Diablo 4 fully supports controller control, even on PC. What players on PlayStation and Xbox have probably known for a long time now astonishes PC gamers as well: playing the ARPG with a controller apparently feels better. A revelation for many who have been playing Diablo for years.
This is how Diablo 4 plays with a controller: The controls are fairly similar. Instead of aiming your abilities and moving with the mouse, you use a stick, but with almost the same possibilities. Abilities are mapped to the buttons.
The only “advantage” that a keyboard has is the ability to use more keys. With hotkeys and the customizable emote wheel, most things can be done equally fast with both input devices.
At the release of Diablo 4, there was a problem, that horses were slower when using a controller. The bug has since been fixed.
This is what players say: On Reddit, one user noted that he can play much better with a controller and received dozens of comments of agreement. He claims: with the controller, he deals more damage and can use more abilities:
I don’t know why, but I can unleash more attacks in a shorter time (HOTA Barb). It feels like a brand new game with my Barb. Stab, Smash, Stab, Smash, but with 50% more speed.
He has even managed to effortlessly master the Abattoir of Zir at level 10 while comfortably lying on the couch instead of sitting in front of his keyboard.
“Can only play ARPGs this way”
Other players agree and state: they can only play ARPGs this way. These games are designed to cause wrist injuries. With a controller, that’s not such a big problem.
Especially older gamers, of whom Diablo 4 apparently has many, specifically look for a controller feature in ARPGs. Their hands are already ruined, so it’s good not to destroy them further with poorly ergonomically designed mice or bad keyboard positions.
Others point out that while controllers are excellent for gameplay, they are terrible for inventory management. Here, the PC has the advantage over consoles: using the mouse for selling and sorting, while using the controller for everything else.
Only some skills like the Sorceress’s teleport or the Hunter’s jumps are slightly less precise with controllers. However, this can be overlooked.
If you want to see for yourself how well Diablo 4 works with a controller but still need one – here you can find the secret tip from our hardware expert:
I have been playing with the perfect controller on PC for 3 years
