League of Legends finally gets WASD controls but not everyone is a fan

The League of Legends community has been left divided after Riot added WASD controls to the game sixteen years after launch.

Earlier this year, the League of Legends community saw that WASD controls were leaked and had been eagerly awaiting official news. Although it wasn’t implemented in the game at the time, it quickly became a hot topic in the community, with some dreading its arrival.

Well, fast forward to now, and it’s finally here. Riot dropped the new feature last week, marking the first major movement change in over a decade.

Now players have the option to use their keyboard to move instead of relying on the traditional point-and-click controls. To some, it’s a blessing, but not everyone is a fan of the option.

League of Legends now has WASD controls & the community is divided

The overall feedback on WASD controls is so far divided. To many players, the problem stems from how it can make gameplay unfair. LoL has a ton of champions, and it’s no secret that some of them would naturally feel better with WASD.

As one player noted, someone like Janna can just focus on dodging skillshots, never having to move their cursor off the ADC to shield them. Even Sona, who doesn’t require much aiming, can “probably play on a f****ing trackpad”.

Even though WASD is completely optional, a lot of longtime players are concerned about the future. They fear that if WASD eventually becomes the more optimal or more competitive way to play, they’ll be forced to re-learn the entire game to keep up, thus effectively alienating veterans who prefer the classic controls.

“I think it has no place in this game. The controls aren’t the reason that people struggle to play this game. All WASD does is alienate the existing playerbase if it becomes the more optimal way to play,” wrote one player.

Though that’s the case, there are people who appreciate this being added. One user claimed they always struggled with LoL and that the gap for mastering the mechanical skills felt “intimidating.” But after WASD controls dropped, their experience became different in a good way.

“For the first time, I actually want to learn the game and invest time into it. I know there are disadvantages, lower DPS, attack speed limitations, etc., but for me, that trade-off is 100% worth the improved control and comfort. I can finally play with my friends and actually contribute to good games!” they said.

Others also argue that WASD could make League easier for brand-new players to pick up and that anything reducing the learning curve is a win.