How to set up a gamepad in WoW: Forever, step by step
Controller support is built into WoW: Forever, so setup happens in the in-game Options menu. Blizzard's November 3 post lists the setting groups but does not document every option, so test changes one at a time.
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- Connect the controller. Use an XInput-compatible pad on your PC or Mac. Forever is only on Battle.net for those two platforms.
- Open the menu. Press Escape, select Options, then select Gamepad under Gameplay.
- Go through the settings. The groups are Camera, HUD Modifier, Frame Focus Style, Action Bars, Targeting and Raid Targeting Options. Try each change on a low-level mob before moving to the next.
- Fill the default bar first. Put your core attacks there, then build the bars you reach by holding LT, RT or both.
- Move the bar if it blocks your view. Blizzard's October 8 beta development notes added Edit Mode for the gamepad action bar.
- Keep an eye on the legend. The gamepad legend sits in the upper-left of the main screen, which helps while the layout is still new.
Default WoW: Forever controller buttons
The left stick moves your character and the right stick controls the camera. Blizzard describes the layout with Xbox names, so the PlayStation column below shows the button in the same physical position.
| Xbox button | PlayStation position | Default function |
|---|---|---|
| LB | L1 | Friendly target |
| RB | R1 | Hostile target |
| A | Cross | Jump |
| B | Circle | Back |
| X | Square | Interact |
| Y | Triangle | Inspect |
| LT, RT or both (hold) | L2, R2 or both | Other action bars; release to return to the default bar |
| Menu | Right center button | Main Menu |
| View | Left center button | Change Focus Frame |
A, B, X and Y also have spell functions, according to Blizzard. Holding LB and RB together opens a second layer of shortcuts:
- B: Backpack
- D-pad Up: Quest Tracker
- D-pad Down: Chat
- Y: Manage Buffs, which is also in the main radial menu
- D-pad Left or Right: switch between action bar sets
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Gamepad support in WoW: Forever is official, but Blizzard calls it a "functional beta". That label applies to the controller feature, not the game. Interface updates are ongoing, and not every screen has a gamepad footer yet.
Does WoW: Forever work with a PlayStation controller?
Yes, WoW: Forever shows PlayStation button icons, and Blizzard says all XInput-compatible controllers are supported. Blizzard's post does not list individual models, so check that your pad is recognized as compatible on your system.
On controllers with supported lighting, the light turns red for Horde and blue for Alliance. It changes nothing in play, but it is a quick sign that the game has picked up the pad.
How many abilities fit on a gamepad?
A controller in WoW: Forever gives you 84 customizable slots. Each set has four action bars with 28 slots combined, and there are three sets, switched by holding LB and RB and pressing D-pad Left or Right.
The four bars come from your triggers: no trigger, LT, RT, or LT and RT together. Release the trigger and you drop back to the default bar. One button can therefore cast four spells, and that is the main thing to plan around.
How does targeting work on a controller?
LB targets friendly units and RB targets hostile ones, while View changes the focus frame. Targeting and Raid Targeting Options have their own groups in the Gamepad settings, so healers and raid leaders should tune these before group content.
Blizzard's October 8 beta development notes also added raid frame traversal and a hold-button indicator. Practice moving across frames before your first dungeon, because a healer's speed depends on it far more than a damage dealer's does.
Can you play WoW: Forever without a keyboard?
Not fully. A keyboard is still needed to type in chat, and Blizzard describes a keyboard-free experience as a longer-term aim that is not available now.
In practice, keep a keyboard within reach. LB + RB + D-pad Down opens Chat, but you still need keys to write a message, whisper a group leader or trade words with a guildmate.
Is WoW: Forever on Xbox because it supports controllers?
No, WoW: Forever is not on Xbox. Xbox UK briefly listed it among November games, then removed the post and confirmed it is not coming, so controller support is for Battle.net players on PC and Mac.
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Frequently asked questions
Is WoW: Forever controller friendly?
Yes, within limits. Blizzard officially supports gamepads in WoW: Forever, with stick movement, target buttons and 84 customizable slots. The feature is still labelled a functional beta, some screens lack a gamepad footer, and interface updates are ongoing, so expect a few rough edges for now.
Do you need an addon to use a controller in WoW: Forever?
No addon is needed to turn on a controller in WoW: Forever. Gamepad support is built in and lives in the game's Options menu under Gameplay. There you can configure the camera, HUD modifier, frame focus style, action bars, targeting and raid targeting settings.
How do you open your bags with a controller in WoW: Forever?
Hold LB and RB together, then press B to open your Backpack in WoW: Forever. PlayStation pads use the buttons in the same positions, which are L1, R1 and Circle. The same held shortcut layer also reaches the Quest Tracker, Chat and Manage Buffs.
Where can you see the controller buttons in WoW: Forever?
WoW: Forever shows a gamepad legend in the upper-left of the main screen. It is the quickest in-game reference while you learn the layout. Button icons can appear in Xbox or PlayStation style, which matches the two controller families Blizzard names in its gamepad post.
Does the WoW: Forever controller light change color?
Yes, on controllers with supported lighting. The light turns red when you play Horde and blue when you play Alliance. Blizzard does not list which controllers qualify, so a pad without this effect can still work if it is XInput-compatible.
How do you switch action bars on a controller in WoW: Forever?
Hold LT, RT or both triggers to reach other bars in the current set, then release to return to the default bar. To change the whole set, hold LB and RB and press D-pad Left or Right. There are three sets in total.