Forget a dedicated gaming console Apple should go all in on making the IPad an elite gaming platform.

[lapstags]

Apple has to spend the money is the bottom line.

1. Is on marketing deices, especially, iPads as gaming devices.

2. Stop skimming out on RAM and processor strength. The iPad 12 needs at least 8gb of RAM and the A19 processor. The Air needs at least 12GB of Ram and all iPad Pros need to start at 16gb.

3. Apple needs to do the heavy lifting to get modern ports of FPS and sports games on to the iPad ideally. Honestly every third party game on the Switch needs to be on at least the iPad Air and Pro. Pay whatever you have to make this happen.


4. Create a first party controller

 

[Plutonius]

It all comes down to profit..

Apple has many experts who have determined that the existing strategy will maximize profits.

 

[ScanTheNavian]

I really don't want to play on a tablet unless it's a suitable size like the Switch and has good attached controllers. I've always been disappointed by touch controls and duct tape solutions.

 

[Juicy Box]

iPads as gaming devices.

You lost me at iPad. Console or computer, not a hand held for me.

 

[mw360]

Jeez, so many posts on what Apple needs to do about gaming, and all missing the point by talking about RAM and GPUs. It's not about that. I've been around long enough to see the launch of the SNES, N64, PSOne, Xbox, and all the hyped failures like 3DO, Ouya, CDi. A successful entry into gaming is almost always about these things:

A simple single-device platform, one console, one set of specs. No Good, better, best. One console.
Loss-leading pricing on the hardware to maximise the software market.
An extremely good first party controller, designed for the genres people want to play, included in the box.
First party AAA titles to set the bar high and set (high) price expectations so the 3rd parties know there's money in the market.
A straightforward dependable API for a stable development environments

Apple have consistently done the opposite:

A massively confusing product line, with underpowered devices causing consumer spec anxiety.
Price gouging, absurd premium pricing for metal and glass hardware, and leaving necessary parts out of the box
Telling users touch controls are the best controller ever when they are useless for all but puzzles.
No first party titles and encouraging race to the bottom pricing on the App Store.
Switching processors frequently, deprecating APIs on a whim, yearly OS overhauls.

 

[throAU]

You lost me at iPad. Console or computer, not a hand held for me.

Add a controller (xbox/ps4/ps5) and it works pretty well as a portable gaming system, amongst everything else it does.

mine has MAME on it, but would be nice to have decent current games 😀

 

[lapstags]

It all comes down to profit..

Apple has many experts who have determined that the existing strategy will maximize profits.

Consumer expectations continually change

 

[Huntn]

I really don't want to play on a tablet unless it's a suitable size like the Switch and has good attached controllers. I've always been disappointed by touch controls and duct tape solutions.

Swipe controls suck, fortunately there are bluetooth controllers that can be connected to the iPad for some games. Metal Storm is one of them, and to be competitive, a controller is required.

 

[maflynn]

Create a first party controller

How would that work?

You hold the iPad when using it, how would hold the controller as well?

 

[venom600]

How would that work?

You hold the iPad when using it, how would hold the controller as well?

There are already tablet controllers. But realistically, if Apple wanted to do something tablet related, they'd take something like the Mini and put the Pro parts in it and make it roughly the size of a large PC handheld like the Xbox Ally or Lenovo Legion. An M series chip would be incredible in a Steamdeck like device.

 

[maflynn]

There are already tablet controllers.

I'm gonna be honest.

That looks horrible, not sure how ergonomic that is, especially for the larger iPads

 

[Ethosik]

In a few years it really won't matter. Hardware is pushing the PS6/Next Xbox years further from release and rumored $1000+ prices. Hardware prices are skyrocketing. The future will be cloud gaming. Then it doesn't matter if you are on M1 iPad, as long as it has good network connection you can play anything at max settings.

And to be clear, I do not like where the future is heading. As someone that has the best gaming PC in the market, I prefer my own hardware. But this is the future whether we like it or not. RAM, GPU and other hardware issues currently is going to push us towards that future.

 

[venom600]

I'm gonna be honest.

That looks horrible, not sure how ergonomic that is, especially for the larger iPads

Hey you asked how. I didn't say it would look good. Or be comfortable. Or work well. I get carpal tunnel just looking at that. 😂

 

[maflynn]

Hey you asked how.

LOL, you're right - I guess be careful of what you ask for 😛

 

[macfacts]

Loss-leading pricing on the hardware to maximise the software market.

Nintendo switch 1 was not a "lost leader", it was under powered and made a profit on every sale and able to run AAA games like skyrim.

 

[Ethosik]

Nintendo switch 1 was not a "lost leader", it was under powered and made a profit on every sale and able to run AAA games like skyrim.

The presence of Nintendo Switch 1 shows that gaming on Apple platforms is not a hardware issue, but a user base issue. Why would a AAA developer even consider Apple support? Console first, then a half-baked port to PC is the norm. I have the best gaming PC on the market and let me tell you they don't even treat PC gaming as a primary market. So many performance issues it is ridiculous. Also PS3 was the most difficult platform to develop, but look how many games that console had.

 

[ScanTheNavian]

Swipe controls suck, fortunately there are bluetooth controllers that can be connected to the iPad for some games. Metal Storm is one of them, and to be competitive, a controller is required.

Are there high quality ones you can attach to the sides of iPad Minis? I think you can connect a PS5 controller to iPads, but then again it isn't exactly "bus-friendly".

 

[klasma]

Touch controls suck for most games. IPads also aren’t exactly lightweight, for true handheld gaming. (Neither is the Switch 2, to be fair.)

 

[maflynn]

Touch controls suck for most games.

Definitely, I've tried gaming on the ipad and just didn't work, given the form factor, i.e., needing to hands to hold but I still need to interact with the screen

IPads also aren’t exactly lightweight,

No, not all - so much so, even reading on the iPad can be fatiguing

 

[throAU]

Get a stand and controller for the ipad?

Most people have a case (that can stand the ipad up) already, PS4/5, Switch and Xbox controllers work.

 

[mw360]

Nintendo switch 1 was not a "lost leader", it was under powered and made a profit on every sale and able to run AAA games like skyrim.

I don't care, don't take the phrase so literally. Market share is vital to attract AAA development and Apple have always been happy with the smaller market share in return for higher hardware profits.

 

[Parowdy]

No thanks.
It’s not really good enough at anything.

It’s not big enough for a real experience, but too big to be a portable handheld.
You need extra peripherals for input, or carry a big slab of metal and glass. Or you put it on a table and look slightly down the entire time, which is bad for your posture.
An iPhone can be put in hundreds of controller accessories and it would still be a better experience, albeit on a smaller screen.

For gaming, nothing beats an elevated big screen and a controller while sitting very comfortably and using (wired) hifi headphones. Mice and keyboards allow for more precise input, but are mostly not optimized for gaming. And hunching over a desk isn’t great either.

 

[lapstags]

No thanks.
It’s not really good enough at anything.

It’s not big enough for a real experience, but too big to be a portable handheld.
You need extra peripherals for input, or carry a big slab of metal and glass. Or you put it on a table and look slightly down the entire time, which is bad for your posture.
An iPhone can be put in hundreds of controller accessories and it would still be a better experience, albeit on a smaller screen.

For gaming, nothing beats an elevated big screen and a controller while sitting very comfortably and using (wired) hifi headphones. Mice and keyboards allow for more precise input, but are mostly not optimized for gaming. And hunching over a desk isn’t great either.

A 10 dollar folio eliminates the viewing angle concerns. And top of the line iPads are way more powerful than the phones graphics wise

 

[dmccloud]

View attachment 2595181

There are already tablet controllers. But realistically, if Apple wanted to do something tablet related, they'd take something like the Mini and put the Pro parts in it and make it roughly the size of a large PC handheld like the Xbox Ally or Lenovo Legion. An M series chip would be incredible in a Steamdeck like device.

Step 1: purchase a Steelseries or PS5 controller (or use one you already own).
Step 2: pair controller to iPad via Bluetooth.
Step 3: play games using said controller.

Why would Apple need to create a monstrosity like that illustration when a solution exists right now?

 

[Parowdy]

A 10 dollar folio eliminates the viewing angle concerns. And top of the line iPads are way more powerful than the phones graphics wise

Viewing angle, but not the angle at which you look at the device.
And yes, iPhones have less performance, but they don't need that much anyway when using Stadia or PS Remote. I can play any AAA game with a controller via my phone while in bed. Its maybe just a screen, but the experience is still far better than holding a tablet.