In iOS 16, Apple will introduce native support for the Nintendo Switch Pro and Joy-Con controllers. Riley Testut, one of the iOS developers behind AltStore, found the additional controller support in yesterday’s developer preview of iOS 16.
According to Testut, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller works “great,” and both Joy-Con controllers appear as a single device for apps and games to use. Nat Brown, an Apple engineering manager, verified the new controller support and even disclosed a unique way to change how the Joy-Cons work in iOS 16. By holding the screenshot and home buttons for a few seconds, you can dynamically swap between using both Joy-Cons as a single controller and two separate ones.
!!! iOS 16 natively supports Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers!!
Can confirm they work perfectly with Delta ? pic.twitter.com/p8u1sdjvTt
— Riles ???? (@rileytestut) June 6, 2022
The addition of Joy-Con support to the iPhone and iPad allows developers to create new games that take advantage of these controllers, and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. Apple’s development comes more than a year after the iPhone maker enabled support for the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller, as well as Xbox Series X controllers.
iOS 16 is presently available as a developer preview, with a public beta scheduled for next month and a final release scheduled for the fall.
