Creative Assembly, the UK-based game development studio, is working on Total War: Warhammer 40,000, a strategy game that combines real-time tactics with deep, turn-based strategy elements. The team is developing both the game’s battle system and controller support at the same time, aiming to ensure that players who prefer using a gamepad can enjoy the full experience. Dave Petry, the battle product owner for the game, said the team has created a system that "really does work" and challenged the idea that controllers are unsuitable for real-time strategy (RTS) games. Petry emphasized that controllers are not only an input method but also a tool for accessibility, allowing more players to engage with the game comfortably. He explained that Creative Assembly aimed to bring the Total War experience to those who prefer using a gamepad, rather than a keyboard and mouse. The development of controller support was done in parallel with the game's battle system and campaign, with the goal of refining the experience to the "right spot" for all players. Petry referenced his previous work on Halo Wars 2, a game that successfully combined RTS mechanics with controller support. He praised the industry's growing trend of developing strategy games with controller compatibility, noting that many studios are doing an "excellent job" of adapting to this shift. While he acknowledged the technical challenges involved, Petry expressed the team’s full commitment to meeting the high standards required for console performance. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is set to release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. The game is part of the Total War series, known for its grand-scale battles and detailed strategy elements, and will be the first entry in the franchise to support controller input natively.