Is it mandatory to use classic Bluetooth (Bluetooth Classic) to connect game controllers that support Apple’s MFi games and Arcade games, or can game controllers be developed using only Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for such accessories?
Game Controller (Bluetooth Device Developer) Important!!!
Is it mandatory to use classic Bluetooth (Bluetooth Classic) to connect game controllers that support Apple’s MFi games and Arcade games, or can game controllers be developed using only Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for such accessories?
This is tricky to answer because we've provided very little public documentation about exactly how game controller support works. Here is what I can say:
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MFI licensed controllers use Bluetooth Classic. For more information on that, you'd need to join the MFI program.
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The GameController framework also supports a broader range of controllers, however, we've said very little about exactly what that support entails. All we've really said is that it supports the major PlayStation and Xbox controllers, as well as "other Bluetooth game controller".
However, our Xbox support is enough to answer this question:
can game controllers be developed using only Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Several Xbox controllers (depending on model version) and the "Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2" in particular are specifically BLE devices, so this is technically possible.
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Kevin Elliott
DTS Engineer, CoreOS/Hardware