WASD Movement Request

Just a new player asking for the option to use WASD for movement. I’m sure there’s others out there who’ve already asked for it, but I wanted to make my voice heard here too.

The option to rebind controls (including basic ones like movement) helps a lot with not only comfort but also accessibility, such as people with RSI who might have a hard time with the click repetition you otherwise have to make in this game to play with K+M. I think there’s an expectation that a modern triple A game would have an option for this, and it’s surprising not to see it here.

From a development standpoint, it wouldn’t even be that difficult to add. It’s essentially the same behavior as control stick movement that already exists for controllers. The majority of the work for adding this feature would likely be adding it to the menu and the UI options for binding the keys. Unless there’s some strange complication with how things are set up on the back end, this shouldn’t take more than an afternoon for one guy to add. Plus testing, of course.

That’s all. Just want more options for people to be comfortable playing. Thanks for reading this far.

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I guess Diablo isnt for you. What a waste of 70$ sorry bro.

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Yes, WASD is by far the biggest request from the average player. It’s possible they will implement it.

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So you know that others have probably asked but aren’t going to use the search feature so find one of the 4000 threads on this topic and are going to go ahead and just make another one? Afraid you’re not going to get the attention you want?

“Afraid you’re not going to get the attention you want?”

To the guy with 1 Topic created and 0 Posts?

What about you? without any real input you just stated a useless fact that’s not even true.

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Except it is true. There where multiple threads. Some of them may be gone though as there was discussion in them about creating 3rd party applications to intercept the WASD keyboard input and send it as something the game understands currently. That is clearly against the forum rules and the ToS. The devs have already said they will look into it. I would not hold your breath though. WASD has never been in anything Diablo other than D:!. Controller is still bet for RSI than any KB use at all. Most want it as either an advantage against PvE or PvP

If you did a search, didn’t find any threads on this topic and then made a new one to start the discussion – then I’ll eat my words and acknowledge what I said wasn’t true.

In the words of Elsa:

LET IT GO, LET IT GO

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I mean, you could play with a controller. The PC version is controller compatible. Some things are actually easier to aim with a controller, to boot. It’s got a bunch of automated crap they didn’t bother giving to mouse and keyboard players.

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I’ve been playing Diablo since D1 and have always been fine with using the mouse for movement, but for some reason in D4 I keep opening menus with the WASD keys because I’m trying to use them to move around.

I think adding WASD for movement would be a good addition.

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Hey, tip that might help you here - I changed my W - to force move and dodge to E - I use any gap closer abilities as space bar (potion as Q).

You can just hold W - and use your mouse to guide you!

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I did a quick search and found a couple threads that were super old. Why necro an old thread when I can just make a new one? It also lets me get to the point without tacking on the baggage of other discussions in those threads (like potential third party programs, as has been noted in other posts here).

There’s a reason most ARPGs don’t use WASD; it isn’t a good control scheme for this genre. Including it just adds more work for a function that doesn’t effect longevity of the game, and doesn’t help with accessibility nearly as much as something they already implemented; full controller support.

Try it. Plug in a PS5 or XB controller; the screen even updates to the correct icons for the controller you’re using.

There’s a limit on how many accessibility options any game is gonna add, and when you already have the option to plug in a controller (which in its own, has a ton of variable builds / models with accessibility configurations), then the control based accessibility stuff is done.

WASD is a no brainier. Hopefully it makes it in by season 1.

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You’re right that it’s a no brainer, but in the opposite direction. It doesn’t fit the genre. There’s no popular ARPG that uses it.

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It’s an industry standard for most isometrics coming out these days. It was also in the previous Diablo PC release.

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It’s an industry standard for CRPGs, like Pillars of Eternity, Divinity Original Sin, Dungeon Siege franchise, etc.
It’s NOT an industry standard for ARPGs. Diablo franchise, Grim Dawn, POE, Last Epoch, etc.

Two different genres in the industry with some similar features, but far more differences.

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And Hades, things like that. Literally every isometric that comes out now. I know you’re used to what is akin to keyboard turning and clicking, and want to keep everybody in that mode because you don’t want to learn a superior way, but it’s just not viable for the future. Time to move forward.

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Personally, playing from my laptop - I don’t think I’d be able to play the game with WASD movement keys and trying to use the number keys above to use skills. Even if I could bind the skills to other keys I would find it awkward, likely because I am used to the movement and playstyle for the Diablo games.

But that’s just me!

Lets clear something up. Isometric includes multiple genres. CRPG, ARPG, Rouge-lite, city builder, and tons more.
I would hope we can agree that Diablo and SimCity would not share many of the same “industry standard” features. So using isometric as the foundation for adding WASD is inherently flawed.

You discredit your argument when you make assumptions like this.

It’s still viable and will continue to be long into the future. Time to accept reality.