14 DAY TRIAL // In a closed session with developers at the WWDC conference on Tuesday, Apple opened the topic of “controller forwarding,” a little something that leverages made-for-iPhone accessories to enhance gaming. It’s a very good indication of how Apple’s rumored TV game box will work.
Controller forwarding basically allows you to employ your iPhone as a controller for a game you might want to play on your iPad or, even better, on your big TV screen with mirroring/AirPlay. The same thing is probably in the works for the Apple TV.
Rumor has it that Apple wants to give the box access to the App Store to let people download games on it and play these games with third-party controllers. Apparently, the Cupertino giant thinks that the best controller for iOS games is iOS itself.
The controller forwarding feature opens up new APIs to developers, enabling them to leverage not only strap-on controllers (like this one here), but also the phone’s touchscreen, turning it into the ideal gaming solution, complete with motion sensitivity and a touch-area for various gimmicks that the game would have you perform. It’s brilliant!
During the presentation in question, Apple also confirmed 130 million active Game Center users.