Apple may be secretly developing a portable console that is similar to the Nintendo Switch, according to a rumor originating from a Korean forum. Gamers should take the report with a grain of salt, however, as there is no hard evidence to back up the rumor.
If the rumor is true, Apple’s secret new console would not be its first. The company launched its own games console, dubbed the Apple Bandai Pippin, in 1996. Unfortunately for Apple, the console sold poorly and went down in gaming history as another obscure console that most people don't remember. The console was discontinued after Steve Jobs returned to Apple and opted to scrap the project, but rumors that the company is working on a new console have persisted ever since.
According to a post on Korean website Clien, Apple is currently working on a Switch-like hybrid console. The console will supposedly run on a brand new, Apple-designed application processor, instead of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips that are used for the company’s iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. The chip is said to be solely designed for gaming and will apparently feature enhanced GPU performance and ray-tracing technology. The console would be compatible with multiple external controllers, some of which are inspired by the Switch controller.
The rumor also purports that Apple is negotiating with Ubisoft to develop exclusive games for its new console. This has become a standard practice in the gaming industry, as both Sony and Microsoft have negotiated exclusivity deals with various studios to make games specifically designed for their consoles. If Apple is indeed developing a new gaming system, it makes perfect sense that it would attempt to court a major developer such as Ubisoft to develop exclusive titles for Apple Arcade.
While Apple’ s iPhones and iPads already have strong chips that are capable of providing a decent GPU performance, the company still does not have a device that specially caters to gamers. Of course there are several high-quality games on Apple Arcade that are playable on Apple’s flagship products, but iPhone and iPads are meant to have a sleek design that does not allow room for a cooling system. A new gaming console could be designed in a way to allow more room for such a cooling system, allowing for better performance.
While the possibility of Apple working on a new console is exciting, gamers should take the news with caution. There have been several rumors in the past that have made similar claims, but none of them were actually true. For example, a rumor that began circulating late last year asserted that Apple was working on a gaming-focused Apple TV, but seems to be false now that Apple has released its second generation of Apple TV 4K.
Source: Wccftech