this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Apple
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I don’t disagree, but who needs an official controller from Apple when you can just use one from Sony, Microsoft, or some other company that actually specializes in gaming controller hardware? I don’t know if the engineers at Apple actually play enough games to know what people like in their controllers.
Can confirm that the backbone is quite nice
I’d like to see them try if only to see what software they integrate into the device. Apple excels when they control hardware and software top to bottom and a controller would really benefit from that. One button game capture and share, or a special game specific UI when the controller connects? Or Siri language processing maybe? Some mag safe integrations? Multiplayer messaging and calling integrated into iMessage (don’t need a controller for that but whatever).
If Apple really wanted to make the iPhone a game console I’d be all in if they were, but I really can’t stand the half asses approach they are taking now. It can play RE8 natively? Cool! I’ll never touch it if the gameplay with an actual controller is an afterthought!
Having said all that… the BackBone looks dope as hell and I want one. It’s what I would expect Apple would develop in house
Apple is the platform of standardization (within their walled garden) though. And as much as that shits on consumer choice, it does make for as consistent an experience as possible. That’s valuable for a lot of people but especially developers.
If I were Apple, and I wanted to position the iPhone to compete with something like Nintendo Switch, I would:
Form an exclusive partnership with Sony or Microsoft to officially support their controller.
Have my engineers work directly with that partner to make their cloud gaming and console streaming apps absolutely top notch. Talking “Apple native” feel and functionality.
Sell first-party kickstand cases or popsockets. MagSafe, preferably.
Sell official first-party controller brackets for holding the phone. Bonus, these are “magic” like the keyboard or the pro monitor mount.
Start a licensing deal with 8bitdo for an official co-branded controller.
Start a series of exclusive games featuring a brand mascot character (original or adopt a forgotten one, like Bonk or something idgaf)
Edit, one more very important thing: Allow retroarch in the App Store and allow for roms to be airdropped and for the app to run a restricted SMB server (drop into a specific directory and user approves connections)