Razer is the latest accessory company to announce a Made For iPhone gaming controller, but the “Junglecat” offers a design feature that may set it apart a bit from the other contenders – A unique slide out design. The Junglecat and other MFi controllers will gain a new ability with the release of iOS 8 and OS X 10.10, the ability to remotely control titles on the Mac and iPad.
AppleInsider reports that the Razer Junglecat is outfitted with a D-pad, face buttons of “A,” “B,” “X,” and “Y,” plus “L” and “R” bumper buttons. The physical controls are part of a slide-out pad that connects to the top half of the controller encasing an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s. (The design is reminiscent of Sony’s PSP Go portable gaming system.)
While offering access to all of the iPhone’s ports and buttons, the Razer connects to the iPhone via the Lightning connector.
Razer’s Junglecat is available for pre-order, and is priced at $99.99.
While the hefty price of the Junglecat – and it’s competitors, such as the Logitech Powershell, and the MOGA Ace Power – seems a little dear for a gaming controller, they will gain some added value with Apple’s announcement to developers this week that iOS 8 will include a new “controller forwarding” feature to allow controllers like the Junglecat to wirelessly connect to an iPad or Mac.
Apple says iOS 8 will also give developers the ability to use the iPhone’s touch screen and motion control input to control titles running on an iPad or Mac.
