Despite all the iOS 16 features teased at WWDC 2022, it appears Apple left one out of the presentation: the ability to connect wireless Nintendo controllers.
How to pair your JOYCONS to your iPhone! #ios16 #nintendoswitch
Much like pairing a PlayStation 5 (or PS4) controller with a Mac, Nintendo controller support isn’t new to Apple computers—but until now, it’s been absent from its mobile devices. It turns out, however, that among the plethora of new features coming to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 is compatibility with Bluetooth Nintendo controllers.
When the iOS 16 developer beta was available, it was only a matter of hours before some people started discovering the new feature. The creator of the in-progress Delta emulator and AltStore, Riles, noticed the new controller support with enthusiasm almost immediately. Screenshots taken inside iOS 16 show that the Switch Pro, as well as Joy-Cons, now appear in the Bluetooth pairing menu.
Many developers with access to iOS 16 have confirmed Nintendo controller connectivity across a wide range of devices. iPhones, iPads, Pro Controllers, multiple Joy-Cons, and even the wireless NES controller that came with Nintendo’s mini console all appear to work together. The Joy-Con functionality in particular has people excited, as you can use a single Joy-Con or activate two at once to function as a single controller.
