LoL: WASD controls might be coming to League, a change that excites and alarms players

Rumors of a new gameplay mechanic that could revolutionize how League of Legends is played are setting social media on fire. After 15 years of traditional gameplay using the mouse for movement and aiming, it might soon be possible to play LoL using the classic WASD movement keys (for QWERTY keyboards), according to the Dataminer SkinSpotlights. Riot Games has declined to comment on the information, but the goal is clear: to modernize the game and make it more appealing to a new generation of players.

Almost all modern games use this setup today, and this includes other MOBAs (Battlerite, Supervive, Paladins, SMITE). The WASD option wouldn’t be mandatory, of course—players could still stick with the classic configuration that’s been standard since the game’s release. However, leaked in-game screenshots show what the new movement option could look like, as well as a related menu for using the Flash spell. There appear to be three Flash settings listed: "Cursor", "WASD with Cursor Enhanced", and "WASD with Cursor Fallback". The mouse would still be essential, particularly for aiming abilities.

Naturally, the leak of this new feature has sparked a wave of reactions. There’s mostly excitement, as LoL hasn’t changed the core way it’s played since its release in 2009. This new mode, clearly designed for players who prefer more direct character control, was already tested in SWARM, the summer 2024 limited-time game mode. Streamers, coaches, and observers of the scene globally are curious to see how strong this might be in the future.

There’s also a certain sense of concern. After all, how can you not worry about falling behind if you don’t adapt to this new gameplay opportunity? Some already believe that kiting will become significantly more effective and easier for ADCs, as well as dodging skillshots in general. A real question arises, especially at the highest levels of play: which pro players will take the risk of adapting as quickly as possible to get ahead of the competition? Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski has hinted that, at his age (29), this change likely isn’t aimed at him. Christian "IWDominate" Rivera went even further, boldly stating that he believes this feature will never make it to Summoner’s Rift.

Jakob "YamatoCannon" Mebdi echoed similar concerns during a recent stream, describing the change as “too powerful for the game” and something that could completely upend the habits of LoL’s dedicated player base. For him, introducing a mechanic that rewrites how movement works, especially one that disrupts the refined muscle memory of pro players, might require something far more drastic: a League of Legends 2.

He raised the provocative question:

It’s a dilemma that highlights just how seismic this change could be, not just technically, but philosophically for the game and its community.

As of now, no official information has been released, though many expect Riot Games to formally announce the mode in the coming days or weeks, potentially with a rollout on the PBE. That announcement should also clarify the conditions under which this potential revolution will be introduced to the game.