Mac Blutooth Game Controller

This full-sized controller's ergonomic design is perfect for gaming. It gives you 40-plus hours of game play with just a quick charge using the Lightning connector, along with LED notifications, an easy-to-navigate menu button, and pressure-sensitive buttons for the most precise gaming controls. Discover the best Mac Game Controllers in Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular items in Amazon Video Games Best Sellers. 8Bitdo's goal is to design and produce the highest quality game controllers on the market. The ZERO may be the smallest Bluetooth game controller in the world. Small enough to put on your keychain. The ZERO is compatible with Mac OSX, Windows, iOS, Android.

  1. 3D audio leader Nahimic joins the SteelSeries family: Read More Best Gaming Controllers All of our gaming controllers are completely wireless and designed to provide you with the best gaming experience on Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Apple TV.
  2. Sep 11, 2017  Grab your PS4 Controller and we’ll get started connecting it to your Mac. You can go to the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar on your Mac’s screen and click it to turn Bluetooth on from your Mac. Then, you’ll either click on open Bluetooth preferences or go to.
  3. Jan 06, 2014  Download Game Controller Apps and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. ‎All iOS games which are compatible with game controllers. If you have a MFi game controller, you can use this free App to see all games which work with game controllers.
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Gaming on a Mac is not what Apple is historically known for. However, with Apple delving into the fledgling virtual and augmented reality space, some traditional game interfaces and not so traditional interfaces (think HTC wands or Valve's knuckle controllers) now need to be supported on macOS to reap the VR/AR benefits to their fullest.

To ready you for some amazing VR pilot games such as Eve: Valkyrie that utilize a traditional game Xbox game controller, we're here to show you how to connect one to your Mac! In the past this method only applied to the Xbox 360 controller, but the latest version of the software you'll be using also now supports the Xbox One controller.

How to download and install the drivers

We're assuming that you already own a wired Xbox controller, but if you're needing to buy, a standard controller is about $50. You'll need to connect it to your Mac using a microUSB cable which, sadly, isn't included. If you buy a third-party wired controller you won't have to worry about this.

Next, follow these steps.

  1. Launch Safari.
  2. Navigate to https://github.com/360/Controller/360Controller/releases.
  3. Download the latest release of the 360Controller driver. As of this writing, the latest release is 0.16.5.

  4. Go to your Downloads folder in Finder.
  5. Double-click the 360Controllerinstall_*.dmg file.
  6. Double-click the Install360Controller.pkg that pops up in Finder.

  7. Click Continue.
  8. Again, click Continue.

  9. Select to Agree the license agreement.
  10. Click Install.
  11. Agree to allow a restart of the computer by clicking Continue Installation.

  12. Click Restart.
  13. You can optionally have the downloaded file Moved to Trash.

  14. Upon restarting the computer start System Preferences from the dock or the  menu.
  15. Click on Xbox 360 Controllers.

How to connect your Xbox 360 controller

Once you've installed the drivers, you'll now logically see that there are No devices found, since we have yet to physically connect the game controller to the Mac.

  1. Plug in your controller to your Mac. If you have a current model MacBook or MacBook Pro, you'll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
  2. Click OK when the System Extension Blocked warning message pops up.
  3. Go into System Preferences via the dock or  menu.
  4. Click Security & Privacy.

  5. Under the General tab click the Lock at the bottom left.
  6. Enter your password and click Unlock.

  7. Click Allow.

Your Xbox wired controller should now be connected!

Final thoughts

Mac bluetooth game controllerMac Blutooth Game Controller

I am super stoked about developers climbing aboard the VR/AR hype train. As a mere consumer of VR, I can only hope for more and more creative minds to get on board. If you're a VR/AR developer, or even better yet, a macOS VR/AR developer, what other ways can Apple help promote virtual reality on their platform? Let us know in the comments!

Updated April 2018: Updated to reflect that this method also now supports the Xbox One controller.

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BestGame Controllers for Apple TV and Apple ArcadeiMore2020

ComponentMinimum RequirementsRecommended SpecificationsOperating SystemWindows 7 SP2+Windows 7 SP2+ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo E6600 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ or betterIntel Core i3, AMD Phenom IIMemory4 GB RAM4 GB RAMStorage6 GB available HD space6 GB available HD spaceVideoNVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB) or ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB) or betterNVIDIA GTX 550 Ti, AMD Radeon HD 6770NetworkBroadband Internet connection required for playBroadband Internet connection required for playResolution1280 x 720 minimum display resolution1920 x 1080 display resolutionInputKeyboard and mouse. Touch screen not currently supported.Keyboard and mouse. Locomotion game download mac

Playing games on your Apple TV is always more comfortable with a controller, and since Apple Arcade released, there are a ton of games that can use a controller. The SteelSeries Nimbus is the best game controller to ensure your gaming sessions are at comfortable as possible and feel like a full-blown console experience when you're playing your favorite Apple Arcade games.

Best Overall: SteelSeries Nimbus

One of the essential things in any gaming controller is how it feels in your hand, and the SteelSeries Nimbus is beyond comfortable. Extended gaming sessions are no problem, and your hands shouldn't feel cramped or sore no matter what game you're playing. It's all thanks to the ergonomic design of the controller.

While some people don't like the joysticks in the side-by-side configuration (similar to a PlayStation controller), the way the handles are designed and force you to hold the SteelSeries Nimbus make it much more comfortable. If you play a lot of games that need dual-sticks to function — so your mileage may vary.

Let's talk buttons because the SteelSeries Nimbus has a full direction pad (D-Pad), A, B, X, and Y buttons, both bumpers, and triggers on the left and right side, and a menu button in the middle. All the buttons are very responsive and are sensitive, so when you press a button, you know it.

I've had my Nimbus for over two years, and I use it multiple times a week. The buttons haven't reduced to a mushy mess, yet - which is a lot less than I can say for even my PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller. On top of the controller, you'll also find a power button and a Bluetooth button used for pairing. It's also super easy to put the controller into pairing mode to connect to a new device or turn off the controller to make sure you conserve battery power.

Pros:

  • Fantastic 40-hour battery life
  • Comfortable ergonomic design
  • Compatible with Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad
  • Lightning charging

Cons:

  • Can't 100% control your Apple TV
  • Only one Bluetooth connection at a time

Best Overall

SteelSeries Nimbus

Made for gaming on all your Apple devices

With 40-hour battery life and responsive buttons, the SteelSeries Nimbus is the best controller for Apple TV and Apple Arcade.

Mac Bluetooth Controller

Source: iMore

The Horipad Ultimate is another reliable full MFi controller that will pair well with your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Its two-toned look offers a bit more of a unique look, and the thumbsticks have a slightly less concave construction, which may be more comfortable for some people.

Lory, iMore's Managing Editor, has mentioned that the Horipad Ultimate feels better in smaller hands, meaning if you have big palms, you may want to look elsewhere.

Cons:

  • Better for smaller hands

Best Battery Life

Horipad Ultimate

Even more playing time

Similar to the SteelSeries Nimbus, the Horipad Ultimate features all the same buttons, but it doubles the battery life!

Source: iMore

Being cheap and small, the SteelSeries Stratus is perfect for people who like to carry their gaming controllers around or ensure they don't take up a lot of space.

The Stratus does come with a few drawbacks. It uses a much older version of Bluetooth, and it only holds about a 10-hour charge. Plus, the R2 and L2 buttons can be a tad hard to reach, making the Stratus better suited for retro-styled games that have fewer controls.

Pros:

  • Compact
  • Lightning charging
  • Great for retro-styled gaming

Cons:

  • 10-hour battery life
  • L2 and R2 buttons hard to reach

Best Compact Controller

SteelSeries Stratus

More compact retro-inspired design

Xbox Controller Bluetooth Mac

If having a full-sized controller seems like too much, the SteelSeries Stratus offers a lot in a smaller package.

Source: iMore

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? The DualShock 4 is the standard controller that comes in the PlayStation 4 box and therefore, comes with the design we've come to expect. If you like it already but wish it were a little more interesting, Sony has a range of different colors available.

One of the significant drawbacks of using the DualShock 4 with your Apple TV is never knowing exactly how much battery power you have left, meaning it can just turn off on you in the middle of a gaming session if you don't ensure you've topped up the battery.

Bluetooth Game Controller For Mac

Cons:

  • Can't check battery life on Apple TV
  • micro-USB charging

Best for PS4 users

DualShock 4

Familiar design

Mac Bluetooth Game Controller Xbox One

The DualShock 4 is the standard controller that comes in the PlayStation 4 box and therefore if you like it, it's a great choice!.

Best for Xbox One users: Xbox One Wireless Controller

The Xbox One controller is a super comfortable gaming experience, and not only works with Apple TV. But it works seamlessly with the PC, too, either wired or over Bluetooth.

If you're not a fan of dumping AA batteries inside it, there's a play and charge kit available that transforms it into a rechargeable controller. And whether it's through the Design Lab or the ridiculous amount of special edition designs, there's a color combo that's perfect for you.

Cons:

  • Needs AA batteries

Best for Xbox One users

Mac Bluetooth Game Controller

Xbox One Wireless Controller

Super comfortable

The official Xbox One controller has a tweaked design, adding more grippy parts on the rear side, making it comfortable to hold.

Bottom line

When it comes to gaming on your Apple TV, a great gamepad can go a long way, and the SteelSeries Nimbus is the best around. Its 40-hour battery life is more than enough to keep you gaming for extended periods, and thanks to its comfortable ergonomic design, your hands won't cramp up!

The buttons on the SteelSeries Nimbus are nice and firm, and provide good tactile feedback when pressed, so you know your inputs are being received. Plus, it works with Mac, iOS, and Apple TV giving you the option to upgrade your gaming experience no matter what device you use to play your favorite Apple Arcade games.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who plays way too many video games and his hands-on experience with several MFi controllers made this guide possible.

Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and knows her way around both an Apple TV and MFi gaming controllers. She's a believer in the SteelSeries Nimbus herself.

Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. He knows everything, literally everything, there is to know about Apple.

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Save your money

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Use your USB microphone, flash drive, or even charge your older devices with these USB-C adapters.