The WASD team has been hard at work, and their efforts have paid off with the upcoming release of Season 2, bringing WASD to Ranked in patch 26.9. This marks a significant milestone for the game, as WASD transitions from a playtest feature to a live, supported control scheme, much like SR. The team's dedication to player feedback and continuous improvement is commendable, and their commitment to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all players is evident.
One of the key focuses during development was addressing the question of WASD's readiness for Ranked. The team set two critical goals: ensuring WASD is not overpowered and maintaining equitable gameplay across different control schemes. Through extensive testing and analysis, they've achieved a balanced performance, with WASD's win-rate closely matching that of Point and Click controls. This achievement is a testament to the team's dedication to fair and enjoyable gameplay.
The team also conducted blind experiential analysis, gathering player feedback through surveys to gauge the impact of WASD on the overall game experience. The results were encouraging, as players struggled to distinguish between opponents using WASD and those using Point and Click controls, indicating a seamless transition for players.
To enhance the gameplay experience, the team fine-tuned WASD's core mechanics, addressing issues like pathfinding and ability attack follow-up logic. They made adjustments to ensure smooth movement around map terrain, even in challenging situations like navigating through walls and corners. This attention to detail is crucial for creating a polished and intuitive gameplay experience.
One notable improvement is the handling of wall movement interactions when the camera is not directly facing the champion. WASD now always routes the champion around walls, even when the camera is looking away, preventing frustrating situations where players might be stuck inside alcoves or unable to reach critical ganks.
The team also introduced champion-specific keybinds, allowing players to customize their settings for both control schemes. This feature, available in patch 26.8, provides a more personalized and accessible gaming experience. Additionally, the input system has been overhauled to support these new features and improve accessibility, including options for cursor movement, accessibility controller joysticks, and expanded keybinding possibilities.
The team has also addressed various bugs and issues encountered during development. One notable bug, the Syndra Wiggle, caused Syndra to wiggle while walking in a straight line after casting her ultimate. This issue was resolved by adjusting Syndra's orbs to prevent collisions with her own pathfinding, ensuring a smooth and realistic gameplay experience.
Another interesting bug, Aphelios' Most Unorthodox Auto, involved Aphelios auto-attacking an enemy within range even when dead, provided he had Infernum equipped. This was a result of a complex ability script and the WASD control scheme's kiting logic, highlighting the intricate nature of game development.
In conclusion, the WASD team's dedication to player feedback and continuous improvement has resulted in a polished and accessible control scheme. Their efforts to ensure a fair and enjoyable gameplay experience, coupled with their attention to detail and bug fixes, make WASD a viable and exciting way to play League. As the game continues to evolve, players can look forward to a more personalized and engaging gaming experience, with the team's commitment to maintaining and tuning WASD for years to come.
