Blizzard Entertainment has indicated that World of Warcraft: Forever may eventually be available on consoles after launching with built-in controller support on PC. The announcement was made during an interview with GamesRadar, where Blizzard’s vice president and executive producer Holly Longdale discussed the game’s design priorities and future platform reach.
World of Warcraft: Forever recently entered beta exclusively on PC, supporting gamepads for the first time in the franchise’s history. The beta reportedly attracted the largest player turnout in the series, which extends over two decades and traditionally remains PC-focused. The official launch is scheduled for 4th November.
Controller Support Paves Way for Console Versions
Longdale explained that although the current release is PC-only, Blizzard aims to enable players to “play it wherever you want and, at some point, on whatever you want.” She clarified that the initial step involved integrating controller support effectively within World of Warcraft: Forever to accommodate a wider range of devices.
She highlighted that gaming platforms could become increasingly universal and seamless, citing Microsoft’s unannounced Project Helix, a device blending PC and console functionality. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s earlier confirmation that this next-generation console could run PC games underscores this potential convergence.
Longdale also noted that players have already been able to run World of Warcraft: Forever on handheld PC devices like the ASUS ROG Ally X, indicating Blizzard’s work on gamepad support is intended to offer flexibility beyond conventional consoles.
Platform Expansion Strategy and Reception
While recognising that broadening platform availability is a key goal, Longdale made clear that Blizzard’s approach involves measured steps, beginning with the current PC beta experience. She also addressed the challenge of balancing community feedback, stating that the team has learned to avoid focusing exclusively on the loudest voices in the player base.
The potential move to consoles is particularly notable for Xbox and PlayStation audiences, who have not previously had official access to new iterations of World of Warcraft. No specific platforms or release dates beyond PC have been confirmed at this stage.
With World of Warcraft: Forever poised for its official release next week, the new edition marks a significant evolution by combining the franchise’s legacy with modern input methods that could lead to expansion across Xbox and PlayStation hardware in the future.
