So we previously had unique walking animations for every class, a wide variety of gaits and struts fitting each of the classes' different styles. 

Now all classes, men and women, shais and giants. have the exact same walking animation?

And the animation is NOT good at all. Looks clumsy and unnatural.

Who comes up with these ideas?... it's a plain damn downgrade. Revert it back the way it was.

Did they at least add a way to walk instead of auto-walk? Because that was the biggest issue for me. They let you press scroll lock (odd button but ok) and you're automatically walking in a certain direction. I don't understand this reasoning. This game is supposed to be immersive but it's like they try hard to make it anything but. Please, if it's not possible already, make it so when we press scroll lock, your character doesn't automatically walk forward. This "feature" makes zero sense.

There is a key bind in the options that limits your forward movement to walking as long as the key is pressed.  By default, I think it is either Tab or CapsLock.  It makes a lot more sense than using the auto-walk function if all you are trying to do is walk a few steps.

That being said, the convenience of the hold-key-for-walk system is hindered greatly by the new walking animation.

well you move your mouse to see your character face while pushing move and alk in same time ^_^

recommended to do that in big plain area ^_^

Maybe if we organize a walking march across the desert or something it will heighten awareness of this issue.  We'll call it "attack of the zombie horde".

If nothing else, the induced lag would be amusing.

lol, yes, now that you mention it, that new animation does look somewhat "zombiefied".

I hate it. 

All characters now stroll around like clumsy, depressed drunks using the same generic ugly animation and switching between walking and running is extremely weird. Super slow walking speed as well. Character keeps walking after releasing the key and then the character is frozen in this weird pose for a few seconds. Awful really.

Old character walk animation was stern and elegant and worked fine.
Bring back the old animation or let us at least choose between old and new.

I want the old ones back for all characters.
Let us choose in settings. :/

Agreed bring back the old design,  there was absolutly no need to impose this ridiculous character gait upon the player base.   

We have done nothing to deserve this type of punishmnet.

Personally I like the change (not that I really use walk, actually I hardly see anyone ever walking about). It feels far more natural to me (though perhaps the arms swing a bit too much now, but nothing's perfect). Previously it was like my character was strutting down a catwalk, and I really disliked that.

I am very pissed off about the guardian walking animation. It was cool, she walked with a heft that gave rise to one of my fav twitter videos of all time. The new one is a lethargic walk and I absolutely hate it. 

The slow-mo walk is my favourite thing in bdo 

https://twitter.com/ShadoowRah/status/1481458595833454598 

(credit Satellizer from twitter)