It’s a common opinion that mouse and keyboard is far superior than using a controller when playing shooters. Because of this, high level Overwatch console players have started using input converters to use mouse and keyboard setups to get an in-game advantage and those that use a standard controller are fed up with it. Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has weighed in on this situation and said that, “The Overwatch team objects to the use of mouse and keyboard on console.”
“The Overwatch team objects to the use of mouse and keyboard on console.”
According to a post by game director Jeff Kaplan, the Overwatch team does not approve of using input conversion devices and third-party hardware to have an advantage in their game.
He goes on to say that they’ve contacted first-party manufacturers and expressed their concern on the matter. He states that console manufacturers should choose between one of two extremes: either completely disallow input conversion devices or openly support mouse and keyboard for all players.
Basically, either support it all the way or don’t support it at all.
For those that aren’t familiar, players need to purchase third-party hardware to use mouse and keyboard setups with their consoles. One popular example is the XIM4, a $125 converter that is compatible with the current generation’s Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and even the previous generation’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Later on in the same thread, another user states that Kaplan’s statement more or less sums up to this whole situation not being Blizzard’s problem and something the console manufacturers have to address. Kaplan then replies, “No. This is very much our problem. We just can’t fix it without help from our partners.”
It seems that as far as Blizzard’s end is concerned, there isn’t anything they can do to counter the influx of Overwatch console players relying on third-party hardware to get an in-game advantage even if they wanted to. Kaplan has thrown the ball over to Sony and Microsoft to address this issue. Whether or not they’ll do anything about it is still in the air.
