Owners of Apple products have noticed that the latest iOS and tvOS update has added support for some of Nintendo’s best controllers.
If you own one of these Nintendo SwitchIts classic controllers – namely the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the N64 pad – can now be used on compatible iOS devices and services. That includes Apple Arcade game subscription service.
The discovery was first shared on Twitter, where developer Steve Troughton-Smith confirmed the wireless Super Nintendo pad works via a Bluetooth connection. The N64 controller has also been confirmed to work. Likely, both the NES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controllers will also work as of the iOS 16.1 update.
It’s also not the first time Apple has added support for Nintendo’s controllers to its devices. In WWDC 2022Apple also confirmed support for Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and (admittedly less than excellent) the Joy-Con controller.
Nintendoes
Neat, iOS/tvOS 16.1 supports the official BT/USB-C Super Nintendo controller for the Switch 😄 I don’t have an N64 or NES version to test with, but I believe they’re supported now too 🎮 pic .twitter.com/ mfkTIHpXunOctober 24, 2022
On the surface, Nintendo doesn’t seem to mind having its Nintendo Switch line of controllers usable on third-party platforms. For example, earlier this year, Nintendo’s classic controller array added Steam support, giving PC players more options to play with. Best Steam Games.
Nintendo’s wireless retro pads are also great for the kinds of games you’d find on Apple Arcade. Since it primarily hosts smaller-scale, easily digestible games, its library is perfect for the simple button layout (and solid build quality) of Nintendo’s historic controllers.
It’s updates like this that give older Nintendo controllers more value than they did at launch. Created as a delightful novelty for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, I don’t doubt they will be so well received that other companies will support them.
Still, it’s always a great thing to see, especially with other controllers like DualSense also used on Steam and iOS. Hopefully PC support will be fully rolled out to Nintendo pads in the future, and I’d love to see adoption on Android devices as well.
