Native Nintendo Switch controller & steering wheel support coming to iOS 16, iPadOS 16, ma...

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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The new Game Controller framework enables the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Joy-Con, and some USB steering wheels to connect to systems running iPadOS 16, iOS 16, macOS Ventura natively, for the first time.




Apple announced that Nintendo Switch controllers, along with a "wide variety of new and existing game controllers," will be supported in the new Game Controller framework for new software releases announced at WWDC 2022. Specifically, Logitech steering wheels will be supported by macOS moving forward starting with macOS Ventura.

A Tweet by @rileytestut was among the first to detail the new functionality. The user remarked that the beta version of iOS 16 they were running was also able to recognize a single Nintendo Joy-Con as one controller in addition to recognizing Joy-Con as a pair.

The screenshot capture button on the controller was also recognized by the system. The tested version of iOS 16 was also able to provide the proper controller lighting to indicate player number.

AppleInsider testing has also shown that other wireless Switch controllers, plus third-party controllers originally intended for the console will also work natively with the new operating systems.




Apple operating systems already have native support for DualShock PlayStation and Xbox controllers. While there have been adapters and third-party software for Nintento controllers on the Mac in the past, the new operating systems mark the first time that Nintendo controllers get native support.

Also included in Game Controller is support for some Logitech steering wheels in macOS. Specifically, Apple says that the Logitech G920 and Logitech G29 are supported.

The new Game Controller framework is part of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and tvOS 16. Apple is expected to launch the operating systems in September or October 2022.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    atonaldenimatonaldenim Posts: 81member
    Finally! Great to see Apple investing more in gaming. Nintendo might be the most Apple-like of console companies, there are doubtlessly millions of Apple users with a Switch at home. Hope this means the affordable 8bitdo wired controller will now be Mac-compatible.
    edited June 2022
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  • Reply 2 of 8
    CheeseFreezecheesefreeze Posts: 1,394member
    Great! Can’t wait to play some triple-A ga…. Oh wait.
    Beatsmuthuk_vanalingamJapheyentropyswilliamlondon
     4Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 3 of 8
    mpantonempantone Posts: 2,370member
    CheeseFreeze said:
    Great! Can’t wait to play some triple-A ga…. Oh wait.
    Sign up for GeForce NOW if you want to play Fortnite.

     :p 
    williamlondon
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 4 of 8
    mpantonempantone Posts: 2,370member
    Nintendo might be the most Apple-like of console companies, there are doubtlessly millions of Apple users with a Switch at home.
    Seeing as how Nintendo has sold over 110 million Switch units, it seems likely that some of those Switch owners have a Mac.

    This allows them to use their existing Switch-compatible controllers with Mac. Well, once they upgrade to macOS Ventura.

    I for one will be holding off upgrading to Ventura until April or May 2023. Apple software QA's precipitous decline started several years ago and I no longer install any of Apple's operating systems when they launch. Likewise I will stay on iOS 15 (which I just installed last month) until April or May next year.
    edited June 2022
    williamlondon
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  • Reply 5 of 8
    Beatsbeats Posts: 3,073member
    This is huge. Should have been announced.

    Too bad there’s nothing to play.
    muthuk_vanalingamwilliamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 6 of 8
    mpantonempantone Posts: 2,370member
    It was announced: to developers participating at WWDC. Remember that this is part of a game controller framework, one that adds on to existing gamepad support. Apple does not have the time to mention every last detail in the keynote which ran for almost two hours anyhow. They covered what they considered the most important announcements.

    That's why WWDC is a whole week. They can't cram everything into a two hour keynote.

    If it eventually works with GeForce NOW, it might come in handy.

    Remember that this is a cross-OS framework and works with iOS, iPadOS and tvOS meaning mobile games can take advantage of this. It's not exclusively for macOS Ventura.

    For Joe Consumer, nothing has changed yet since this new functionality won't be available until Apple releases their new operating systems this fall.
    edited June 2022
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  • Reply 7 of 8
    Beatsbeats Posts: 3,073member
    mpantone said:
    It was announced: to developers participating at WWDC. Remember that this is part of a game controller framework, one that adds on to existing gamepad support. Apple does not have the time to mention every last detail in the keynote which ran for almost two hours anyhow. They covered what they considered the most important announcements.

    That's why WWDC is a whole week. They can't cram everything into a two hour keynote.

    If it eventually works with GeForce NOW, it might come in handy.

    Remember that this is a cross-OS framework and works with iOS, iPadOS and tvOS meaning mobile games can take advantage of this. It's not exclusively for macOS Ventura.

    For Joe Consumer, nothing has changed yet since this new functionality won't be available until Apple releases their new operating systems this fall.

    It was important enough to announce at the keynote.

    the downside is it’s useless. 
    Japheywilliamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 8 of 8
    mpantonempantone Posts: 2,370member
    Beats said:
    It was important enough to announce at the keynote.
    No, it wasn't to Apple senior management. This was a minor development.

    There were probably a couple hundred new feature announcements that could have been included in the keynote. If it went 10-12 hours, they might have gotten to it.

    That's why there were separate platform keynote presentations and why WWDC is a full week event with hundreds of hours of breakout sessions.

    Sorry about that.

    Beats said:
    the downside is it’s useless. 
    Yes, for now.

    At least you got one thing right I'll give you that.
    edited June 2022
    williamlondon
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