I’ve been trying to use mine iPhone Being a portable gaming console for many years, but I often run into the same obstacles when I try to replace mine Nintendo switch When I travel. This is not because of the lack of the efforts Apple and other companies have put in. From running directly from the device to more intensive games, I can stream with a strong internet connection, and there are plenty of games available for iPhone. The game may continue to be the focus of Apple, and I hope the game is The company’s Tuesday Event This may be the iPhone 17 debut.
But gaming on iPhone is more confusing than it should be, and frankly, it’s easier to do it Android. The openness of the Android operating system makes it easy for me to install the Epic Games store (e.g. the Epic Games store). There is also a long history of companies developing Android phones for gaming, offering high-speed displays and responsive screens that are easy to play quickly.
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Apple seems to be perfecting its gaming experience iOS 26partly using a new gaming app, which is a dedicated hub, similar to what I saw on gaming phones red and Asus.
But not only does it take to add a beautiful gaming menu, it also needs to make the iPhone more like a steam deck or switch. Here are some issues I’ve encountered while trying Games on the road Using iPhone, I think Apple can use it iPhone 17 and iOS 26 offer a more compelling alternative for more traditional platforms.
Backbone One provides great grip for playing the game, but the price is $100.
iPhone 17 needs a good controller
There are many options for connecting a gaming controller to your iPhone, but none of them are perfectly suitable. I bought the clip and let me tie my iPhone together with an Xbox controller which is relatively cheap and easy to find $10 to $30. These are great for letting me use the console controller with my iPhone, and I have the option to connect with Bluetooth or hardwire the controller to the iPhone. However, they are not suitable for use on trains or for long periods of time because they start to feel heavy when supporting the weight of the entire iPhone. Not to mention my concern is that the bumpy moments on the train may pop up the phone from the clip, which can lead to unwelcome mistakes.
If you want a more comfortable gaming experience, a trunk-like controller will let you plug your iPhone in like a Nintendo switch. These are ideal because you have solid grip on the device, have console-like controls, and for backbone shapes you can hardwire it into the controller to reduce latency. But for $100, A backbone Especially very expensive (I was very excited when a colleague had an audit unit that could be borrowed). The iPhone itself is an expensive device and I don’t want to spend $100 on the controller just to make the game better.
Apple avoids the problem of having a good gaming controller by lending its approval to various products. Sometimes I even see Apple TV Pair with Sony’s DualShock Controller in Apple Arcade demo on the Apple Store. While I do appreciate the iPhone’s universal compatibility with different gaming controllers, this may help if Apple formally works with at least one controller. Maybe it might be the controller grip, which uses magsafe as an attachment, or even a controller created in collaboration with a third party 8bitdo. The goal is not to replace the freedom to use any controller you want, but to bring a coherent experience to why it is the ideal way to play games on your iPhone.
Sayonara Wild Hearts is available on Apple Arcade and can be played on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV (pictured). Or, you can buy it on the console and own it.
Apple Street subscription is good, but not flexible
when Apple Street The subscription service, launched in 2019, promises to provide a high-quality gaming library that is primarily exclusive and runs locally on iPhones. Six years later, Apple Arcade is still here, but has become a place where certain games are trapped. For example, Sega released Sonic Dream Team on Apple Arcade in 2023 To a large extent, it is positive comment. Two years later, the Sonic Dream Team is still only available on Apple Arcade, and there is not even a choice to choose “A la la la”.
While streaming exclusive companies are common in video services Netflix and Amazon PrimeFor games, it is not ideal to get the title only when I have one Active Subscription. I like to play many games with short doses. While the Sonic Dream team isn’t a long game, I’ll probably play for a few months between Fortnite games or playing Sonic Mania.
Since Apple Arcade focuses only on mobile platforms, some of these titles do release on consoles and PCs. For example, Sayonara Wild Hearts Launch on Apple Arcade and all three main consoles. This is the game I still love – especially the narrative of Queen Latifah and its gorgeous art style – this is what I only bought Nintendo switch Make it easier to access, rather than maintaining Apple arcade subscriptions.
The Xbox Game Pass stream runs inside a web app, and it does look a lot like a native app downloaded from the App Store. However, there are some small quirks to remind you that it runs inside a web browser.
Let streaming apps run locally on iPhone 17
Apple has a complex relationship with game streaming services. For example, when Microsoft wants to bring Xbox Game Pass ultimate (then called Xcloud) to iPhone in 2020, Apple obviously stopped trying And ask Microsoft to list each game in the service separately as a separate application in the app store. Microsoft’s response was to develop a web app that circumvented the need to get Apple approved, which is still using streaming titles from the Xbox Game Pass library today. This is a similar situation Luna from Amazon Cloud gaming services and Discontinued gym services From Google.
I’ve been using Xbox Game Pass ultimate on my iPhone for years for years, and while it works to a large extent, there are certainly some issues with this workaround. If I’ve been using it for a few days before, I usually need to log in to the web application again, and even if the app is well designed, I can’t help but think that the web application will introduce some extra latency to the experience. While this is not something I can test, I can say cloud gaming is still highly dependent on a solid internet connection, even with 5G internet signals, using it is usually challenging Cloud gaming services For a long time.
I would like to see some of these requirements for Apple dialing, as it’s just a barrier to my access to the games I’m playing through my subscription. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass are likely to be able to better leverage the iPhone by running as native apps and hope to provide better performance, as using such services is bandwidth-intensive. By further restricting these services to a single web application, it is blocking them.
Apple does allow some game streaming on a limited app that you can download from the App Store. You can stream games on your console using Microsoft’s Xbox app or Sony’s PS Remote Play app, and then it relies on the strength of your home internet connection to stream to your phone. You can also use Nvidia’s Geforce is now Play some of the games you own from stores like Steam.
Now is a good time for Apple to make iPhone a gaming device
Now, the cost of technology fluctuates in part because tariffThis is a special time for Apple to make the iPhone a more friendly gaming venue. We’ve seen prices rise for everyone Xbox console and Older Nintendo Switch Handheld. If Apple can position the iPhone as a gaming quality title without buying other hardware, you can make an argument that your phone is enough to accommodate portable games.
We may find more information about Apple’s game plans whenever we are in the company Announced iPhone 17assumed to be held this fall. You can also view early impressions iOS Games 26my colleague Zachary McAuliffe has been testing.
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