Playing 'Fortnite' on an iPad Pro and iPhone XR with a controller is a considerable improv...

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2019
Epic Games has recently added MFi controller support for iPhone and iPad to "Fortnite." We decided to see how good of a gaming experience you could get on both the 2018 11-inch iPad Pro and the iPhone XR using the Steelseries Nimbus MFi controller.

The Steelseries Nimbus with the iPad Pro
The Steelseries Nimbus with the iPad Pro


Setting up the controller was a breeze. After connecting it to iPad Pro using Bluetooth, we were prompted to download the SteelSeries Nimbus companion app on the App Store. The controller connected instantly after doing so and started functioning correctly as soon as we opened "Fortnite."






It shouldn't be a big surprise that using a control surface other than a touch screen is the way this game is meant to be played. Gameplay and controls are incredibly smooth. Being able to aim and fire with the controller buttons made it so much easier than using the old touchscreen controls, thanks to the recent iOS 12.1 update that enabled those buttons.

However, we did run into an issue where we could not crouch because the thumbsticks are not able to act as buttons on a press. Other than that, all of the controls worked flawlessly.

You can easily connect an external display to the 2018 iPad Pro with USB-C, and play on the big screen while sitting across the room using a controller. While the iOS game catalog is still somewhat less than optimal for gaming on a giant television, this can make the iPad Pro a gaming console on its own.

The larger screen of the iPad Pro makes using a controller to play 'Fortnite' close to using a console
The larger screen of the iPad Pro makes using a controller to play 'Fortnite' close to using a console


Connecting the controller to the iPhone XR was just as easy as it was for the iPad Pro, and it worked correctly as soon as we got into a "Fortnite" match.

We did find it a little hard to see players at a distance on the iPhone compared to iPad Pro, which has a much larger display and higher resolution. Nevertheless, the $750 iPhone XR had no issue running the game at 60 fps and high settings. We did experience a couple of dropped frames here and there, but overall, it performed incredibly well.

The iPhone XR's screen is certainly smaller, but still extremely usable for 'Fortnite' with a controller
The iPhone XR's screen is certainly smaller, but still extremely usable for 'Fortnite' with a controller


Anyone who enjoys playing "Fortnite" mobile or other iOS games with controller support should buy an MFi controller. Compared to playing with touchscreen controls, playing with a controller offers the best "Fortnite" mobile gaming experience you can get.

The outstanding performance of both the A12 and A12X processors make the gaming experience comparable to playing on a dedicated console. The SteelSeries Nimbus controller is currently on sale on Amazon, priced at $44.99.

With rumors of Apple's game subscription service in the works, investing in an MFi gaming controller now would not be wasted in the long run.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 19
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    (I don't care if i sound repetitive) NO FORTNITE APPLE TV SUPPORT!? Like WTF?

    Apple really dropped the ball this gen.
  • Reply 2 of 19
    (I don't care if i sound repetitive) NO FORTNITE APPLE TV SUPPORT!? Like WTF?

    Apple really dropped the ball this gen.
    Why would this be an Apple problem? Seems like it's an Epic decision of whether or not to support Apple TV.....unless I missed something.
    ericthehalfbeeStrangeDayswatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 19
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,858administrator
    wd4fsu said:
    (I don't care if i sound repetitive) NO FORTNITE APPLE TV SUPPORT!? Like WTF?

    Apple really dropped the ball this gen.
    Why would this be an Apple problem? Seems like it's an Epic decision of whether or not to support Apple TV.....unless I missed something.
    This is 100% on Epic. There is no Apple-induced reason for them to not port it. The old max file size restriction has been lifted.
    StrangeDayswatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 19
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    wd4fsu said:
    (I don't care if i sound repetitive) NO FORTNITE APPLE TV SUPPORT!? Like WTF?

    Apple really dropped the ball this gen.
    Why would this be an Apple problem? Seems like it's an Epic decision of whether or not to support Apple TV.....unless I missed something.
    I think the problem is Apple making the Apple TV less desirable to develop for.

    Let me throw your question right back at you. why HASN'T Epic developed for Apple TV(and nearly every major developer)?
    Epic is tossing Fortnite onto every console available BUT the Apple TV. Why?
    edited January 2019 watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 19
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    Apple has always had a counter-productive relationship with game developers, dating back to the Mac. Gaming is a $100 billion industry! They are getting it right on the iPhone but not on Apple TV or the Mac... why? And also ... release a darn controller already - they could probably get a product on the market in a few months ... my guess is game controller margins are at least 100% ... this is a no brainer.
    GeorgeBMacwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 19
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    Fatman said:
    Apple has always had a counter-productive relationship with game developers, dating back to the Mac. Gaming is a $100 billion industry! They are getting it right on the iPhone but not on Apple TV or the Mac... why? And also ... release a darn controller already - they could probably get a product on the market in a few months ... my guess is game controller margins are at least 100% ... this is a no brainer.
    The Nimbus seems to be pretty good already -- and about the same price as other controllers.  I'm not sure Apple could add any value to this...
  • Reply 7 of 19
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    My Grandkid just tried it on his Gen6, 2018 iPad and gave it a thumbs up.   While he seems to prefer his Xbox with a 4K TV he had no complaints about Fortnite on his iPad with the Nimbus controller -- except "The screen is small".
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 19
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    Fatman said:
    Apple has always had a counter-productive relationship with game developers, dating back to the Mac. Gaming is a $100 billion industry! They are getting it right on the iPhone but not on Apple TV or the Mac... why? And also ... release a darn controller already - they could probably get a product on the market in a few months ... my guess is game controller margins are at least 100% ... this is a no brainer.
    The Nimbus seems to be pretty good already -- and about the same price as other controllers.  I'm not sure Apple could add any value to this...
    I agree - I actually own a Nimbus. The build quality is very good and it works seamlessly.
    But I think Apple creating its own controller (with a glowing Apple logo on top) would be more of a symbolic gesture that they are finally serious about gaming (beyond the casual mobile gamer), and send an important and necessary positive message to game developers.
    Cesar Battistini MazieroGeorgeBMacwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 19
    Fatman said:
    Fatman said:
    Apple has always had a counter-productive relationship with game developers, dating back to the Mac. Gaming is a $100 billion industry! They are getting it right on the iPhone but not on Apple TV or the Mac... why? And also ... release a darn controller already - they could probably get a product on the market in a few months ... my guess is game controller margins are at least 100% ... this is a no brainer.
    The Nimbus seems to be pretty good already -- and about the same price as other controllers.  I'm not sure Apple could add any value to this...
    I agree - I actually own a Nimbus. The build quality is very good and it works seamlessly.
    But I think Apple creating its own controller (with a glowing Apple logo on top) would be more of a symbolic gesture that they are finally serious about gaming (beyond the casual mobile gamer), and send an important and necessary positive message to game developers.
    And we could have, seamless pairing like on AirPods, and maybe wireless charging for AirPower. 

    And an even more seamless support for games!
  • Reply 10 of 19
    lol...did we really need an article to tell us that playing a game that requires quick reactions with complex button inputs is better wuth physical controls? How silly. 
  • Reply 11 of 19
    Does EPIC filter games so that those playing with thumbsticks arent playing against those on just touch-screen?

    #crysomemoar
  • Reply 12 of 19
    dedgecko said:
    Does EPIC filter games so that those playing with thumbsticks arent playing against those on just touch-screen?

    #crysomemoar
    A commenter on the AI forums mentioned that those using controllers on mobile automatically get matched up with Nintendo Switch players instead of touchscreen mobile players. I'm not 100% sure though. 
  • Reply 13 of 19
    Hmm, trying to get to this work on iphone max but getting an input blocked when in game. Updated firmware as well.. Will have to mess w/ it more later. Worked fine in the menu, but gameplay seems to not be working for me for some reason.
  • Reply 14 of 19
    kohnda said:
    Hmm, trying to get to this work on iphone max but getting an input blocked when in game. Updated firmware as well.. Will have to mess w/ it more later. Worked fine in the menu, but gameplay seems to not be working for me for some reason.
    Try restarting the game and then try using the controller's buttons to search for a match instead of using touchscreen controls.
  • Reply 15 of 19
    Hmm, trying to get to this work on iphone max but getting an input blocked when in game. Using the same controller and updated firmware as well.. Will have to mess w/ it more later. Worked fine in the menu, but gameplay seems to not be working for me for some reason.
  • Reply 16 of 19
    kohnda said:
    Hmm, trying to get to this work on iphone max but getting an input blocked when in game. Updated firmware as well.. Will have to mess w/ it more later. Worked fine in the menu, but gameplay seems to not be working for me for some reason.
    Try restarting the game and then try using the controller's buttons to search for a match instead of using touchscreen controls.
    Thanks, will try and sorry for the multiple posts.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 17 of 19
    Will gift my son this controller. Hope its any good
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 19
    roundup said:
    Will gift my son this controller. Hope its any good
    Make sure to use our link at the bottom of the article :)
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 19 of 19
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    roundup said:
    Will gift my son this controller. Hope its any good
    My Grandson thought it was fine when he used it to play Fortnite today on his Gen6 2018 iPad.   

    Actually, his whole critique consisted of:   "It's fine" -- which I took as raging approval.
    The only criticism he had was the iPad screen was small and he had trouble seeing distant spots (compared to his 48" 4K X-Box Screen)
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