One of the underscored features of iOS 7 is support for external game controllers. When the OS was unveiled in June, we saw leaks about a prototype Logitech game controller for iOS devices and now @evleaks has leaked a full press render of a gamepad for the iPhone.
The gamepad looks like a case that envelops around the iPhone and adds a physical D-pad, four control buttons and shoulder buttons. This is clearly for people who detest on-screen game controls. Such a product was not possible for the iPhone before iOS 7 was released.
GigaOM notes in a report that the Logitech gamepad has fewer buttons than the Mogo Pro Controller for Android smartphones. The Logitech gamepad lack triggers and joysticks, like most console controllers.
Currently, it is not known whether the controller will work via Bluetooth or the Lightning connector. Either ways, with the presence of support for controllers, iOS based hardware just became much more threatening to mainstream gaming consoles.
This becomes more relevant as Apple has added the A7 chipset that supports 64-bit applications and has bumped the graphics capabilities of the GPU by twice on the iPhone 5S, which means that games on the iPhone 5S and perhaps also the incoming new versions of the iPad will compete more with mainstream gaming consoles in terms of graphics and gameplay.
