Apple has patented a snap-on game controller for iPhone
But don't get too excited
Apple's patent for snap-on iPhone gaming accessories that extend in-game controls with D-pads and buttons has been accepted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.
Apple Insider acquired all the details of the patent, which includes a large physical gamepad with a recess at its centre that your iPhone slots into.
It connects through the hardware or Bluetooth so that you can use the gamepad's D-pad, action buttons, and joysticks instead of the touchscreen to control the game.
You can also connect it to a monitor using Wi-Fi so that you can play iPhone games on a bigger screen.
The important part of the design is that it saves screen space unlike, say, virtual D-pads and buttons.
Obviously, there are third-party MFi game pads already available, but Apple is looking to keep this style of game pad for itself with this patent.
The patent also covers other physical iPhone add-ons. There's a QWERTY keyboard, one with an extra camera, speaker and microphone, and another that seems to add a trackpad-like touch input.
TechCrunch notes that the likeliness of this patent actually leading to any physical products isn't high.
One of the reasons being that the patent dates back to 2008.
The other being that the problems this patent may address have already been solved by more recent Apple products and third-party efforts.
