Hot off the press, is the reveal of Microsoft Research papers showing off prototype Xbox Controllers for mobiles and tablets. We recently touched on Project xCloud which is an Xbox game cloud streaming service coming to mobiles and tablets using the power of Azure. Now we can actually see prototypes of physical attachments that will connect to your smartphone or tablet device for input controls.
“Mobile gaming devices like the Sony PlayStation Portable, Nintendo’s DS and Switch are dedicated mobile gaming platforms which overcome these limitations via physical controls,” a research paper reads, according to Windows Central.
“The success of the Switch is testament to the value of mobile gaming with physical controls. A number of cheaper products allow a smartphone to be clipped into or onto a modified handheld gaming controller; these include the ION iCade mobile, the GameCase, the GameVice and products from Moga. However, the fixed form of these accessories means they are bulky and inflexible.”
As well as this documentation, Windows Central also reports that prototypes were made out of foam and then 3D printed.
It’s still some time until Project xCloud is to be seen further, but the idea of playing your favourite Xbox game titles on your portable devices with hopefully some top quality peripherals to do away with touch controls (cos let’s be honest, gaming with touch controls isn’t the greatest), it’s certainly an exciting prospect.
