Great news for video game fans: Nintendo’s retro controllers are now compatible with Apple products. You can even enjoy the Joy-Con of the Switch on Mac, iPad, iPhone and on Apple TV!
Fans of Nintendo and Apple products are spoiled. The Cupertino company has a surprise in store for gamers: since October 24, the modernized retro controllers for the Nintendo Switch and the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) are now compatible with Macs, iPhones, iPads and Apple TV boxes. . Apple hasn’t made any official announcement about it, but developer Steven Troughton-Smith teased the trick in a video posted to his Twitter account. Enthusiastic, he writes: “iOS/tvOS 16.1 supports the official BT/USB-C Super Nintendo controller for the Switch. I don’t have the N64 or NES versions to test, but I believe they are now supported as well.” The website MacStories confirmed that the Bluetooth re-release of the Nintendo 64 controller also works on Apple products. The same should probably be true for NES and Mega Drive controllers, although the information has not been confirmed.
Neat, iOS/tvOS 16.1 support the official BT/USB-C Super Nintendo controller for the Switch I dont have the N64 or NES versions to test with, but I believe they are supported now too pic.twitter.com/mfkTIHpXun
—Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) October 24, 2022
Apple and Nintendo: which controllers are compatible?
If the compatibility of the SNES with Apple products was unexpected, other controllers were, since the announcement of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), in June 2022, to become so. It is now done and this since the latest updates of iOS and tvOS. The controllers affected are:
- the wireless reissue of the Nintendo 64 controller -only available on the Nintendo website-,
- the wireless reissue of the SEGA Mega Drive controller -only available on the Nintendo website-,
- the wireless reissue of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) controller -only available on the Nintendo website-,
- the wireless reissue of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller -switch pro controller-,
- the Switch Pro controller,
- Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons.
The new retro wireless controllers were released by Nintendo to rekindle nostalgia among video game enthusiasts a year ago. At the same time, the Japanese multinational had launched a new Switch Online subscription. However, these new controllers are regularly out of stock. To play on your Apple TV or iPhone, you will therefore have to be patient if you do not have the precious sesame in your hands.
To take advantage of Nintendo controllers on an Apple device, nothing very complicated. You must first have installed the latest version of the operating system adapted to the device (macOS 13 Ventura on Mac, iOS 16.1 on iPhone, iPadOS 16.1 on iPad, or tvOS 16.1 on Apple TV or compatible television). Then, just go to the settings of the Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, activate the Bluetooth function – if the module was deactivated – and pair the controller which must appear in the list of available devices. Thus, you will be able to play your favorite Apple Arcade game titles – available through a paid subscription – and, more generally, all compatible ones found in the Apple Store, but not only… Because you can also browse in the Apple TV interface on the controller!