{"id":33759,"date":"2023-09-13T18:44:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T16:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/97ccdbd0-eb7b-4436-9069-4c77bfb0d4e1"},"modified":"2023-09-13T18:46:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T16:46:12","slug":"why-the-iphone15-could-be-the-handheld-gaming-console-weve-always-wanted","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/why-the-iphone15-could-be-the-handheld-gaming-console-weve-always-wanted\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the iPhone15 could be the handheld gaming console we\u2019ve always wanted"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mobile gaming has struggled to find its footing, but Apple\u2019s September event shows that the future is bright. <\/p>

By Alex Hughes\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 13 September 2023 at 16:44 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Apple\u2019s September event is over. We\u2019ve been bombarded with information, stats, new devices, colours, and every minute change imaginable. The big news seems to be that there’s a new button and and a new cleaning cloth, which the tech press have confirmed will be compatible with multiple devices, phew. So far, so meh. But there does seem to be a big part of the announcement that seems to be underplayed: Apple is getting serious about gaming. <\/p>

For the longest time, mobile gaming has been the little brother of the gaming world, never fully taken seriously, but always there to play with when you need to. But the latest set of announcements suggests that might be all about to change.<\/p>

iPhone 15: The key upgrades<\/strong><\/h2>

The new iPhone 15 line-up has been revealed with the addition of ray-tracing abilities<\/a>. This, in conjunction with Apple\u2019s super-charged A16 Bionic chip, means the devices will be able to run a list of AAA titles, such as Capcom\u2019s Resident Evil 4<\/em> remake or the upcoming Assassin\u2019s Creed Mirage<\/em>.<\/p>

For years, Apple has been making smartphones with extremely powerful chipsets which, for the most part, are heavily underutilised. With the average smartphone user barely approaching its limit of power, high-end gaming is the perfect use of one of Apple’s biggest selling points.<\/p>

The iPhone 15 has improved stats for gaming to run high-powered games – Credit: Bloomberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>

All Apple was missing was ray tracing \u2013 a technique for modelling light transport in rendering algorithms or in other words, a way of mimicking the way light works in the real world. For high-end games, this level of rendering is crucial to generate the games in their original form.<\/p>

This isn\u2019t the first collection of smartphones able to run games like these. For years now, through the advent of cloud gaming, a wide range of massive Xbox games have been available on your smartphone via the company\u2019s cloud gaming subscription service.<\/p>

However, this has relied on a strong internet connection and a hefty amount of data. That\u2019s fine if you\u2019re connected to a strong Wi-Fi connection, but everything falls apart when you\u2019re on the move\u2026 which just so happens to be the optimal time for mobile gaming.<\/p>

Trying to play any AAA game via cloud gaming on the move is a challenge equitable to a marathon, complete with similar levels of frustration as you stare at loading screens and glitchy movements as your phone desperately tries to cling to a signal.<\/p>

Apple, on the other hand, won\u2019t rely on cloud gaming, able to run these high-performance games on the move \u2013 finally allowing gamers to feel the full frustration of a difficult game on a cramped boiling train\u2026 you know, the way they were meant to be played.<\/p>

Of course, while iPhones will be able to play these games, it doesn\u2019t mean it will be the most optimal experience, especially when controls come into question. Luckily, there is a fix for that of sorts.<\/p>

Companies like Razer or Backbone have been making mobile gaming peripherals for years now. Attaching to a mobile phone, these devices turn smartphones into full gaming devices similar to a Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or the old-school Sony PSPs.<\/p>

This isn\u2019t Apple\u2019s first venture into the world of gaming. Back in 2019, Apple launched its Arcade subscription service \u2013 a mobile gaming subscription service. It was a way of offering up more advanced mobile gaming, but this was still very much limited to the realms of mobile ability with simplistic games and low-end graphical intensities.<\/p>

It’s yet unclear how these recent iPhone 15 boasts will actually be delivered in the real world \u2013 so far, Apple has only offered an early look at the iPhone 15<\/p>

However, if successful, Apple could be the first of the smartphone brands to offer mobile gaming to rival both consoles and computer gaming. <\/p>

It could also see a major re-think for handheld gaming products like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck as we opt to squint at the details of Assassin\u2019s Creed<\/em> on an iPhone screen.<\/p>

Read more<\/strong>:<\/p>