0. Both will feel the same in-game. Most professional CS2 players have eDPIs between 700 and 1000. Higher eDPI means faster, more twitchy movement; lower means slower, more precise. Neither is objectively better — it depends on your playstyle and preferred cm/360°.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Should I match raw sensitivity or cm/360° when switching games?
A. Always match cm/360°. Raw sensitivity numbers are meaningless cross-game because each game scales rotation differently. A "1.0" in CS2 is completely different from a "1.0" in Valorant. cm/360° is the only physically meaningful unit that transfers across games.
Q. Does halving DPI and doubling sensitivity feel the same?
A. Within the same game, yes — the eDPI is identical. However, very low DPI (under 400) can cause pixel skipping on some mice, while very high DPI can trigger OS pointer acceleration. Staying in the 400–3200 DPI range and adjusting sensitivity to match your preferred eDPI is the standard approach.
Q. What about ADS (aim down sights) sensitivity?
A. ADS sensitivity multipliers are game-specific and scope-dependent, making them too complex for a general converter. The standard approach is to first match your hipfire cm/360°, then adjust ADS multipliers individually — most players prefer 0.7–1.0× relative to hipfire.