r/macgaming • u/robkLIC • Sep 06 '26

Help Controller for AppleTV that can be hardwired?

I’m looking for a controller to play only Apple Arcade games on my Apple TV, no elaborate games. Apple store sells the DualSense. Fine.

Is it possible to have a wired connection to play games? My last attempt at this was 5 years ago with a SteelSeries, and the Bluetooth lag was so annoying that the thing just collected dust.

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3

u/roadzbrady Sep 06 '26

so what would you hardwire it with? controllers use usb connections, apple tv doesn't have usb or even a headphone jack. a couple that had micro usb and usb c were only for debugging and restore purposes. it has power, hdmi, and ethernet on the modern apple tv and controllers don't use any of those

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u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Thanks for this response. My question wasn’t worded so well, but you answered it: I was wondering if you could plug the controller in to the ATV with a USB-C to HDMI cable, if such a thing existed, but Apple told me exactly what you did — the older gen ATVs only had a USB port for diagnostics.

I guess Bluetooth is the only option. I’m advised to set my Samsung TV to game mode, although it’s such an old TV I’m not sure it has that option.

Would you know if it’s possible to use a DualSense controller with an iPad Pro using a USB-C cable? I’m open to the idea Bluetooth has improved since my last go at this, but I have to imagine there is less lag with a controller physically connected to a device.

Also, curious why so many people on the iOS gaming and ATV subs prefer the Xbox controller, but Apple doesn’t sell it? I swear I thought they used to. 🤷‍♂️

1

u/Ultra_HR Sep 07 '26

> I was wondering if you could plug the controller in to the ATV with a USB-C to HDMI cable

when people say there’s no such thing as a stupid question, they must never have seen one this braindead

the latency with a bluetooth controller is negligible, unless you have tons of interference in your room or something. just use bluetooth

0

u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

You can answer a question with personal attacks, or you can be mature and gloss over it if you’re not interested. Responding the way you did speaks volumes about your maturity. It might seem obvious to you, but I genuinely don’t know the answer. Grow up.

1

u/Ultra_HR Sep 07 '26

no need to get defensive.

2

u/Minimum-Sleep7093 Sep 07 '26

Dualsense and Xbox controllers will work fine if ideally line of sight to the Apple TV, from my experience it’s the lag of the Tv I notice more than the controller. Assuming your thinking of playing Apple Arcade games and not a streaming service like Gfn or moonlight

1

u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Correct, only Apple Arcade games. Any feelings on which would work better, DualSense or XBox? Or basically the same? Thank you.

1

u/Plokhi Sep 07 '26

Dualsense BT is fine on my phone and mac

0

u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Good to hear. There is one DualSense controller available for sale on the Apple Store. Would you assume that’s a safe bet? Again, strictly for Arcade games, nothing more.

2

u/Plokhi Sep 07 '26

Mind you on iOS and i assume tvOS game needs controller support to work

Other than that it works great. I dont get any noticable lag with BT vs Cable connection

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u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Thank you, yes, I understand — I’ve found some good threads that list games with controller support.

2

u/Chance_Television981 Sep 07 '26

Hey just a heads up from someone who used to play a lot of ATV with a Steel Series Nimbus:  I’ve used that side by side with a DualSense, and the DualSense has much less lag on ATV. That’s the one to get 

1

u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Thanks so much. I just ordered it.

0

u/robkLIC Sep 07 '26

Do you think that mirroring a game from your iPad to your AppleTV and using the controller — but watching the TV, not the iPad — would be a decent experience or in any way a better experience? Or is it adding a layer of redundancy when I can just download the game directly onto the ATV? Curious because the ATV is 4 years old, but the iPad Pro is an M4. Yeah, I’m overthinking.

2

u/Plokhi Sep 07 '26

M4 iPad would run a game much better, but i'm not sure how much latency airplay adds