Apple Develops Two Proprietary Game Controllers for Cross-Platform Play
Apple is developing at least two proprietary game controllers to support gaming across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. One resembles Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with a detachable or magnetic design for mobile devices, while the other is a standard wireless controller similar to PlayStation DualSense or Xbox. Both are in internal testing, with no official specifications, launch date, or pricing announced.
Apple is developing at least two proprietary game controller hardware products, covering the cross-platform gaming ecosystem of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The company has long relied on third-party controller support from Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox.
The two controllers feature distinctly different form factors. One adopts a dual-sided detachable or magnetic telescopic clamping design similar to Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, which can be attached to the sides of an iPhone or iPad, giving mobile devices a portable handheld gaming form with haptic feedback and physical joysticks. The other is a standard-size wireless controller, resembling the PlayStation DualSense or Xbox wireless controller, aimed at desktop and living-room gaming scenarios connected to Apple TV, Mac, or external displays. It integrates a multi-axis gyroscope, haptic vibration motors, and a long-lasting battery system.
In recent years, with the continuous performance improvements of Apple's A-series and M-series chips, the company has facilitated the native porting of several AAA console titles, including Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed, to iOS and macOS platforms, and offers mobile chips with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Apple also operates the game subscription service Apple Arcade.
Currently, both controllers remain in internal testing and engineering validation stages. Apple has not publicly disclosed specific product specifications, launch schedules, or final pricing.