8BitDo Gaming Controllers Now Compatible With iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac

[MacRumors]

A selection of controllers from gaming company 8BitDo are now compatible with Apple's product lineup, thanks to a firmware update that was released today.

The 8BitDo SN30 Pro for Android, SN30 Pro, Pro+, Pro 2, Ultimate 2.4g and Lite SE can be used with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV devices that are running the latest Apple software.

All 8BitDo controllers that are compatible with Apple devices can be used like any other Made for iPhone controller to play games that offer controller support, including Apple Arcade titles.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1637831360441360385

iPads and Macs with USB-C ports can use a wired connection to a compatible 8BitDo controller, but otherwise Bluetooth connections are available. Up to four controllers can be connected at one time depending on device, and unfortunately, rumble and motion control functions are not supported.

Controllers will need a firmware update to work with Apple devices, with the firmware updating software available through the 8BitDo website.

Article Link: 8BitDo Gaming Controllers Now Compatible With iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac

 

[Think|Different]

Oh this is actually cool – I randomly was going to purchase one of these a few weeks ago, on a whim, and I literally didn't pull the plug because a lot of the comments and reviews confirmed it didn't have official support. I'll take another look then! Good on them.

 

[lsara]

Even without official compatibility I've been using these with my iPad for a long time. These are the best controllers out there.

 

[Realityck]

Good addition to controller choices now officially supported by Apple.

 

[Razorpit]

I guess options are good, but I don’t see why you’d pick one of these over a PS or Xbox controller.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Now all Apple need to do is quit messing around with Ted Lasso and licence some real AAA games for people to play.

 

[pierrespartan]

Even without official compatibility I've been using these with my iPad for a long time. These are the best controllers out there.

Yes, indeed I don't understand what does this update. I use the Bluetooth Pro controller on Ventura to play RE:Village, works very well, despite the fact rumbles are not taken into account... and this 8BitDo update doesn't change this.

 

[seanbperiod]

Has anyone tried this yet? There's no firmware updates available for my compatible controllers. At 3.0 for the Pro 2, and it doesn't show up for any iOS/ iPadOS or tvOS device on their latest versions..

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple needs to come up with its own gaming controller. Imagine integrated with Dynamic Island!

 

[TonyC28]

$70 though? Am I too old and crabby or is that kinda crazy for an Apple TV game controller?

 

[aperture01]

Is this for the Bluetooth controllers or the 2.4ghz 8bitdo? They have bluetooth and 2.4ghz versions. Yes both using 2.4ghz but one does not use the bluetooth spec.

 

[4743913]

awesomeness! now all we need are games.

 

[gildorn]

Yeah it doesn’t seem like there’s new SN30 Pro+ firmware available at the moment. The support site doesn’t list new firmware yet.

They do have a page with specific instructions for use with Apple devices. It doesn’t mention anything about new firmware either.

 

[sorgo †]

Wow…about time. This and the South Korea Apple Pay thing both feel pretty monumental in their own way.

 

[idktbh]

Apple needs to come up with its own gaming controller. Imagine integrated with Dynamic Island!

wtf is this lmao

 

[matthew12]

I guess options are good, but I don’t see why you’d pick one of these over a PS or Xbox controller.

Agreed. They're $65. At that price point, I'll just pay for another Xbox or DualSense controller.

 

[zorinlynx]

awesomeness! now all we need are games.

Once we have side loading and emulators, we'll be up to our ears in games. The fact that emulators are prohibited in the app store and you can't side load is why I roll my eyes whenever new controller support is announced for iOS.

 

[Odan]

I'm not really sure how it's better than a PS5 controller? I paired the PS5 controller with my mac to run ETS 2 on Steam, the problem isn't the controller, the issue is the weak GPU of the M1 mac mini, it's just no good even for old games.

 

[R10k]

I guess options are good, but I don’t see why you’d pick one of these over a PS or Xbox controller.

I have an SN30 Pro for travel. It’s super lightweight.

 

[prime17569]

Now all Apple need to do is quit messing around with Ted Lasso and licence some real AAA games for people to play.

No we need a Ted Lasso video game with microtransactions and auto-renewing subscription IAP /s

 

[Sciomar]

Apple needs to come up with its own gaming controller. Imagine integrated with Dynamic Island!

Gotta shoot for the stars!! The idea is wild and I dig it. Apple should just buy 8BitDo and blend it into their ultimate Apple TV/game console.

 

[boootloader]

the issue is the weak GPU of the M1 mac mini

ETS 2 would run great if it were using Metal instead of OpenGL. So it's more of a software / graphics API issue than a hardware one. That's why, counterintuitively, the older the 3d game is, the worse it runs on Apple Silicon (if it gets no Metal support updates, of course).

 

[Pakaku]

Apple needs to come up with its own gaming controller. Imagine integrated with Dynamic Island!

I couldn't come up with a worse controller even if I tried. Apple would do a pretty good job at designing a truely horrendous controller, though.

 

[MacMikePro]

Apple needs to come up with its own gaming controller. Imagine integrated with Dynamic Island!

I honestly think Apple needs to make their own first party controller. One that automatically can switch between all of your Apple devices just like AirPods. Because right now having to unpair and re-pair to go from like iPad to Apple TV is insane. Plus if Apple made their own it would instantly make their devices actually appear as gaming machines and make them look like they’re taking the industry seriously. Which would hopefully bring over some AAA titles.

 

[1madman1]

I thought these always worked with Macs?