macOS 26.7 code references two possible Apple game controllers, with differing capabilities

Macworld According to a sharp-eyed MacRumors reader, the first macOS 26.7 release candidate included references to a pair of game controllers. The same release candidate included code numbers for a slew of other in-development Apple products. The two hardware devices are referenced as T6502 and T1057 and they include most standard game controller features: dual thumbsticks, face buttons, triggers, home and menu buttons, and different haptic features. One notable difference: the T1057 controller includes gryscope and accelerometer support (so games can tell how you tilt or move the controller) while T6502 does not. While this is an interesting find, I caution readers not to assume that Apple is working on its own game controller. There have been rumors of Apple making its own game controller for over a decade, and nothing has ever come of it. Apple has instead done a lot to provide proper support for third-party game controllers, whether that’s its own MFi program or controllers for home console systems. For years, you have been able to sync an Xbox or PlayStation controller to your Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV. That includes the latest controllers for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. These code numbers probably reference test devices that are used in testing support for core game controller functions, or legacy references to R&D projects for Apple game controllers that may never be built. Apple famously has many products in various stages of development and only a few of them are ever released. Apple could be building its own game controller, but there would be little reason to. Find My support and automatic switching between devices would be useful, but it’s hard to argue that modern controllers are missing features that require Apple to do its own thing. It makes much more sense for Apple to support the tens of millions of Xbox and PlayStation controllers than to make its own, especially as Apple’s platforms are not very popular for the kinds of games one usually plays with controllers.

References to two unreleased controllers that identify as Apple hardware in code were spotted in the macOS 26.7 release candidate by MacRumors reader Pdfu. Apple's first macOS 26.7 release candidate came out in mid-August, and it was full of references to unreleased Apple devices, from iPhones and Macs to new home accessories. Pdfu has continued to dig into the RC, finding new details that were previously overlooked. There are GameController profiles for two hardware devices identified as T6502 and T1057, which Pdfu suggests could be Apple gaming controllers in development. The two controllers have different haptic designs and standard controller components, like a D-pad, dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons, Home and Menu buttons, and analog triggers. T1057 also has accelerometer and gyroscope support, while T6502 doesn't. The code includes dedicated hardware plug-ins for each device as well, which suggests these are actual devices instead of placeholder code. There have been rumors about a possible Apple game controller over the years, but nothing has ever materialized. The code found in the first macOS Tahoe 26.7 RC could point to an Apple controller in the works, but it could also be referencing internal test hardware Apple uses for testing game controller code and support. Apple removed the code in the second ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.7 RC. Apple has had multiple opportunities to release a game controller. The company could have launched one alongside any version of the Apple TV, when Apple Arcade came out, or when the Vision Pro launched, but it didn't. Instead, Apple focused on building extensive support for third-party controllers. In 2015, Apple required ‌Apple TV‌ games to support the Siri Remote as a gaming controller, but gave that up in a matter of months. With the Vision Pro, it partnered with Sony to add Vision Pro support to the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers instead of designing its own controller. Console makers have mastered the controller, and many people already have Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo controllers. There's little improvement to be made on controller ergonomics, but if Apple is working on a controller, features like Find My and instant cross-device pairing could set it apart from competitors. All of the references can be found in blacktop/ipsw-diffs on GitHub, with Pdfu's highlights available in the forum post.This article, "macOS 26.7 Code Hints at Two Unreleased Apple Game Controllers" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Apple already supports nearly every major game controller, but new evidence suggests that the company may want to add its own hardware to the mix.Game controllers with a MacBook ProApple may be looking to expand its ambitions beyond software and platform support. Newly discovered code references two unreleased controllers with notably different feature sets.The references appeared within code briefly included in macOS 26.7, first spotted by pdfu, a MacRumors forum regular. The controllers in question are identified as "T6502" and "T1057". Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums