Apple Silicon Macs (MacBook, MacMini, iMac) have made it possible to run iPhone games on a larger screen of MacOS, thanks to the new architecture. While this has broadened gaming options, there are some issues, especially when playing mobile games that rely on WASD controls.
Many gamers have reported a frustrating issue when using WASD controls to play mobile games on their Mac. When trying to move diagonally (e.g., pressing W + D, A + W, S + D, or S + A), the movement becomes inconsistent:
- Initially, the diagonal movement works as expected.
- However, after a split seconds, the character begin running straight in a single direction.
- In some cases, the controls become unresponsive for a brief moment, making it difficult to play intensive games like Mobile MMORPGs.
This problem is common among mobile games running on Macs, particularly those downloaded from the App Store.
How to Fix : Enabling Controller Emulation
To fix this issue, you need to enable Controller Emulation in the game’s control settings. Here’s how to do it:
1. Launch the Game: Open the game you’re experiencing movement issues with.
2. Go to Settings: Go to Settings, usually at the very top left of the screen, Game title > Settings.
3. Find the Game Control Settings: Then, at the Game Control tabs.
4. Enable Controller Emulation: Toggle the Controller Emulation setting to “On.” This emulates a controller, which seems to resolve the diagonal movement issue.
5. Keyboard Only Control Scheme: Most importantly, to avoid getting the mouse cursor hidden when playing, you need to select Keyboard only on Control Scheme.
6. Test the Controls: After enabling Controller Emulation, try moving diagonally again using the WASD keys. The controls should now function smoothly, just like they would on a PC.
Why This Works
Enabling Controller Emulation modifies the way the system interprets inputs just like the game controllers, making it more stable when registering simultaneous key presses. This adjustment ensures smoother diagonal movements, improving gameplay in mobile MMORPGs and other action-intensive games.
If you continue to experience issues, consider updating the game or macOS, as patches might address these compatibility problems over time.