With Apple Arcade feeling the first time in a long time that Apple has taken gaming seriously, I went into WWDC expecting some gaming announcements. Thankfully, Apple surprised us all by announcing official support for the Xbox One S (I’ll explain why One S is important here below) and PlayStation 4 controllers on iOS 13, tvOS, and iPadOS. This essentially nullifies any need to buy a more expensive MFi controller given that there are about 150 million consoles in between PS4 and Xbox One and even more controllers out there.
Today, both Sony and Microsoft have their own promotions beginning for games, hardware, and accessories at their own stores and participating retailers which include Amazon. The PS4 sale is the 3rd annual “Days of Play" sale that features a custom console as well. The sale will go on for 11 days and see the DualShock 4 (PS4 controller) down to $39.99 from $59.99. This applies to all colours.
At WWDC and on the website for iOS 13, Apple specifies Xbox One S controller. This is important because the Xbox One S console controller and controlloers in that family that are available now support bluetooth without needing a dongle. The original Xbox One controller and the current Xbox Elite Controller (great controller btw) require a dongle for use on PC. The controllers that are compatible with Xbox One S and later and Windows 10 without needing a dongle will work on iOS 13, tvOS, and iPadOS going by the wording used by Apple. The Xbox deals also begin today and there is a $10 discount on black, white, special edition, and limited edition controllers. Xbox Design Lab controllers are down to $64.99 as well until June 17th.
I can’t wait to see more games start adding prompts for Xbox One and PS4 buttons in games on Apple platforms. The huge barrier of entry for users and developers when it came to install base for MFi controllers is about to finally go away when the big updates arrive later this year. Check out the PS4 controllers on Amazon here and Xbox One S controllers here. For full disclosure, these Amazon links and the ones below are affiliate links so we’ll get a small kickback if you buy controllers (and subsequent items) through those links, which supports us and helps keep our website going! Do you already own a PS4 or Xbox One S/X already and enjoy using the controller?
Amazon Link: Xbox One S Controllers
Amazon Link: PlayStation 4 Dual Shock Controllers
Which one is better? I don’t own a PS4 or Xbox One S controller.
To be honest I don’t own a Xbox One S But my previous experience with Xbox 360 controllers wasn’t positive I have 5 Xbox360 controllers that all failed in the left stick after some time they don’t “jump back” in neutral position you can imagine that that is killing in platform stealth games etc. I switched over to PS4pro because of they have more exclusives franchises and the build quality is better I have 2 controllers the second one is when playing with a friend but don’t have the issues that I experienced with the Xbox controller with a wear down left stick but the game experience on the Xbox360 was great only the material used in the left stick isn’t that great I don’t understand that they use for the left stick a more quality material anyone knows that the left stick is constantly in use when playing games you hold the stick constantly in an upward position so it’s very logical that that stick it wears most.So when speaking out of my own experience the PS controllers are better built because I don’t have these left stick problems with the PS controllers I don’t know if Microsoft have changed the building material (left stick) on the Xbox One S controllers. I am not a PS fanboy or dislike the Xbox they are both great game consoles and have both PS4pro and Xbox360 consoles.
I usually use an Xbox wireless controller on my Apple computer but I have occasionally tried out a PS4 controller. I have found that the Xbox controller is more to my liking but I guess it’s whatever you’re used to. I’ve also found that developers support the layout of the Xbox controller more often in games versus the PS4 controller just because Xbox controller support has been available to Apple computers for a much longer time.
This is great news. When my Mad Catz controller fails in the distant future, I’ll be getting an Xbox controller to replace it.
Thank you for the heads up on the controller sale.