BLIZZARD · NOVEMBER 3 · OFFICIAL GUIDE
Playing WoW Forever with a gamepad: controls and settings
Blizzard has published how the gamepad works in Forever. It is in beta: you can play the whole game with it, but it still needs polish and you need a keyboard to type in chat.
How to turn it on
- Open the game menuPress Esc and go to Options.
- Switch the input typeUnder «Gameplay» choose «Gamepad» to leave keyboard and mouse behind.
- Tune it to your likingYou can adjust the camera, the interface size, the focus frame style, the bars, target selection and raid targeting options.
It works with any XInput-compatible controller and shows Xbox or PlayStation icons. On controllers with a light, it turns red for a Horde character and blue for an Alliance one.
The basic controls
| Left / right stick | Move the character / move the camera |
|---|---|
| LB / RB | Pick a friendly target / a hostile target |
| X · A · B · Y | Interact · jump · back · inspect (they also cast spells) |
| LT, RT or both | Hold them to switch action bar; release to go back to the main one |
| Menu button | Opens the main menu |
| View button | Changes the focus frame |
| LB + RB and right stick | Zoom the camera in or out |
More spells on the same buttons
The gamepad interface shows four action bars with the same button layout. LT, RT or both switch bars, so a single D-pad button can hold four different spells. Blizzard gives a mage as an example: up, Polymorph; LT + up, Fireball; RT + up, Frostbolt; LT + RT + up, Blizzard. These are only examples: you place whatever you like.
Three bar sets
- Switch sets with LB + RB and left or right on the D-pad.
- Each set has 4 bars with 28 slots combined: 84 slots across the three.
- Useful to keep combat, utility and occasional abilities apart without opening menus.
Interface shortcuts (LB + RB + button)
- B: open the backpack.
- Up: quest tracker.
- Down: chat (you still need a keyboard to type).
- Y: manage buffs.
What is not polished yet
A controls legend in the top-left corner reminds you what each button does, and many screens have a footer with the options. Not all of them have one yet, and Blizzard is still improving bags and menus. Long term they want the keyboard to be unnecessary, but for now keep one within reach.
If you play with another interface style, also see Day 1 in Forever (Classic or Enhanced) and the addons.
Source: Blizzard: Explore WoW: Forever with a Gamepad (November 3). Text in our own words.