References to two unreleased controllers identified as Apple hardware in code were spotted in the macOS 26.7 release candidate by Woozad Pdfu reader. Apple’s first release candidate for macOS 26.7 was released in mid-August, and it was chock-full of references to unreleased Apple devices, from iPhones and Macs to new home accessories. Pdfu continued to dig into the RC, finding new details that were previously overlooked.
There are GameController profiles for two hardware devices identified as T6502 and T1057, which Pdfu suggests could be Apple game controllers in development. The two controllers have different haptic designs and standard controller components, like a D-pad, dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons, Home and Menu buttons, and analog triggers. The T1057 also supports accelerometer and gyroscope, while the T6502 does not.
The code also includes dedicated hardware plugins for each device, suggesting that these are real devices rather than fictional code.
There have been rumors about a possible Apple gaming controller over the years, but nothing ever came to fruition.
Code found in the first macOS Tahoe 26.7 RC could point to an Apple controller in the works, but it could also refer to internal testing hardware that Apple uses to test the code and game controller support. Apple removed the code in the second macOS Tahoe 26.7 RC.
Apple has had several opportunities to release a game controller. The company could have released one with any version of the Apple TV, when Apple Arcade was released or when Vision Pro launched, but that’s not the case. Instead, Apple focused on creating broad support for third-party controllers.
In 2015, Apple required Apple TV games to support the Siri Remote as a game controller, but waived it within a few months. With Vision Pro, it partnered with Sony to add Vision Pro support to PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers instead of designing its own controller.
Console manufacturers have mastered the controller and many people already own Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo controllers. There are few improvements to be made on the ergonomics of the controller, but if Apple is working on a controller, features like Find My and instant pairing between devices could set it apart from its competitors.
All references can be found in blacktop/ipsw-diffs on GitHub, with Pdfu highlights available in the forum post.
