Controller Support for Guild Wars 2

[Minaverus.5679]

This is my first post here, but I figured I'd start off by saying that I've been playing the game for maybe a couple years now and have always thought about how much this game would benefit from having built-in controller support. I spent the better part of the day yesterday in the Steam controller configuration menu, which I must say has a fairly robust assortment of tools and tricks to allow for tinkering with various controller interface options. I have been playing the game now with a tentative controller setup that I came up with that I think feels quite amazing. I initially felt that simply being able to move around in the world comfortably with a controller was a game-changing experience. ESPECIALLY WITH JUMPING PUZZLES (which is one of the things I love the most about this game, by the way). I think that the platforming elements and mounts are one of the biggest strengths of this game and having controller support would only enhance these experiences. After getting the feeling of movement in a good place, I started messing with the skills and different ways to initiate and aim the targeting type skills in a way that felt natural and after a few hours of playtesting (which admittedly I think I'm having more fun playing the game this way) I've been brainstorming what kind of things would have to be added to the current user interface in order to really give the game that default controller support seal of approval. The main things I thought of would be user interface and dialogue selection methods that are designed for controller. XBOX and Playstation style buttons that can appear over skills and the like. selection squares on character select menus, inventory, character menus, and dialogue selections. This is something that I would personally enjoy the challenge of doing for the game. I don't know if ArenaNet has ever considered bringing the game to consoles, but I think something like that happening could be a great catalyst to really get more people into the game. If I end up uploading the config to the Steam community it will be called 'Mean Virus Gamepad Setup', which is my Necromancer's name in the game. I originally was going to set up the controller to only work for specifically for my harbinger, but I ended up making it universal for all classes. I've been using it on my Warrior for leveling and map completion and I'm having a blast! Well anyways, anyone else have any controller stories or anything to add?

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

You can use the 'Search' feature to find the various controller threads.

ArenaNet has stated, in the past, that the studio has no plans to expand to consoles.

[cheri.6941]

as a fellow steam input enjoyer if anyone seeing this is interested I can second it as a great way to play the game, especially once you get a good custom layout set up

also as somebody who bought an xbox last year for the first time since 360 days and has gone on to pretty much ditch PC gaming aside from a few games not on console (gw2 is included), a console version is still a dream for those of us with dated PC hardware and modern console equipment, no matter how unlikely it is,

I'll be looking out for your setup on the steam community though OP, more out of curiosity then anything else as I've got my own config I'm pretty comfy with, though it's basically designed for warrior exclusively, leaves me curious as to how you got something that works for all professions at once

[Minaverus.5679]

Thanks for taking a look! I'm currently writing up a quick guide on how to use the configuration before I upload to Steam. I have even added a way to activate fishing as well, which I tested earlier. I will upload to Steam Community once I have finished the guide, so I can include it in the bindings description. Should be within a couple hours or so while I polish and do some map completion ^_^

[Minaverus.5679]

Figured I'd copy paste my instructions here for anyone who is interested. I just finished.

 

                    This configuration assumes that ALL of your keybinds are set to default, with the following additions : You must set your keybind for Toggle Action Camera to F10, and your preferred selection of mounts to Numpad 1-5. First off, this controller setup has multiple layers of activation, which means the controls change depending on which trigger you have held down. I will start with the base level. I will be using XBOX button names in examples, but theoretically the same scheme can be applied to a PS4 or 5 controller as well.

                     At the base level, your left joystick controls your character movement, with the left joystick click toggling action camera mode, which is essential for playing with controller. The right joystick controls your camera movement, and while not in action camera mode, your mouse cursor, while clicking the right joystick swaps weapons. X button is interact, but there is also a feature that when holding X, it activates your heal skill, as well as your mounted health sharing skill, while double-tapping X will activate autorun. A button is jump, and also activate glider. B button is dodge. Y button summons your mount, and also dismount, but if you hold Y, it will activate your utility skill 3, but my thinking on this was in regards to the mount skill bond of faith which allows you to leap from your mount mid-flight. Double-tapping Y activates your Mount NUMPAD5, which I have set to Griffon. I think it feels particularly good for movement. Pressing start will open your map. Pressing select acts as your right click or target selection in action camera. RB activates Profession Skill 1 and right trigger acts as your left click, or autoattack in action camera mode. Your D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up act as Profession Skills 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. This is where the setup gets a little more complex, as LB and LT act as Layer Changers. Holding LT will give you a different set of keybinds, as well as LB.

                     While holding left trigger, Start becomes Escape or Main Menu, Select becomes Character Sheet. Right Joystick becomes Strafe Left and Strafe Right with Up and Down activating Dodge or V and C, but my main thinking behind this was Mount Control with the Griffon. While in the air with the griffon, hold LT to dive with right joystick up, and then ascend with right joystick down. It actually makes griffon flying a lot easier for me. Other changes include X,A,B,Y and RB becoming Weapon Skills 1-5. But this is where I think my controller setup shines. While simply pressing any of these buttons will activate a skill, I also added a functionality that allows you to Hold down the skill buttons, giving you freedom to aim with your right or left joystick, depending on which thumb is free. This is where I think a lot of people ran into problems playing with controller. You have to try the control setup to see what I mean. D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up become Profession Skills 5,6,7, and Special Action. I also added the hold skill function to the Special Action for special action skills that require targeting.

                     Holding LB is the same as LT, except it works with your utility skills instead of your weapon skills, and the up and down on the right joystick change to zoom in and zoom out of maps and your character and clicking the right stick in utility mode activates fishing or skiff depending on which one you have selected. ArenaNet needs to add a seperate keybind for skiff in the meantime to create better functionality. The D-PAD directionals activate your mounts 1-4. Select opens inventory, and start opens friends list.

This is still a work in progress, as I think of other ways to add controller funtionality, but as of right now I think it feels very good for story, exploration and base level combat. A friend I had talked to asked if I wanted to try it in fractals and I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I will let you know how it works out ^_^ Anyways, thanks for taking a look and I hope you enjoy this controller layout and feel free to change it around if you find a more comfortable layout. One thing people might try is to change the mount skills to different keybinds from dodge, so you don't randomly dodge while you have LT held down, but the way its set up now,  in addition to the griffon, the skimmer also moves up and down while underwater! Not sure about Skyscale as I haven't unlocked it yet... Test it out for yourself!

 

steam://controllerconfig/guild%20wars%202/2778306802

Edited March 13, 2022 by Minaverus.5679
Roller beetle comment was inaccurate.

[Victoria.5086]

This is awesome, I'm following this☺️

[ngekngok.1735]

On 3/13/2022 at 8:04 PM, Minaverus.5679 said:

Figured I'd copy paste my instructions here for anyone who is interested. I just finished.

 

                    This configuration assumes that ALL of your keybinds are set to default, with the following additions : You must set your keybind for Toggle Action Camera to F10, and your preferred selection of mounts to Numpad 1-5. First off, this controller setup has multiple layers of activation, which means the controls change depending on which trigger you have held down. I will start with the base level. I will be using XBOX button names in examples, but theoretically the same scheme can be applied to a PS4 or 5 controller as well.

                     At the base level, your left joystick controls your character movement, with the left joystick click toggling action camera mode, which is essential for playing with controller. The right joystick controls your camera movement, and while not in action camera mode, your mouse cursor, while clicking the right joystick swaps weapons. X button is interact, but there is also a feature that when holding X, it activates your heal skill, as well as your mounted health sharing skill, while double-tapping X will activate autorun. A button is jump, and also activate glider. B button is dodge. Y button summons your mount, and also dismount, but if you hold Y, it will activate your utility skill 3, but my thinking on this was in regards to the mount skill bond of faith which allows you to leap from your mount mid-flight. Double-tapping Y activates your Mount NUMPAD5, which I have set to Griffon. I think it feels particularly good for movement. Pressing start will open your map. Pressing select acts as your right click or target selection in action camera. RB activates Profession Skill 1 and right trigger acts as your left click, or autoattack in action camera mode. Your D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up act as Profession Skills 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. This is where the setup gets a little more complex, as LB and LT act as Layer Changers. Holding LT will give you a different set of keybinds, as well as LB.

                     While holding left trigger, Start becomes Escape or Main Menu, Select becomes Character Sheet. Right Joystick becomes Strafe Left and Strafe Right with Up and Down activating Dodge or V and C, but my main thinking behind this was Mount Control with the Griffon. While in the air with the griffon, hold LT to dive with right joystick up, and then ascend with right joystick down. It actually makes griffon flying a lot easier for me. Other changes include X,A,B,Y and RB becoming Weapon Skills 1-5. But this is where I think my controller setup shines. While simply pressing any of these buttons will activate a skill, I also added a functionality that allows you to Hold down the skill buttons, giving you freedom to aim with your right or left joystick, depending on which thumb is free. This is where I think a lot of people ran into problems playing with controller. You have to try the control setup to see what I mean. D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up become Profession Skills 5,6,7, and Special Action. I also added the hold skill function to the Special Action for special action skills that require targeting.

                     Holding LB is the same as LT, except it works with your utility skills instead of your weapon skills, and the up and down on the right joystick change to zoom in and zoom out of maps and your character and clicking the right stick in utility mode activates fishing or skiff depending on which one you have selected. ArenaNet needs to add a seperate keybind for skiff in the meantime to create better functionality. The D-PAD directionals activate your mounts 1-4. Select opens inventory, and start opens friends list.

This is still a work in progress, as I think of other ways to add controller funtionality, but as of right now I think it feels very good for story, exploration and base level combat. A friend I had talked to asked if I wanted to try it in fractals and I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I will let you know how it works out ^_^ Anyways, thanks for taking a look and I hope you enjoy this controller layout and feel free to change it around if you find a more comfortable layout. One thing people might try is to change the mount skills to different keybinds from dodge, so you don't randomly dodge while you have LT held down, but the way its set up now,  in addition to the griffon, the skimmer also moves up and down while underwater! Not sure about Skyscale as I haven't unlocked it yet... Test it out for yourself!

 

steam://controllerconfig/guild%20wars%202/2778306802

 

as much as i appreciate your effort into making this, but i think it still too much and too complex to remember. this will definitely took advantage of visual/ui guide and HUD. i've always hoping that GW2 implement a good controller support as well as UI/HUD changes for controller like FF14.

[Nokturnal Lunacy.3186]

Here you go, um this has been around for years. 

How To Use a Controller With Any Game

Edited April 19, 2022 by Nokturnal Lunacy.3186

[Nokturnal Lunacy.3186]

3 hours ago, ngekngok.1735 said:

 

as much as i appreciate your effort into making this, but i think it still too much and too complex to remember. this will definitely took advantage of visual/ui guide and HUD. i've always hoping that GW2 implement a good controller support as well as UI/HUD changes for controller like FF14.

Look at the comment above this one. 

[ngekngok.1735]

Ummm, and? it's not that i don't know the 'workaround' to play GW2 with controller. im talking about native support, like in FF14, BDO, ESO, etc. that native support comes with HUD/UI adjustment for controller enabled gameplay.

[Linken.6345]

6 minutes ago, ngekngok.1735 said:

Ummm, and? it's not that i don't know the 'workaround' to play GW2 with controller. im talking about native support, like in FF14, BDO, ESO, etc. that native support comes with HUD/UI adjustment for controller enabled gameplay.

Here you go an answer in that thread from the 1 dev that did work on controller support as a passion project.

 

[ViolentMuffin.9573]

On 3/13/2022 at 2:04 PM, Minaverus.5679 said:

Figured I'd copy paste my instructions here for anyone who is interested. I just finished.

 

                    This configuration assumes that ALL of your keybinds are set to default, with the following additions : You must set your keybind for Toggle Action Camera to F10, and your preferred selection of mounts to Numpad 1-5. First off, this controller setup has multiple layers of activation, which means the controls change depending on which trigger you have held down. I will start with the base level. I will be using XBOX button names in examples, but theoretically the same scheme can be applied to a PS4 or 5 controller as well.

                     At the base level, your left joystick controls your character movement, with the left joystick click toggling action camera mode, which is essential for playing with controller. The right joystick controls your camera movement, and while not in action camera mode, your mouse cursor, while clicking the right joystick swaps weapons. X button is interact, but there is also a feature that when holding X, it activates your heal skill, as well as your mounted health sharing skill, while double-tapping X will activate autorun. A button is jump, and also activate glider. B button is dodge. Y button summons your mount, and also dismount, but if you hold Y, it will activate your utility skill 3, but my thinking on this was in regards to the mount skill bond of faith which allows you to leap from your mount mid-flight. Double-tapping Y activates your Mount NUMPAD5, which I have set to Griffon. I think it feels particularly good for movement. Pressing start will open your map. Pressing select acts as your right click or target selection in action camera. RB activates Profession Skill 1 and right trigger acts as your left click, or autoattack in action camera mode. Your D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up act as Profession Skills 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. This is where the setup gets a little more complex, as LB and LT act as Layer Changers. Holding LT will give you a different set of keybinds, as well as LB.

                     While holding left trigger, Start becomes Escape or Main Menu, Select becomes Character Sheet. Right Joystick becomes Strafe Left and Strafe Right with Up and Down activating Dodge or V and C, but my main thinking behind this was Mount Control with the Griffon. While in the air with the griffon, hold LT to dive with right joystick up, and then ascend with right joystick down. It actually makes griffon flying a lot easier for me. Other changes include X,A,B,Y and RB becoming Weapon Skills 1-5. But this is where I think my controller setup shines. While simply pressing any of these buttons will activate a skill, I also added a functionality that allows you to Hold down the skill buttons, giving you freedom to aim with your right or left joystick, depending on which thumb is free. This is where I think a lot of people ran into problems playing with controller. You have to try the control setup to see what I mean. D-PAD Left,Down,Right, and Up become Profession Skills 5,6,7, and Special Action. I also added the hold skill function to the Special Action for special action skills that require targeting.

                     Holding LB is the same as LT, except it works with your utility skills instead of your weapon skills, and the up and down on the right joystick change to zoom in and zoom out of maps and your character and clicking the right stick in utility mode activates fishing or skiff depending on which one you have selected. ArenaNet needs to add a seperate keybind for skiff in the meantime to create better functionality. The D-PAD directionals activate your mounts 1-4. Select opens inventory, and start opens friends list.

This is still a work in progress, as I think of other ways to add controller funtionality, but as of right now I think it feels very good for story, exploration and base level combat. A friend I had talked to asked if I wanted to try it in fractals and I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I will let you know how it works out ^_^ Anyways, thanks for taking a look and I hope you enjoy this controller layout and feel free to change it around if you find a more comfortable layout. One thing people might try is to change the mount skills to different keybinds from dodge, so you don't randomly dodge while you have LT held down, but the way its set up now,  in addition to the griffon, the skimmer also moves up and down while underwater! Not sure about Skyscale as I haven't unlocked it yet... Test it out for yourself!

 

steam://controllerconfig/guild%20wars%202/2778306802

 

Thanks for sharing that it inspired me to try to create my own controller setup since I can't really sit right now (for medical reasons) and I'm lying down mostly. What I did is I used AntiMicroX program which maps keyboard and mouse buttons  to controller and I've created several sets of buttons for different situations. I have a default exploration set which I'll use to move around out of combat in cities, open world, puzzles, etc. But with LT I swap it to mount selector set with all mounts mapped to buttons (I've also got raptor mount mapped in exploration) and when I mount the set changes to keybind for mount controlls and skills. When I dismount normally it gets me back to exploration set but if I dismount with mount attack skill it gets me to combat set. I can also enter it by pressing back in exploration set. Combat set has buttons for dodging and healing and weapons skills but when I hold LT the buttons change to utility and professions skills. I still gotta test out how it all works but you gave me a great idea, thank you! :D

[KingJake.6529]

We don't have native controller support currently simply because of UI limitations

[devastoscz.9851]

I use REWASD and an Xbox Controller (Elite works better, but normal is good too) for all my classes. Combined with Action Cam, its fantastic. I do CM Fractals and am a proficient roamer and WvW player; low plat in PvP (back when I still played). There are small inaccuracies you have to make up for using movement when placing ground targeted skills, as a joystick is not as precise as a mouse, but other than that, its excellent.

Basically, you use your right trigger to auto attack. 2-5 on XABY. Then left trigger functions as a "shift" button, switching those face keys to 6-9, your elite goes on Right bumper, weapon swap on Left bumper. Dodge on left (movement stick) jump on right. F1-F4 on the D-Pad.

I'll leave a link if you guys want to check out the full config: https://www.rewasd.com/community/config/share?hash=60b8c8a24ec6e1e2d1aa14dfcd2cb4b1