As we develop our knowledge around touch controls, we’re also taking the opportunity to learn a few things about how these controls work in different games. With the team at Ninja Theory we worked on Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice to integrate the controls and how they show up in different scenarios and game modes. As a result, you’ll see the controls change as you move around and fighting controls will appear when you encounter the Northmen.
For other games, we added touch controls without modifying the existing game. In Hotshot Racing we added a touch-controlled throttle that provides the same control that you would get from analog triggers on a controller. Just tap the handbrake button, spin the wheel, and you’ll find yourself drifting around the track in no time. In New Super Lucky’s Tale, the controls will feel very familiar and will even take on a little bit of Lucky’s personality.
And of course we designed the Xbox touch controls along the same ergonomic principles that we use for the traditional Xbox controller, but with new controls that enable you do everything with just two digits. People’s hands are different and that’s why we added customization, so you can put the controls in the place on screen that works best for you.
As we look to evolve input we’ve also created a new set of gaming icons that go beyond ABXY, so that even if you’re brand new to gaming – finding the “jump” or “dodge” button has never been easier.