Controller

Google has teased its presence at GDC but it's no mystery really by now. Or rather, all bets are on the company not only formally launching Project Stream but also a possible gaming device. Given Stream's nature, that device could very well be running Chrome OS or even just a Chrome browser. If so, it will need some form of controller and although Google may already have one in the works, it's almost a sign of good faith that it's adding support for Nintendo's Switch controllers, both wired and Bluetooth.

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Last year, Microsoft rolled out the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The strange looking device was created to make gaming more accessible by allowing those with disabilities to create their own custom button layouts. It's an impressive piece of kit that was extremely well received by the gaming community, and now it's about to get some screen time during one of the year's biggest sporting events.

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SteelSeries has revealed Stratus Duo, a new full-size Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless controller designed for mobile platforms, Oculus Go, Samsung Gear, and PC. The controller targets gamers who need something more substantial than a touchscreen or mini game pad, instead offering plug-and-play functionality alongside a design similar to gaming console controllers.

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Were it not for Super Smash Bros., the GameCube controller would probably be a distant memory for most people. A curiosity of the past, perhaps, given its rather unique design and button layout. A stepping stone on the path to the more refined gamepads we have today. Thanks to Super Smash Bros., though, the GameCube controller is none of those things, and instead it’s alive and kicking. Though the original Wii had a set of GameCube controller ports all its own, Nintendo eventually figured out a way to bring GameCube support forward to the Wii U, all in the name of Super Smash Bros. and the Melee veterans who love it.

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There is no shortage of game controllers for Android, both the wireless and the wired kind. That’s really no surprise, considering that other mobile platform barely supports such peripherals. So it probably doesn’t hurt to add one more to that list, especially when it involves one of the most trusted brands in the gaming industry. As announced last October, Razer is finally making its Raiju controller available for Android phones, bringing to mobile the same things that made its Tournament-grade controller popular.

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When rumors of the Xiaomi-funded Black Shark started to circulate, mobile gamers were more than curious about the possibility of a phone that more or less turns into a Nintendo Switch-alike via removable controllers. When the first Black Shark came out, however, the crowd was disappointed by a one-sided affair. It seems that Xiaomi is finally making up for lost time and opportunity with the Gamepad 2.0 that finally does bring two controllers on each side to truly turn a phone into a mobile gaming handheld.

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Just like in the mobile market, most of the developments and advancements in gaming cater to the large majority of able-bodied gamers. That unsurprisingly cuts off quite a sizable number of people that would buy games by the dozens if they were actually playable by people with physical handicaps. That’s why Microsoft was largely praised when it came out with its Xbox Adaptive Controller though, unfortunately, few followed its lead. Fortunately, all it took was a very dedicated gamer to find ways to make the XAC work with the Nintendo Switch.

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Back in 2006, Nintendo's Wii console broke new ground when it came to using motion-based controls in video games thanks to its then-unique wand-like remote. Now we're getting a rare look at an official prototype version of the Wii remote, thanks to a Japanese auction listing. Right off the bat it's clear the remote is very similar in appearance to the consumer version that was released with the Wii, but what's interesting here is that the prototype is designed to work with the GameCube, Nintendo's console before the Wii.

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So you'd like to dive in to the virtual reality universe, but you'd rather not have to hold controllers. The most recent announcement from HTC's Vive crew suggests that the HTC Vive Pro will soon have 6DoF hand and finger tracking with a simple software update. "Through the front-camera and its proprietary AI computer vision technology, Vive Pro users can soon interact in VR environments directly with their hands without the need for any specialized tracking hardware."

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PowerA has unveiled a new wireless controller for the Nintendo Switch that features Diablo 3 artwork. The controllers will be available exclusively through game retailer GameStop, which is now accepting preorders for the model. Buyers will officially be able to get the controller on November 2 when Diablo 3: Eternal Collection arrives.

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This week the folks behind Google's Daydream VR universe revealed they'd made a pair of new controllers. These controllers look something like a cross between their earliest Daydream controller and a PlayStation Move - or better yet, just a PSVR controller, but a tiny bit different. These new controllers are not (yet) available to the public, they'll be sent first to game developers and app developers interested in taking VR to a new level.

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Nintendo giveth and Nintendo taketh away. Or in this case, it just didn’t make things painfully clear before “encouraging” Nintendo fans to put their hard-earned monies into this nod to the past. At its Nintendo Direct stream last week, the gaming giant revealed, much to the glee of NES fans, Joy-con replicas of the classic controller. But while it’s not completely useless, the fine print that Nintendo didn’t mention makes these accessories a lot less useful than you might have presumed.

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