🎮 Apple has reportedly been developing an iPhone gaming controller for over a year
🎧 The controller will launch under the Beats brand to enter the third-party accessories market
👍 Using the Beats brand allows Apple to release experimental gaming hardware without risking its core brand identity
👀 Specific controller features are unknown, but strong Beats brand recognition is expected to boost consumer trust
Apple has always positioned the iPhone as a gaming platform, but we’ve never seen the Cupertino-based company release any specific branded hardware to support its gaming ambitions. However, that could be set to change.
According to reliable insider Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has “been working on gaming controllers for the iPhone for a bit over a year”.
Instead of being Apple-branded, the controller will be designed under the Beats brand, and it could kick-start the release of more experimental products.
Beats, which was acquired by Apple in 2014 for $3 billion, has only really been used for headphones primarily, but Gurman says Apple could use Beats to “capitalize on the third-party accessories market” without risking the prestigious Apple brand.
Gurman believes Beats would be a good fit for a gaming controller, as it fits “naturally under the Beats umbrella” as a culture and lifestyle product.
As for what the controller will entail, there are few details available. We’ve seen countless mobile controllers over the years, from clip-ons to wireless and transforming designs.
A Beats iPhone gaming controller would be an easy choice for many consumers, who will immediately recognize the brand and therefore feel its trustworthy and more reliable than a competing, yet unknown third-party brand.
Apple already sells third-party controllers on its store, including the PS5 DualSense controller and the Backbone One.
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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.