Apple's new gaming controller patent suggests various design concepts potentially allowing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to step up their gaming experience.
The latest patent filing of the tech giant suggests that Apple is working on game controllers that could attach to its mobile devices, such as the iPad and iPhone — as well as its Macs.
Apple Gaming Controller Patent
As per a news story by 9to5Mac, the iPhone maker has recently filed patents for gaming controller concepts, suggesting that Apple is exploring releasing gaming accessories for its devices.
Both the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) have already approved the game controller concepts of the Cupertino-based tech giant.
It turns out that the EPO first published the game controller concept of Apple two weeks ago, or on March 31, to be more precise. Apple may have taken a shot at the patent in Europe first because there are less steps in the continent's patenting process.
On the other hand, the USPTO followed suit and published a similar filing on April 10.
It is interesting to point out that the published patents of Apple showcased a total of three gaming controller concepts.
That said, 9to5Mac offered in the same report that the latest patent could likely suggest that Apple is still experimenting with the gaming accessory.
The filings included multiple concepts as if the tech giant is still deciding its direction. It would be exciting to find out the final product Apple shows us fans.
Apple Gaming Controller for iPhones, iPads
One of the concepts proposed by the engineering team of Apple shows a mobile gaming accessory that looks closely similar to the familiar-looking Joy-Con of the popular gaming console, Nintendo Switch.
However, unlike the Switch accessory, Apple's take on it allows its users to attach it to the sides of an iPad or an iPhone either in landscape or portrait mode. Fans were not expecting the controller being applicable to the iPad so this certainly is a nice surprise.
Meanwhile, apart from the Joy-Con-like concept, the Cupertino giant offered another version of the controller, wherein it is attached to iPhones as a foldable case.
The foldable gaming case appears to feature a secondary screen, which could also be used in productivity tasks for those who want to mix work and play, according to a recent report by WCCFTech.
Apple Controller for Macs, iPhones, iPads
That's not all, the iPhone maker included Macs, which has been more powerful than ever with its latest M1 chip offerings, in its third gaming controller concept.
Its design takes a more conventional approach — similar to controllers these days. To be exact, the gaming accessory sports a traditional joystick design which connects to Apple devices through Bluetooth.
