diff --git a/doc/lua_api.md b/doc/lua_api.md
index f46c9eb28ae68..eccdc0448c2a5 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/lua_api.md
@@ -8401,6 +8401,22 @@ child will follow movement and rotation of that bone.
   table {x, y, z} representing the player's instantaneous velocity in nodes/s
 * `add_player_velocity(vel)`: **DEPRECATED**, use add_velocity(vel) instead.
 * `get_look_dir()`: get camera direction as a unit vector
+* `get_point_dir()`: get pointing direction as a unit vector
+    * If the player uses a crosshair, this returns the same value as `get_look_dir`.
+    * If the player uses the touchscreen controls without a crosshair, ...
+        * ...the look direction and the pointing direction may differ.
+        * ...the player doesn't have a well-defined pointing direction when not
+          touching the screen. In this case, `get_point_dir` returns the last
+          valid pointing direction.
+* `get_point_screen_pos()`: get pointer position in screen-space
+    * Returns a 2D vector in coordinates relative to the screen size:
+      `{x = 0..1, y = 0..1}`
+    * If the player uses a crosshair, this always returns `{x = 0.5, y = 0.5}`
+    * If the player uses the touchscreen controls without a crosshair, ...
+      * ...other values may be returned.
+      * ...the player doesn't have a well-defined pointer position when not
+        touching the screen. In this case, `get_point_screen_pos` returns the
+        last valid pointer position.
 * `get_look_vertical()`: pitch in radians
     * Angle ranges between -pi/2 and pi/2, which are straight up and down
       respectively.
diff --git a/src/client/client.cpp b/src/client/client.cpp
index 222c1a2acbe99..dcad3339b61d3 100644
--- a/src/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client/client.cpp
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ void Client::Send(NetworkPacket* pkt)
 	m_con->Send(PEER_ID_SERVER, scf.channel, pkt, scf.reliable);
 }
 
-// Will fill up 12 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 4 bytes
+// Will fill up 12 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 8 + 4 + 4 bytes
 void writePlayerPos(LocalPlayer *myplayer, ClientMap *clientMap, NetworkPacket *pkt, bool camera_inverted)
 {
 	v3f pf           = myplayer->getPosition() * 100;
@@ -1027,6 +1027,9 @@ void writePlayerPos(LocalPlayer *myplayer, ClientMap *clientMap, NetworkPacket *
 			std::ceil(clientMap->getWantedRange() * (1.0f / MAP_BLOCKSIZE)));
 	f32 movement_speed = myplayer->control.movement_speed;
 	f32 movement_dir = myplayer->control.movement_direction;
+	v2f pointer_pos = myplayer->pointer_pos;
+	f32 point_pitch = myplayer->point_pitch;
+	f32 point_yaw = myplayer->point_yaw;
 
 	v3s32 position(pf.X, pf.Y, pf.Z);
 	v3s32 speed(sf.X, sf.Y, sf.Z);
@@ -1043,11 +1046,16 @@ void writePlayerPos(LocalPlayer *myplayer, ClientMap *clientMap, NetworkPacket *
 		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1] u8 camera_inverted (bool)
 		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1] f32 movement_speed
 		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4] f32 movement_direction
+		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4] v2f pointer_pos
+		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4+8] f32 point_pitch
+		[12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4+8+4] f32 point_yaw
 	*/
 	*pkt << position << speed << pitch << yaw << keyPressed;
 	*pkt << fov << wanted_range;
 	*pkt << camera_inverted;
 	*pkt << movement_speed << movement_dir;
+	*pkt << pointer_pos;
+	*pkt << point_pitch << point_yaw;
 }
 
 void Client::interact(InteractAction action, const PointedThing& pointed)
@@ -1394,7 +1402,10 @@ void Client::sendPlayerPos()
 			player->last_camera_inverted == camera_inverted       &&
 			player->last_wanted_range    == wanted_range          &&
 			player->last_movement_speed  == movement_speed        &&
-			player->last_movement_dir    == movement_dir)
+			player->last_movement_dir    == movement_dir          &&
+			player->last_pointer_pos     == player->pointer_pos   &&
+			player->last_point_pitch     == player->point_pitch   &&
+			player->last_point_yaw       == player->point_yaw)
 		return;
 
 	player->last_position        = player->getPosition();
@@ -1407,8 +1418,11 @@ void Client::sendPlayerPos()
 	player->last_wanted_range    = wanted_range;
 	player->last_movement_speed  = movement_speed;
 	player->last_movement_dir    = movement_dir;
+	player->last_pointer_pos     = player->pointer_pos;
+	player->last_point_pitch     = player->point_pitch;
+	player->last_point_yaw       = player->point_yaw;
 
-	NetworkPacket pkt(TOSERVER_PLAYERPOS, 12 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 4);
+	NetworkPacket pkt(TOSERVER_PLAYERPOS, 12 + 12 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 8 + 4 + 4);
 
 	writePlayerPos(player, &map, &pkt, camera_inverted);
 
diff --git a/src/client/game.cpp b/src/client/game.cpp
index 97b50183ce521..76fdb57cdc7a3 100644
--- a/src/client/game.cpp
+++ b/src/client/game.cpp
@@ -558,6 +558,7 @@ class Game {
 
 	void updateCameraDirection(CameraOrientation *cam, float dtime);
 	void updateCameraOrientation(CameraOrientation *cam, float dtime);
+	void updatePointDir(const CameraOrientation &cam);
 	void updatePlayerControl(const CameraOrientation &cam);
 	void updatePauseState();
 	void step(f32 dtime);
@@ -996,6 +997,7 @@ void Game::run()
 				cam_view.camera_yaw) * m_cache_cam_smoothing;
 		cam_view.camera_pitch += (cam_view_target.camera_pitch -
 				cam_view.camera_pitch) * m_cache_cam_smoothing;
+		updatePointDir(cam_view);
 		updatePlayerControl(cam_view);
 
 		updatePauseState();
@@ -2427,6 +2429,32 @@ void Game::updateCameraOrientation(CameraOrientation *cam, float dtime)
 	cam->camera_pitch = rangelim(cam->camera_pitch, -89.5, 89.5);
 }
 
+void Game::updatePointDir(const CameraOrientation &cam)
+{
+	LocalPlayer *player = client->getEnv().getLocalPlayer();
+
+	if (g_touchcontrols && isTouchCrosshairDisabled()) {
+		v2s32 pointer_pos = g_touchcontrols->getPointerPos();
+		v2u32 screensize = driver->getScreenSize();
+
+		player->pointer_pos.X = (f32)pointer_pos.X / (f32)screensize.X;
+		player->pointer_pos.Y = (f32)pointer_pos.Y / (f32)screensize.Y;
+
+		const v3f point_dir = g_touchcontrols->getShootline().getVector().normalize();
+		// getHorizontalAngle is Irrlicht's "direction to rotation" function
+		// Roll (Z) is always 0
+		const v3f point_rot = point_dir.getHorizontalAngle();
+
+		player->point_pitch = point_rot.X;
+		player->point_yaw = point_rot.Y;
+	} else {
+		player->pointer_pos.X = 0.5f;
+		player->pointer_pos.Y = 0.5f;
+		player->point_pitch = 0.0f;
+		player->point_yaw = 0.0f;
+	}
+}
+
 
 void Game::updatePlayerControl(const CameraOrientation &cam)
 {
diff --git a/src/client/localplayer.h b/src/client/localplayer.h
index 93b768ceb0347..a2b80e8eb1891 100644
--- a/src/client/localplayer.h
+++ b/src/client/localplayer.h
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ class LocalPlayer : public Player
 	bool last_camera_inverted = false;
 	f32 last_movement_speed = 0.0f;
 	f32 last_movement_dir = 0.0f;
+	v2f last_pointer_pos = v2f(0.5f, 0.5f);
+	float last_point_pitch = 0.0f;
+	float last_point_yaw = 0.0f;
 
 	float camera_impact = 0.0f;
 
diff --git a/src/gui/touchcontrols.cpp b/src/gui/touchcontrols.cpp
index 17352264dcb03..5ac42d4bb0df4 100644
--- a/src/gui/touchcontrols.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/touchcontrols.cpp
@@ -531,10 +531,11 @@ void TouchControls::translateEvent(const SEvent &event)
 				m_move_has_really_moved    = false;
 				m_move_downtime            = porting::getTimeMs();
 				m_move_pos                 = touch_pos;
-				// DON'T reset m_tap_state here, otherwise many short taps
-				// will be ignored if you tap very fast.
 				m_had_move_id              = true;
 				m_move_prevent_short_tap   = prevent_short_tap;
+
+				// DON'T reset m_tap_state here, otherwise many short taps
+				// will be ignored if you tap very fast.
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -662,11 +663,10 @@ void TouchControls::step(float dtime)
 	// Only updating when m_has_move_id means that the shootline will stay at
 	// it's last in-world position when the player doesn't need it.
 	if (!m_draw_crosshair && (m_has_move_id || m_had_move_id)) {
-		v2s32 pointer_pos = getPointerPos();
 		m_shootline = m_device
 				->getSceneManager()
 				->getSceneCollisionManager()
-				->getRayFromScreenCoordinates(pointer_pos);
+				->getRayFromScreenCoordinates(m_move_pos);
 	}
 	m_had_move_id = false;
 }
@@ -748,18 +748,13 @@ void TouchControls::show()
 	setVisible(true);
 }
 
-v2s32 TouchControls::getPointerPos()
-{
-	if (m_draw_crosshair)
-		return v2s32(m_screensize.X / 2, m_screensize.Y / 2);
-	// We can't just use m_pointer_pos[m_move_id] because applyContextControls
-	// may emit release events after m_pointer_pos[m_move_id] is erased.
-	return m_move_pos;
-}
-
 void TouchControls::emitMouseEvent(EMOUSE_INPUT_EVENT type)
 {
-	v2s32 pointer_pos = getPointerPos();
+	v2s32 pointer_pos = m_draw_crosshair
+			? v2s32(m_screensize.X / 2, m_screensize.Y / 2)
+			// applyContextControls may emit mouse release events after
+			// m_pointer_pos[m_move_id] is erased.
+			: m_move_pos;
 
 	SEvent event{};
 	event.EventType               = EET_MOUSE_INPUT_EVENT;
diff --git a/src/gui/touchcontrols.h b/src/gui/touchcontrols.h
index 701baba427dbe..4cb26e177b831 100644
--- a/src/gui/touchcontrols.h
+++ b/src/gui/touchcontrols.h
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ class TouchControls
 		return res;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the pointer position in pixels.
+	 *
+	 * May only be used if crosshair is disabled (see setUseCrosshair)
+	 */
+	v2s32 getPointerPos() { return m_move_pos; }
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a line which describes what the player is pointing at.
 	 * The starting point and looking direction are significant,
@@ -103,6 +110,8 @@ class TouchControls
 	 * the player can reach.
 	 * The line starts at the camera and ends on the camera's far plane.
 	 * The coordinates do not contain the camera offset.
+	 *
+	 * May only be used if crosshair is disabled (see setUseCrosshair)
 	 */
 	line3d<f32> getShootline() { return m_shootline; }
 
@@ -155,7 +164,9 @@ class TouchControls
 	size_t m_move_id;
 	bool m_move_has_really_moved = false;
 	u64 m_move_downtime = 0;
-	// m_move_pos stays valid even after m_move_id has been released.
+	// m_move_pos is equivalent to m_pointer_pos[m_move_id] while m_has_move_id
+	// is true. However, m_move_pos stays valid even after the m_move_id pointer
+	// has been released and m_pointer_pos[m_move_id] has been erased.
 	v2s32 m_move_pos;
 	// This is needed so that we don't miss if m_has_move_id is true for less
 	// than one client step, i.e. press and release happen in the same step.
@@ -217,7 +228,6 @@ class TouchControls
 	// map to store the IDs and positions of currently pressed pointers
 	std::unordered_map<size_t, v2s32> m_pointer_pos;
 
-	v2s32 getPointerPos();
 	void emitMouseEvent(EMOUSE_INPUT_EVENT type);
 	TouchInteractionMode m_last_mode = TouchInteractionMode_END;
 	TapState m_tap_state = TapState::None;
diff --git a/src/network/networkprotocol.h b/src/network/networkprotocol.h
index 0d63bd24f4933..1c018a1acb990 100644
--- a/src/network/networkprotocol.h
+++ b/src/network/networkprotocol.h
@@ -727,6 +727,9 @@ enum ToServerCommand : u16
 		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1] u8 camera_inverted (bool)
 		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1] f32 movement_speed
 		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4] f32 movement_direction
+		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4] v2f pointer_pos
+		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4+8] f32 point_pitch
+		[2+12+12+4+4+4+1+1+1+4+4+8+4] f32 point_yaw
 
 	*/
 
diff --git a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
index cf1dcacb170c4..8da06323ed489 100644
--- a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
+++ b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
@@ -475,6 +475,16 @@ void Server::process_PlayerPos(RemotePlayer *player, PlayerSAO *playersao,
 		player->control.setMovementFromKeys();
 	}
 
+	if (pkt->getRemainingBytes() >= 16) {
+		*pkt >> player->pointer_pos;
+		*pkt >> player->point_pitch >> player->point_yaw;
+	} else {
+		player->pointer_pos.X = 0.5f;
+		player->pointer_pos.Y = 0.5f;
+		player->point_pitch = 0.0f;
+		player->point_yaw = 0.0f;
+	}
+
 	v3f position((f32)ps.X / 100.0f, (f32)ps.Y / 100.0f, (f32)ps.Z / 100.0f);
 	v3f speed((f32)ss.X / 100.0f, (f32)ss.Y / 100.0f, (f32)ss.Z / 100.0f);
 
diff --git a/src/player.h b/src/player.h
index 25c80039c638f..d876fb9f194b7 100644
--- a/src/player.h
+++ b/src/player.h
@@ -188,6 +188,18 @@ class Player
 	PlayerControl control;
 	const PlayerControl& getPlayerControl() { return control; }
 
+	// Pointer position, as screen coordinates in the range 0..1
+	// When using a crosshair, this is always (0.5, 0.5)
+	v2f pointer_pos = v2f(0.5f, 0.5f);
+	// Pointing direction, represented as pitch/yaw in degrees
+	// When using a crosshair, it's unspecified what values these will have.
+	f32 point_pitch = 0.0f;
+	f32 point_yaw = 0.0f;
+
+	// Note: If there is no crosshair and the player is not touching the screen,
+	// pointer position and pointing direction are not well-defined. In this
+	// case, the last valid values are kept.
+
 	PlayerPhysicsOverride physics_override;
 
 	// Returns non-empty `selected` ItemStack. `hand` is a fallback, if specified
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
index 2fce2490647d0..e22933e1e5781 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
@@ -1246,12 +1246,42 @@ int ObjectRef::l_get_look_dir(lua_State *L)
 	if (playersao == nullptr)
 		return 0;
 
-	float pitch = playersao->getRadLookPitchDep();
-	float yaw = playersao->getRadYawDep();
-	v3f v(std::cos(pitch) * std::cos(yaw), std::sin(pitch), std::cos(pitch) *
-		std::sin(yaw));
+	push_v3f(L, playersao->getLookDir());
+	return 1;
+}
+
+// get_point_screen_pos(self)
+int ObjectRef::l_get_point_screen_pos(lua_State *L)
+{
+	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
+	ObjectRef *ref = checkObject<ObjectRef>(L, 1);
+	RemotePlayer *player = getplayer(ref);
+	if (player == nullptr)
+		return 0;
+
+	push_v2f(L, player->pointer_pos);
+	return 1;
+}
+
+// get_point_dir(self)
+int ObjectRef::l_get_point_dir(lua_State *L)
+{
+	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
+	ObjectRef *ref = checkObject<ObjectRef>(L, 1);
+	PlayerSAO* playersao = getplayersao(ref);
+	if (playersao == nullptr)
+		return 0;
+
+	RemotePlayer *player = playersao->getPlayer();
+
+	if (player->pointer_pos.X == 0.5f && player->pointer_pos.Y == 0.5f) {
+		push_v3f(L, playersao->getLookDir());
+		return 1;
+	}
 
-	push_v3f(L, v);
+	const v3f point_rot = v3f(player->point_pitch, player->point_yaw, 0.0f);
+	const v3f point_dir = point_rot.rotationToDirection();
+	push_v3f(L, point_dir);
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -2840,6 +2870,8 @@ luaL_Reg ObjectRef::methods[] = {
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, is_player),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_player_name),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_look_dir),
+	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_point_screen_pos),
+	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_point_dir),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_look_pitch),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_look_yaw),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_look_vertical),
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
index 900ec243dc2b0..1ba7148883b93 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
@@ -218,6 +218,12 @@ class ObjectRef : public ModApiBase {
 	// get_look_dir(self)
 	static int l_get_look_dir(lua_State *L);
 
+	// get_point_screen_pos(self)
+	static int l_get_point_screen_pos(lua_State *L);
+
+	// get_point_dir(self)
+	static int l_get_point_dir(lua_State *L);
+
 	// DEPRECATED
 	// get_look_pitch(self)
 	static int l_get_look_pitch(lua_State *L);
diff --git a/src/server/player_sao.cpp b/src/server/player_sao.cpp
index 5d6b891fa95fe..dc45adba8291a 100644
--- a/src/server/player_sao.cpp
+++ b/src/server/player_sao.cpp
@@ -409,6 +409,15 @@ void PlayerSAO::setPlayerYaw(const float yaw)
 	UnitSAO::setRotation(rotation);
 }
 
+v3f PlayerSAO::getLookDir() const
+{
+	// FIXME: get rid of deprecated method usage
+	float pitch = getRadLookPitchDep();
+	float yaw = getRadYawDep();
+	return v3f(std::cos(pitch) * std::cos(yaw), std::sin(pitch), std::cos(pitch) *
+			std::sin(yaw));
+}
+
 void PlayerSAO::setFov(const float fov)
 {
 	if (m_player && fov != m_fov)
diff --git a/src/server/player_sao.h b/src/server/player_sao.h
index 0ce26f7ccafc1..07f9d5ae1345c 100644
--- a/src/server/player_sao.h
+++ b/src/server/player_sao.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ class PlayerSAO : public UnitSAO
 	f32 getRadLookPitch() const { return m_pitch * core::DEGTORAD; }
 	// Deprecated
 	f32 getRadLookPitchDep() const { return -1.0 * m_pitch * core::DEGTORAD; }
+	v3f getLookDir() const;
 	void setFov(const float pitch);
 	f32 getFov() const { return m_fov; }
 	void setWantedRange(const s16 range);