From TechRadar · · 1m 30s
Dawn of War 4 could come to console, says creative director
King Art's Jan Theysen says a console version is technically possible, but RTS games need controller-friendly redesigns to work well on gamepad.
In brief
King Art's Jan Theysen says a console version is technically possible, but RTS games need controller-friendly redesigns to work well on gamepad. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen says a console port is technically feasible but would require redesigning controls for gamepad play. Originally…
Console version could happen
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen told TechRadar Gaming that a console edition is possible, though nothing has been announced yet.
“I mean, I think we could do it on a technical level.”
The control challenge
RTS games on console are difficult because they use many keyboard prompts. King Art has roughly forty keys on keyboard for different functions that would need to map to gamepad.
“RTS on consoles is always a big challenge when it comes to the controls, right?”
Not a direct translation
Theysen said King Art would not try to map exact keyboard controls to gamepad, as that does not work well. Instead, the studio would redesign gameplay to suit controller play.
“I think our goal would not be to try to get the exact same controls mapped on a gamepad because that's not really working.”
King Art has done it before
The studio has successfully brought RTS games to console with titles like Iron Harvest and Battle Worlds: Kronos, showing the approach can work.
Making it work on controller
King Art would ideally make adjustments so the game actually works well on controller, rather than forcing PC controls onto a gamepad.
“I think our goal would be to change the gameplay in places and make adjustments so that it actually works well on controller.”
PC launch this December
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 launches on PC on December 3. Any console version would come after the PC release.
Here's the gist
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen says a console port is technically feasible but would require redesigning controls for gamepad play.
