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Let's face it: Playing high-end mobile games with clumsy touch controls is rarely a good time. This is probably why Apple is finally getting serious about its own gaming hardware.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the tech giant is currently working on an official game controller for the iPhone.
The company reportedly has two controllers in development to compete with the many third-party options for mobile devices and has been developing these peripherals for more than a year.
However, the catch is that you probably won't see an Apple logo on the final product.
Instead of releasing the new iPhone controller under its main brand, Apple will do so through its subsidiary, Beats, where executives are reportedly leading the product's engineering and design
This strategy may help the iPhone controller reach a larger audience, as it allows the product to avoid some of the more expensive materials that the company typically uses on its mainline products.
Despite a historically rocky relationship with gaming, Apple's new hardware push signals a major shift in strategy
Under Steve Jobs' leadership, Apple had a somewhat contentious relationship with gaming, as it was not perceived as a high priority for the company at the time.
However, since 2019, the company has offered Apple Arcade. The subscription service unlocks a massive library of mobile games for Apple users.
Since many of the games offered on the service play dramatically better with a physical controller, it makes sense for Apple to offer its own first-party option.
Currently, the iPhone supports a long list of third-party controllers
This includes peripherals that clamp onto the device to turn it into a traditional handheld, as well as existing options like the DualShock 4, DualSense, Xbox Wireless Controller, Joy-Cons, and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Whether a Beats-branded peripheral can actually dethrone these heavyweights remains to be seen.
