League of Legends introduces significant control shift after 16 years of consistency, prioritizing the use of WASD keys for improved speed in acclimating novice players to the game's exciting elements.
League of Legends, the popular MOBA game, is set to make a significant change by introducing WASD movement as an alternative control scheme. This new feature aims to make the game more accessible and intuitive for new and returning players who find the traditional point-and-click controls unfamiliar or difficult [1][3][4][5].
The change comes with additional features such as Dynamic Locked Camera and improved keybinding customization. Riot Games has been testing WASD internally, with professionals, and with new players, gradually rolling it out on the Public Beta Environment (PBE) [3][5]. The introduction will be phased, starting with unranked modes, and will be extensively tested to catch any bugs, unintended interactions, and to ensure that ranked games aren't disrupted by someone using the WASD controls [1][3][5].
The community's reaction to this change is mixed. While some appreciate the potential for broader accessibility and ease of entry, viewing it as a positive innovation that respects the core gameplay while inviting more players in [1][3][4], others express concern that WASD controls could reduce the game's mechanical skill expression, especially in delicate maneuvers like kiting and dodging skillshots [2]. Simplifying movement with WASD might lower the skill floor and advantage certain champions, potentially impacting competitive integrity.
Riot Games acknowledges these concerns and is actively monitoring balance and bugs, aiming to ensure no control scheme has a clear advantage before full rollout to ranked play [1][3][5]. The introduction marks the first major control change in League's 16-year history, signaling Riot’s openness to evolve while cautiously safeguarding gameplay quality.
One Reddit commenter called the introduction of WASD a "major blunder," while others have compared it to playing an FPS with a keyboard and mouse versus using a controller with aim assist [2]. However, Riot does not want one control scheme to reign supreme over the other, and they aim to make sure that WASD is an awesome way to play League for the players who want it, but no one should feel forced to switch control schemes just to stay competitive [1].
The WASD control scheme is expected to hit the PBE sometime in September [1]. It's difficult to gauge the drasticness of the WASD control scheme's implementation until it's actually hit the PBE. Mollie Taylor, a news writer for PC Gamer, has expressed her expertise in writing features, guides, and reviews about the game [6]. Mollie Taylor can often be found causing mischief in Final Fantasy 14 and writing about her favorite MMOs.
[1] https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-games-is-testing-wasd-movement-in-league-of-legends-pbe/ [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/w8i73f/wasd_movement_in_league_of_legends_is_a_major/ [3] https://www.ign.com/articles/league-of-legends-wasd-movement-control-scheme-coming-to-pbe [4] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/league-of-legends-is-testing-a-new-wasd-control-s/1100-6507170/ [5] https://www.polygon.com/21475629/league-of-legends-wasd-control-scheme-pbe [6] https://www.pcgamer.com/author/mollietaylor/
- Riot Games is gradually rolling out the WASD movement control scheme for League of Legends on the Public Beta Environment (PBE), having tested it with professionals and new players.
- The introduction of WASD movement aims to make the popular MOBA game more accessible and intuitive to new and returning players, adding features like Dynamic Locked Camera and improved keybinding customization.
- Although some players welcome this change as a positive innovation that addresses accessibility issues while maintaining the core gameplay, others are concerned it might lower the skill floor or impact competitive integrity.
- Mollie Taylor, a news writer for PC Gamer, has expressed her views on League of Legends, including its upcoming WASD control scheme, through features, guides, and reviews.
