Playing RTS with a controller? Total War: Warhammer 40,000 dev says it 'really does work' in their game: 'I think we've landed in a really solid spot'

Creative Assembly, the developer behind Total War: Warhammer 40,000, believes that using a gamepad for the real-time strategy (RTS) genre is not only possible but also effective. The studio's battle product owner, Dave Petry, made this assertion at Gamescom, stating that it's a myth that controller support doesn't work for the RTS genre. He emphasized that controllers are merely an input method and an accessibility tool, allowing players to enjoy the game in the way they prefer.

Petry cited Halo Wars 2 as a prime example of a well-implemented controller and RTS game, though he acknowledged the simplicity of that title. In contrast, Age of Empires 2 on Xbox required automated villagers to manage resources and construction due to the difficulty of micromanagement with twin sticks. However, Total War games handle building and tech trees through a turn-based campaign, focusing the real-time battles on the strategic gameplay.

While some aspects of the RTS genre may feel less intuitive with a controller, such as cycle-charging or drawing missile fire, Petry expressed confidence that Creative Assembly can refine the experience as they develop and release the game. He expressed pride in the studio's technical progress and stated that they are "quite proud of where we are" when it comes to the technical side of things.