World of Warcraft Forever Adds Gamepad Support, But Console Release Is Still Far Off

One of the most exciting announcements from BlizzCon 2026 was the unveiling of World of Warcraft Forever, a fresh take on the iconic MMORPG that promises players a new classic experience. While the “Classic Plus” concept had been a long-standing request from the community and had seen some leaks prior to the event, the extensive features of World of Warcraft Forever caught many fans off guard.

Another surprise on the show floor was the introduction of gamepad support for the MMO, marking the first time World of Warcraft has received such comprehensive controller functionality. Traditionally, players have relied on a keyboard and mouse setup, complete with keybindings for spells and actions. We had the chance to try out World of Warcraft Forever with a gamepad, and it performed surprisingly well.

However, don’t expect World of Warcraft Forever to make its way to consoles or handheld devices anytime soon. The developers clarified that the aim of gamepad support isn’t to transition the game to those platforms.

“We view World of Warcraft Forever as a third pillar of the franchise,” said Nora Valletta, the lead software engineer. “There’s so much we’re delivering here, and it felt like a perfect opportunity to explore various ideas, not just in gameplay but also in how players interact with our game.”

Valletta emphasized that a key theme in the new features is empowering players. “We have the SD/HD character model toggle, and you can choose between classic mode or a more modernized, streamlined approach when you first enter the game. Gamepad support is just another way to let players engage with the game.”

From her perspective, after spending all day at a desk developing World of Warcraft, sometimes she just wants to relax on the couch and play. “It’s about giving players another way to connect with the game,” she explained. “You can easily switch between using a controller and a keyboard. I could be at my desktop and then just plug in my controller, and I’m good to go.”

Tim Jones, the lead game designer, added, “We take pride in offering more accessibility options for players of all abilities and preferences. Whether it’s improved colorblind modes or our screen narrator, we see robust controller support as another aspect of our accessibility efforts, allowing players to experience the game in a new way.”

World of Warcraft Forever will support both Xbox and PlayStation controllers, and the control scheme has been thoroughly playtested internally.

Valletta acknowledged that fans have created their own gamepad solutions for World of Warcraft and that other MMOs have had controller support for years. “I’ve played Final Fantasy 14 with a PS4 controller,” she noted, but the team aimed to create a unique experience. “We wanted to approach it with a fresh perspective, focusing on what feels natural and addressing any concerns about potential clunkiness, especially in challenging scenarios like raid healing.”

The development team received assistance from other Blizzard teams experienced in implementing controller support, and the results are impressive. Friendly targeting is mapped to the left bumper on Xbox controllers, while enemy targeting is on the right. Players can auto-run by pressing the left analog stick and ping objects by clicking the right. Most actions, including spells and attacks, are assigned to the d-pad and face buttons, with the ability to switch between action groups using the left and right triggers or both at once. The setup is quite intuitive.

Players will have the opportunity to test out gamepad support when World of Warcraft Forever enters beta on September 17. The full game is set to launch shortly after, on November 4.

The WoW experience, affectionately dubbed Classic Plus by fans, is set to transport players back to a nostalgic version of Azeroth.