While the decision had been discussed for a long time, Riot just released a new developer article. It concerns the future of WASD controls in the MOBA game. Among the many quality-of-life improvements announced recently, this one stands out for dividing the community. Why? Because it could upset the game’s difficulty and balance.
Are Point-And-Click Controls Getting Replaced?
If you’re completely new to the game, League of Legends has always been designed to be played with point-and-click controls. MOBA games have stuck with this strategy for a long time. One could say that it has always been a defining feature of the genre. But for a few months, Riot has shared its ambition to spice up this old-school mechanic. The goal is to bring freshness to the game and ensure that LoL stays popular today.
But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that point-and-click controls will disappear. It just means that players will have the option to choose between the two options.
Riot’s strategy is clear: they want to appeal to a wider audience. The goal is to bring players who may feel more comfortable with WASD to the game. As they said themselves in the article, “we believe that offering WASD controls will provide a fresh yet familiar way to play for both new players and veterans of the Rift”.
However, don’t worry, WASD controls won’t be be released anytime soon. The article states that it will take “several months” for the project to settle in. This decision makes sense, as such an addition has a lot of potential to change the whole perception of the game.
Players Will Be Able To Give Feedback
Before this feature goes live, like every update, Riot first tests it on their Public Beta Environment (PBE) servers. Any player can join the PBE since it has no requirements. You only have to follow the instructions on their dedicated page, which you can find here.
Of course, most of the work has been done internally by Riot’s team. But players will have an active role in making sure that this feature is ready to be launched on live servers.
Depending on the champion you play, this change could be both a blessing and a curse. In this article, Riot shares that while WASD controls “felt pretty good” on most champions, there were some where it became a little bit tricky. This becomes especially clear with champions that have lots or built-in movement speed. It can be quite hard to maneuver your champion with your keyboard, especially if you’re used to the point-and-click counterpart.
Another conclusion emerged: WASD controls might given in kiting compared to the current system. This could mean that in high-ranked competitive matches, people could abuse this feature to gain an edge over their opponent.
Players’ Reaction: A Divided Summoner’s Rift
While this feature could indeed bring freshness to the game, some players are worried that it could also make the game “too easy”. The community prides itself on the complexity of the game and is scared that it could strip away the game’s identity.
Many players and Content Creators have already shared their insights on the matter.
But as of now, Riot remains steadfast in its belief that enough playtesting and adjustment will make this feature a fair addition to the game. Some Rioters even took some time to respond to the community’s reaction on social media.
What do you think about this feature? Do you think it could bring freshness to the game as Riot desires? Or do you think it will upset the game’s core mechanics and give advantages to certain champions and players?
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