As the ever-expanding world of Aeternum continues to beckon adventurers, Amazon Games announces a groundbreaking update that is set to revolutionize the gameplay experience in New World: native controller support. With this highly anticipated addition, players can now immerse themselves in the rich landscapes of Aeternum using their preferred controller, unlocking new avenues for exploration, combat, and interaction within the game.

Introducing Native Controller Support

The arrival of native controller support in New World marks a significant milestone in the game's evolution, opening doors to New World Gold a wider audience of players who prefer the familiarity and comfort of gaming with a controller. With two pre-set controller layouts available, adventurers can seamlessly transition into the immersive world of Aeternum and embark on their epic journey with ease.

In a bid to optimize the New World experience for controller play, Amazon Games has introduced a slew of new features and settings designed to enhance gameplay mechanics and offer greater flexibility to players. Among the notable additions are:

Aim Assist: Assisting players with aiming ranged attacks, aim assist provides a helpful tool for precision targeting, particularly against AI enemies. While currently exclusive to controller input and limited to AI adversaries, Amazon Games has hinted at reevaluating its implementation for future seasons.

Target Friction: Reducing reticle speed when hovering over a valid target, target friction offers finer control and accuracy during combat encounters, ensuring players can effectively engage with their foes. Similar to aim assist, this feature is available exclusively on a controller, further enhancing the controller's utility in combat scenarios.

Enemy Target Lock: Enabling players to lock the camera onto an AI enemy, target lock facilitates fluid combat maneuvers and seamless transitions between multiple targets. Supported by both controller and mouse and keyboard input methods, target lock introduces a new layer of tactical depth to combat encounters, empowering players to strategize and adapt to dynamic battlefield conditions.

Freeform Movement: Allowing for unrestricted movement in all directions, including towards the camera, freeform movement grants players greater freedom and agility in navigating the game world. Whether evading enemy attacks or maneuvering through treacherous terrain, the ability to run in any direction enhances the fluidity and responsiveness of movement controls.

Use Camera Direction for Melee Attacks: With this setting enabled, melee attacks and blocking align with the direction of the camera, providing a more intuitive and immersive combat experience. By default, this feature is disabled for mouse and keyboard input devices, allowing players to customize their gameplay preferences according to their playstyle.

Improved Accessibility: In addition to gameplay enhancements, Amazon Games has prioritized accessibility with the introduction of a new radial menu for quick access to commonly used functions, such as emotes, commands, and camping. Shift modifiers offer quick access to combat abilities, while UI help bars and shortcut buttons streamline navigation for a more user-friendly experience.

Insight from the Development Team

In a recent interview, members of the New World development team shared their insights on the implementation of controller support and its impact on gameplay and accessibility. According to the team, the addition of target lock has significantly enriched combat gameplay, enabling fluid movements and dynamic engagement with adversaries. With the ability to New World Coins dodge and circle around opponents effortlessly, players are encouraged to explore new strategies and tactics in combat encounters.

Furthermore, the introduction of controller support has expanded the scope of quick actions and shortcuts available to players, enhancing accessibility and convenience in navigating the game world. Shift modifiers and radial menus offer intuitive solutions for executing commands and accessing essential functions, ensuring a seamless and immersive gameplay experience for all players.

The Development Process

Behind the scenes, the integration of native controller support into New World has been a meticulous and collaborative effort, involving extensive testing, iteration, and feedback from the player community. Amazon Games has remained committed to delivering a polished and responsive gaming experience, addressing technical challenges and refining gameplay mechanics to ensure a seamless transition for players embracing controller support.

Looking ahead, Amazon Games is dedicated to continuing its support and development of New World, with plans to introduce additional functionality, such as rebinding, to further enhance the controller experience. By prioritizing player feedback and embracing innovation, Amazon Games aims to uphold its commitment to delivering engaging and immersive gaming experiences in New World and beyond.

As players prepare to embark on their next adventure in the mystical realm of Aeternum, the introduction of native controller support heralds a new era of accessibility, immersion, and gameplay depth in New World. With a host of new features and enhancements designed to enrich the player experience, Amazon Games invites adventurers to discover the wonders of Aeternum like never before, forging their legacy in the heart of a living, breathing world filled with endless possibilities. As the journey unfolds, the spirit of exploration and adventure awaits those brave enough to answer the call of New World.