The evidence is there, chance is high WoW goes console

Community General Discussion
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Built in controller support without addons (though addons make it even better)

ALL but one class can all be played on a controller, only one that has issues is rogue (which is one of my favorites, I do really good with rogue…just not nearly as controller friendly as others, not impossible, but not very friendly. Maybe mage could have issues, but I do fine with my controller on mage)

Command to enable controller support for those who may not know is “/Console GamePadEnable 1” without quotes. But addons improve it a lot like said, I can’t link to reddit but there is some topics about it there with addon recommendations. But some of the ones I got to quote part of the reddit post…

“I installed ConsolePort, Immersion, DynamicCam, LeatrixMaps, Gathermate 2, Narcissus, and Opie”

Can fully be played on the steam handheld console (ok this is second hand experience, but I did see in person my friend playing WoW on it and seen others on reddit post similar pictures/videos)

So three things right there. I dunno when they added built in controller support mind you, but it does seem like they are gearing up for it

Do note, I’m not exactly talking about game pass which is where the dissent seems to come from. Just put on console in general, though microsoft DOES tend to put every game on game pass…but it doesn’t neccessarily need to be on there. I dunno if ESO is or not as I don’t play it at all, but that can be played on xbox.

Granted, the chance of it any time soon is zero as I’d expect it to be a huge blizzcon announcement. But there is no reason it can’t go onto the console really, ESO plays fine according to my friend on his xbox and WoW has again decent controller support (even without addons). And yeah yeah ESO isn’t WoW, its just an example…and I never played it so I dunno exactly why it works and say WoW wouldn’t. But don’t see anything in WoW that wouldn’t work.

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They added it for accessibility. Not for Xbox.

Engine compatibility, servers, infrastructure, etc.

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My hot take that I bet a lot of people would disagree with is that this game is kinda bloated and kinda needs some simplifying down to be playable on console.

It’s like night and day with retail WoW and Vanilla and a lot of that is because Vanilla has a bit more simplicity, even though there might be more design mistakes.

You can even see this when you compare a game like FFXIV to WoW, where the devs in FFXIV have to keep in mind still designing the game around people who play on console or with a controller. The complexity comes from the encounters, and not from your ability to press a bunch of buttons correctly and so a mouse and keyboard is needed. The complexity is still there if you want it, but it’s in a way that allows for the game to be a lot more welcoming to new or returning players.

I hope WoW moves in that design direction more, it is a bloated mess and it is sorely needed.

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The game has supported controllers for ages.

I do think w console version will happen, but I think it’s still years away. And I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I’d welcome it.

Folks are already playing on Steam Deck (and the like).

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I don’t think the buttons are a problem. Just use modifiers - like FFXIV. The game also supports multiple action bars you can scroll through.

Everything can be assigned to a controller without changing the game.

(This is not an argument for or against ability pruning. I don’t know most classes well enough to comment on their complexity.)

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1 button rotation coming so all classes can play

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yeah steam deck was what I was thinking of. I don’t have one so just second hand knowledge (and seen it with my own eyes) of WoW being played on it.

I’d like to see WoW put on console, not because I would play it kinda just like co-op and singleplayer games tbh on my xbox and playstation. But it would allow more people to play, and also personally, my irl friend mostly plays his xbox (its easier for him and overall more relaxing) so he’d finally play WoW with me :stuck_out_tongue:

Also what Slotmachine said, one button rotation completely forgot about is coming out. I dunno how exactly good it’ll be (doubt you’ll be doing highend stuff with it) but that gives more leeway for consoles, with otherwise harder classes like rogue.

(also to add…)

Don’t think WoW would need dumbing down to be put on consoles. There are games that are pretty involved like dark souls and bloodborne, elden ring etc. Oblivion remastered is pretty huge, granted all those are singleplayer (or co-op) but all pretty complex games.

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Wow going on console means that Blizzard has to share a bit of their pie. Blizzard does not like sharing pie, which is why they have barely anyone on their team any more.

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Yeah I moreso meant ability pruning. There’s just too many abilities IMO for the game to work on controller/console well.

The game is bloated in other ways too, like too many currencies. But I don’t think that has anything to do with making the game more playable on controller/console.

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It’s not Blizzard’s pie anymore.

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I sure hope so. We can get back a more simplistic type of play. I already play with a gamepad anyway. I’m really looking forward to it.

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yeah I think they already have to give X amount to microsoft. Microsoft tends to be (or was dunno if thats changed) hands off with their holdings. But pretty sure all their companies they own like bethesda still have to give them X amount back…not like I know how it works or anything…but wouldnt make sense to me to buy a company for huge amounts of dollars and not get something back for it

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It’ll end up on console, that much is a guarantee. Somehow, someway. Final Fantasy 14- their biggest competitor, just came out with a mobile port, and to do so they rebuilt the entire game from the ground up. Now FF14 players are complaining saying the mobile version is superior lol. And its also on console i think.

But you can count on Microsoft wanting to get as much money out of this 70 billion dollar investment as possible. I believe we will see a modified version for console sooner or later. Competition and general capitalist business pracitces demand it. But this emphasis on less need for addons kinda sells it the most, because that has always been one point of contention against a console release; “wow’s native features are too barebones for new players”.

Time will tell, but I’d bet on it happening sooner than later (1-2 years)

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Heres my question.

Who would buy or play it on console?

I doubt many people already invested in a console are keen to pay another sub fee ontop of their account sub for their console.

Additionally I doubt console will have addon or mod support, further limiting their options.

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The relative majority part of the market that does not use PC for gaming, I haven’t checked in awhile but FF14 does have a pretty substantial monopoly on the Console MMO market, since really the only thing competing there is that and ESO, which also happens to be I believe the 3rdish most popular MMO behind FF14 and WoW. So I feel like there’s definitely something there that they want to try tapping into, and being recently acquired by Microsoft does make some sense if they would want to bring it to Xbox/Consoles.

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I just don’t see WoW being that compatible.

Or stable…

If it works on Steam Deck maybe.

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I think Blizzard saying they’re taking a hardline stance against certain addons that were fine for nearly two decades is the biggest proof you need that Microsoft’s pressuring Blizzard to release WoW on console.

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That would definitely be the largest issue with it coming to consoles for sure lol

This is something I do hope that Blizzard does (put WoW on the Steam store for official support), although I’m guessing they’re very hesitant to do it if they have to share subscription if it’s done through the Steam storefront (I’m not sure if FF14 requires you to do it separately?), as well as things like the jumbled mess that FF14 ends up being on there too (needing completely separate expansion purchases if you buy on Steam vs Square Enix store), but as it is right now I don’t believe it’s too hard to install on Steam Deck, there’s plenty of posts I’ve seen people getting 3k on it as it is right now.

I just haven’t gotten around to installing it on mine due to laziness.

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I’m sure a few people would, and assuming that it is capable of running on a console there’s no reason to not put it there as well. Best case scenario, people buy it. Worst case, wasted whatever amount of time it takes to list the game on the Microsoft (and possibly playstation) stores.

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The latter 2 have nothing to do with consoles.

No reason a console cannot run WoW’s engine given that most laptops can - heck, consoles pretty much have laptop chips inside.