Xbox Series X Controller Support Coming to Apple Devices

Apple and Microsoft are working on adding support for the Xbox Series X controller to Apple devices, according to an Apple Support page spotted by a Reddit user.

xbox series x controller microsoft

The support page states that Apple devices only support the Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, and various other MFi Bluetooth controllers. However, small print on the page states:

Microsoft and Apple are working together to bring compatibility for the Xbox Series X controller to customers in a future update.

Support for gaming controllers on Apple devices allows for better control in supported games from Apple Arcade or the App Store, navigation on the Apple TV, and more.

There is no mention of the Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller or the Amazon Luna Controller on the Apple Support page, but MacRumors has spotted code mentioning the controllers in the iOS and iPadOS 14.3 betas.

Top Rated Comments

JCCL Avatar
45 months ago
Oh cool, so you can play the wonderfully curated game selection on Apple Arcade............come on Apple! Let us have xCloud already!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmeaustend Avatar
45 months ago
MacRumours incorrectly reported that support for DualSense was already added in the new betas in a previous article. That rumour spread around fast. Got me all excited for nothing :(
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
45 months ago
Always been a PS guy lol
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
George Dawes Avatar
45 months ago
Maybe it’s hinting at the potential of the new appletv ...

...watch this space !
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
archer75 Avatar
45 months ago

The beta app is no longer a go. Thanks to Apple who insisted MS had to submit each individual game for Apple to review.

MS is working on a browser based solution as far as I'm aware.
Correct, and it's in beta.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neoelectronaut Avatar
43 months ago

I don't get it either.

One can buy a wired $18 Logitech Gamepad F310 that works fine with Macs. It's the lowest common denominator.

Buying a gamepad from a newly-released console is fine but you need to set your expectations realistically concerning support.

I bought a PS5 DualSense controller a week before the actual console was launched in November last year. I knew it wouldn't be supported by Apple for a long time. I bought it primarily for my Windows gaming PC.

As I anticipated, Steam added DualSense support to their desktop clients within one month. That's pretty good. It still requires you to fire up Big Picture Mode to access it. When it does work, it works brilliantly even without developer support for the newly added advanced haptics and adaptive triggers.

There are games on my custom Windows gaming PC that don't work well with the DualSense controller. That's fine. I switch to my ghetto Logitech (which doesn't even have rumble).

This is just poor purchase decision making/unrealistic expectations by some folks here.
To be fair, Microsoft printed on the box that it's iOS compatible.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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