iOS 16 adds support for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro controllers

Pro Controller (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

Apple unveiled iOS 16 during its WWDC 2022 keynote earlier today.
One developer has uncovered that iOS 16 now natively supports the Nintendo Joy-Con and Pro controllers.
Support is likely across iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and macOS Ventura as well.

With iOS 16, Apple is finally rounding up its gaming controller support.

Earlier today, the company unveiled iOS 16 during the WWDC 2022 keynote. While the latest version of iOS includes a ton of new features for users and developers, one major update didn't make the presentation.

One developer, Riles, posted to Twitter that iOS 16 features an update that is fantastic news for Nintendo gamers. According to the iOS 16 developer beta, the new version of iOS has added native support for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

!!! iOS 16 natively supports Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers!!

Can confirm they work perfectly with Delta 😍 pic.twitter.com/p8u1sdjvTt!!! iOS 16 natively supports Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers!!

Can confirm they work perfectly with Delta 😍 pic.twitter.com/p8u1sdjvTt— Riles 🤷‍♂️ (@rileytestut) June 6, 2022 June 6, 2022

But that's not all. In an additional tweet, the developer also uncovered that even single Joy-Cons are now supported with the upcoming version of iOS.

holy shit it supports single joy-cons too omfg pic.twitter.com/hgH7cGTNECholy shit it supports single joy-cons too omfg pic.twitter.com/hgH7cGTNEC— Riles 🤷‍♂️ (@rileytestut) June 6, 2022 June 6, 2022

This is big news for anyone who has been gaming on Nintendo but wants to also use their controller with their iPhone. Xbox and Playstation gamers have enjoyed this luxury for years, so it's great to see that Nintendo gamers are going to be able to enjoy compatibility as well.

While it is currently unconfirmed if the controllers will work on other Apple devices, the company did specify in the tvOS 16 developer release notes that "many additional Bluetooth and USB game controllers are supported by the Game Controller framework on macOS 13, iOS 16, and tvOS 16 and later." So, it can be assumed that this compatibility will be available across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.