I Can't Wait for WASD in League of Legends

Riot Games has been changing and modernising as a company for a few years now, and it began with their attempts at spreading Runeterra, its stories, and the characters throughout a variety of videogames. There was an ongoing joke that the plurality in their company’s name was deceiving, as they only had one title!

While to their merit, they did manage to make a few indie titles and spread their online gaming into other genres (like through Valorant and Legends of Runeterra), they eventually turned their attention back to their prodigal child: League of Legends.

As a big fan of it, I’ve been excited to see what changes and updates they release, and there have been many. Not all of the recent changes have received a positive reaction from the community, such as their dabbling into cosmetic gacha, but even their most recent one (which should be a positive one) has seen some mixed attention: WASD movement.

For those who might be unfamiliar, League of Legends' gameplay relies heavily on the mouse. While this is smooth once you get used to it, it takes practice, and lots of it, because it’s rather impractical. But the issue isn’t just that new players aren’t interested in sinking hours into learning it: it’s that veterans — like yours truly — are getting… well, old. 

Whether it's because of gamer’s thumb, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, or any other health issue, sitting down and clicking thousands of times isn't great for our wrists or hands. Despite playing League of Legends for over a decade now, my wife and I are still in love with the game: no other title has mixed adrenaline, skill, and teamwork the way we like it... But I've had to cut down.

What used to be months of non-stop ARAM or Summoner's Rift has become only a hobby we could afford to jump into whenever there was a pass, and then my wrist and thumb would need some rest. The pain can sometimes become so distracting that I'll be praying the match ends soon so I can log off for the night.

So when Riot Games announced that WASD was going to become available... well, to be honest, I felt mixed about it. I'm sad to say that my first reaction was to feel disappointment that the game might become easier or even unengaging if I can walk around like in other games.

Like many, I worried that all the years of practice I've had with movement would be for nothing (not that any of us were going to end up in Worlds, anyway). I was concerned that dodging skillshots wouldn't be as rewarding if I could just WASD my way out of it.

Once the pride and anxiety passed, I felt an overwhelming amount of relief. Our League of Legends experience was no longer in danger due to my ageing body or fibromyalgia, and I can easily see how we can go back to playing for hours, like before.

I understand the community's concerns about it making an unbalanced experience for those in ranked, but the truth is that we have to let there be change when it needs to happen. Riot Games cannot sustain the game if the audience diminishes due to inaccessibility, let alone if it's one they could have worked on.

I'd rather the game becomes easier but sees a surge in new players, and that veterans can continue to enjoy their favourite game for many more years to come. Those of us who have been able to continue playing can count ourselves lucky, as even some YouTubers have needed to step back due to issues like carpal tunnel.

I'm glad Riot Games is taking responsible steps to ensure the future of their games, and I can't wait to see WASD in action! It's going to be a surreal experience, and you can bet my wife and I will be glued to the PC for days like we used to.