While we still don't know exactly how emulators will work on the iPhone, Apple's move here would put its App Store in a better place to compete with alternative app stores in the EU. Assuming that means you can actually play games from the consoles they emulate, it could be a big deal for retro gaming fans. As good as the Steam Deck and Switch are, the rise of portable gaming consoles has come at the crucial cost of portability (unless you have cargo pants and don't mind your knees knocking while you walk).
I always felt the Game Boy Advance had the best handheld design, thanks to its clamshell shape, and the Nintendo DS Lite wasn't bad either. Andrew Webster said similar things while he was nostalgic for the PlayStation Vita during The edge this morning.
Of course, the iPhone has no face buttons, and the virtual buttons, while fine in a pinch, are a poor substitute for anything that requires quick reflexes. Fortunately, your options are plentiful on the iPhone.
But you may not need to buy any controllers from Backbone if you already have a Switch. Nintendo controllers also work with the iPhone, and there are adapters that allow you to physically connect Joy-Cons to your phone. I haven't tried them, so your mileage may vary, but they exist.
These are just a few of the many options that exist for iPhone drivers. There are many more, but despite the Apple phone's status as a mobile gaming powerhouse, third-party controllers haven't made a big splash on their own. With emulators allowed on the App Store (a change perhaps brought on by regulatory pressure from the US antitrust lawsuit against it and regulatory pressure in the European Union), perhaps we will be in a future where the iPhone is actually an ideal gaming laptop. platform.
