Mobile gaming is becoming more and more popular, according to a Newzoo report, by 2023 there will be about 3.7 billion people playing games on mobile devices worldwide. Apple also cannot ignore the huge appeal of mobile games, as evidenced by the launch of the Apple Arcade gaming service.
According to the latest patent that has just been registered, it is possible that Apple is quietly developing a game controller for iPhone and iPad. The patent is called “Magnetic Attachable Gaming Accessories”.
The description of the patent shows that this gamepad can be attached to a smartphone or tablet magnetically, with physical buttons that help control and manipulate the game without blocking the display.
According to the registered patent, Apple is working on two different gamepad designs. The first is similar to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controller, with two separate sections that can be attached to either side of an iPhone or iPad. It has familiar analog and control buttons.
The second style resembles the design of the Nintendo 3DS. The main screen will be the iPhone, the control section is below and there is an extra touch screen. The secondary screen can be used to chat in the game, so that there is no need to display the virtual keyboard on the iPhone screen and help save the game display area. In addition, this secondary display can also help display more game content, depending on how the developers will support it, like the Nintendo 3DS.
In addition, Apple’s patent reveals a third design. It’s a completely separate gamepad, similar to a PlayStation or Xbox controller. This controller can connect to your iPhone or iPad by bluetooth, giving you a console-like gaming experience.
However, it is still unclear when Apple will actually launch a game controller specifically for iPhone and iPad.
Reference: phonearena
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