Blizzard is preparing a major change to how players control its MMORPG with World of Warcraft: Forever. The game will get native gamepad support, letting you enjoy Azeroth from the couch in front of the TV or on handhelds. Xbox Wire tried out the new controls and showed how they work in practice.
Since its release in 2004, World of Warcraft has been closely tied to the keyboard and mouse. Its extensive user interface, wealth of abilities, and various game systems aren’t exactly ideal for a traditional console controller. Blizzard is now trying to change that in World of Warcraft: Forever, which launches on November 4 and will introduce official gamepad support in the form of Gamepad (Alpha).
Enabling the new controls is simple. Just turn on the Gamepad (Alpha) option in the game settings, and the user interface will automatically adapt to the controller. Ability icons will change to show the corresponding button prompts, and players can start playing without having to configure everything manually. Xbox Wire recommends the modern Xbox Wireless Controller in particular, as its buttons match the displayed icons exactly.
Importantly, the controls aren’t limited to basic character movement and combat. You can also use the gamepad to access your inventory, quest log, character information, and other game systems. During testing, the Xbox Wire writer didn’t come across a single feature they couldn’t access using only the controller.
How does gamepad combat work?
The biggest challenge is combat itself, since World of Warcraft offers a large number of spells, attacks, and other abilities. Blizzard has addressed this with button combinations. Basic actions are assigned to individual controller buttons, while the triggers and bumpers let players switch between additional ability sets.
Players can use multiple attacks and spells without needing a keyboard. The controls take some time to learn, but combat is meant to feel natural once you’ve mastered the combinations. The pace of combat in Forever also helps: it’s slower and more methodical than in modern World of Warcraft, giving players more time to choose their next abilities and react to enemies.
Blizzard has also considered communication with other players. Holding down the right stick opens a quick-command system, letting players send teammates instructions such as Attack, Warning, On My Way, or Assist. For more extensive communication, however, a keyboard or voice chat is still more practical.
World of Warcraft already works on the ROG Xbox Ally
More notably, Xbox Wire also tried the new controls on the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld. Since the device runs Windows 11 and can launch Battle.net, the game works on it much like it does on a regular PC.
However, this isn’t an officially supported configuration yet, and the initial setup requires a little patience. To enable gamepad support, players need to use the touchscreen and virtual keyboard to access the game settings.
Once the controller is enabled, it’s worth adjusting the user interface for the smaller display. Xbox Wire recommends shrinking the chat window, moving the player and target health bars to the bottom of the screen, and turning on the Compact Action Bar option. This reduces the size of the ability bar and frees up more screen space for the game itself.
After making these changes, the game works much like it does when played with a gamepad on a large screen, according to the writer. During the beta test, they regularly switched between a desktop PC, playing from the couch, and the handheld, and were able to continue their adventure across all three setups without any major issues.
A first step toward World of Warcraft on consoles?
Forever won’t simply be the original World of Warcraft with new controls. Blizzard is returning to Azeroth as it was in 2004, while adding new areas, stories, graphical enhancements, and character options. Additions include a new Skyborne elf race, the flying island of Zephras Isle, and more content in the Riverglades and Mount Hyjal areas.
Gamepad support also fits into Blizzard’s broader plans. Executive producer Holly Longdale has already hinted that the company wants to gradually make World of Warcraft playable on as many devices as possible. An official console version, however, has not yet been confirmed.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches on PC on November 4 and will be available as part of the existing subscription. Gamepad support will remain in alpha at launch, allowing Blizzard to continue refining it based on player feedback. Even now, though, it shows that World of Warcraft doesn’t have to stay tied to a keyboard and mouse forever.
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