Rumor has it Apple is working on a gaming console that could rival the Steam Deck. Source: Twitter/ @mi_konstantin
We generally associate Apple less with video games. Of course there are numerous mobile games in the App Store, but most AAA titles do not support iOS. But now the rumors are growing that Apple wants to go deeper into the games business soon and has planned different hardware for this.
The Youtuber Max Tech has all the messages about Apple and the company’s gaming plans in his latest video summarized. Accordingly, Apple has been interested in investing more in video games since 2020.
A short review: At that time there were rumors about an Apple TV with a controller that should have been designed for games. Also, there should be games in development for Apple Arcade that even have AAA games like Breath of the Wild would compete. These rumors were then from the Twitter account @choco_bit launched, which at that time was dedicated specifically to Apple leaks.
A little later there was talk of a powerful chip. And not from the A series or M series for iPhone and MacBooks, but a brand new one that focuses on graphics power and even supports ray tracing. A game should also be in the works in collaboration with Ubisoft.
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Apple could launch a handheld console
Which brings us to the present. According to rumors, the same chip is to be used in Apple’s own handheld console, which could compete with the Steam Deck. This console should be able to support Apple arcade games and future in-house developments.
In addition, there are rumors that Apple is eagerly poaching Xbox engineers from Microsoft to help realize its own games console. At the end of March 2022, there were further rumors from Taiwan that Apple’s console should support exclusive titles from Ubisoft and Capcom.
The Twitter user Konstantin Milenin has designed some concept images that show what Apple’s handheld could look like:
link to Twitter content
Patents indicate the development of a controller
But that’s not all. Some new patents from Apple indicate that the company is working on a controller for games. One patent shows a classic controller with two thumbsticks, while another mimics the Joy-Cons familiar from the Nintendo Switch with two detachable controls on the sides. The interesting thing here: The controller can be attached to the device both vertically and horizontally.
The controller should also be compatible with the iPhone and iPad. So far, however, this is only a patent, not a fully developed end device. It gets even more exciting with the magnetically attachable controller. You should be able to attach it to the back of the device with a magnet. The controls then look out on the sides. On the iPhone and iPad it would look like this:
The Magsafe controller works with iPhone and iPad. Source: Youtube/ Max Tech
The magnetic mechanism should work with Apple’s Magsafe technology, with which you can already charge supported Apple devices wirelessly. However, the interface can also transmit data or simply supply the controller with energy from the iPhone or iPad.
By the way, the iPhone has quite an interesting history. In the following article we explain to you what Beethoven has to do with the fact that there never was an iPhone 9:
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When could the devices appear?
The question now is which gaming hardware Apple will ultimately really release and when it will come. On the one hand there is the handheld console and on the other hand the controller for iPhones and iPads. Of course, it is also possible that we will see both devices sooner or later.
However, the console seems to have been under discussion since 2020, although we have only seen various patents from the controller so far. That might suggest that the handheld console is more advanced in the development stage. Youtuber Max Tech suspects that we will learn more about Apple’s gaming ambitions this fall.
If you’re a MacBook fanatic, despite the lack of support for AAA games, or are interested in one, here’s my colleague Alex telling you why the MacBook Pro almost made him swear off the PC:
Apple’s new MacBook Pro almost converted me!
What do you think of the rumours? Do you think Apple really wants to get into the games business? Does the company even have enough titles for its own console? Your opinion is in demand.
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