When 19-year-old Josh King suggested helium would single-handedly redefine mobile gaming with his 3D-printed gamepad, drawing a nonstop enactment from himself to Steve Jobs, I person to admit I thought it was a spot much!
But it’s nary longer conscionable a 3D-printed controller. OhSnap, the institution down the fantabulous magnetic PopSocket alternatives I showed you successful October, is present officially turning his plan into the coolest looking gamepad attachment I’ve ever seen for a phone:
It’s nary taller oregon wider than an iPhone, truthful it should descent into a pocket. It’s got a MagSafe signifier of magnets to connect it to your magnetic ringing device. You don’t person to region it to usage your telephone similar a phone, due to the fact that the full gamepad retracts underneath, a small similar the slide-out keyboard phones (or PlayStation Phones) of aged — and now, it’s mounted connected a spring-loaded limb that pops retired astatine the propulsion of a fastener and besides somewhat angles your instrumentality towards your face.
Video by Josh King / OhSnap
OhSnap adjacent recovered country for a brace of Nintendo Switch-esque analog sticks, with drift-resistant Hall effect sensors, and brace of fold-out grips truthful you tin (theoretically) clasp it much similar a full-size gamepad. The sticks are clickable buttons, and it’s got a afloat acceptable of enarthrosis buttons and triggers arsenic well.
Image: OhSnap
Two months ago, Retro Game Corps came distant impressed with a prototype, and it seems King has been very engaged since then. As helium explains on YouTube, helium initially tried to commencement his ain institution astir the gamepad, adjacent attracted a fewer investors, manufactured immoderate boards and was moving toward injection molding, earlier helium started moving retired of wealth and reached retired to OhSnap astir a partnership.
Speaking of money, we don’t person immoderate thought however overmuch it’ll cost, peculiarly astatine retail — OhSnap is readying to motorboat a Kickstarter connected January 2nd to rise funds. It’s taking signups present for now.
I should beryllium getting my ain hands connected a prototype adjacent period astatine CES 2025 successful Las Vegas, and I’ll fto you cognize however it feels.