Samsung Has a Gamepad for Smartphones Too

On Monday, Samsung introduced the Gamepad, a peripheral optimized for gaming on the company's line of Galaxy devices. GamePad is attachable to mobile devices ranging from 4 inches to 6.3 inches, and connects to the smartphone via a Bluetooth connection. The device is compatible with Android 4.1, meaning gamers should be able to use this device on non-Samsung phones and tablets.

"GamePad easily connects with smartphones and tablets through Bluetooth pairing," reads the company press release. "The most convenient features optimized for Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 4.3 such as Galaxy Note 3, S4, Note II, and S III enable easy connectivity with GamePad via NFC tag and quicker access to games via the 'PLAY' button."

This "PLAY" button launches the company's new Mobile Console app, which appears to offer Android games outside Google Play such as Need for Speed Most Wanted, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, Virtual Tennis Challenge, Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame, and more. This app can be downloaded through Samsung Apps, and provides 35 games that are compatible with this particular gamepad. More titles are coming in 2014.

On the hardware front, the gamepad provides an 8-way D-Pad and an analog stick on the left, and an analog stick and four action buttons on the right. The "PLAY" button resides right in the middle, and each shoulder has a trigger button. The peripheral comes with a rechargeable 160mA battery, Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC connectivity (the latter on Samsung phones with Android 4.3 only).

The GamePad is currently available in select European markets and will be available in additional regions in the coming weeks. The availability of the GamePad varies by market.

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brandonjclark 4 years ago

The mount looks quite practical but the Dpad looks all wrong.
Inquisitive Builder 4 years ago

Second!
itchyisvegeta 4 years ago

I just want an up to date Xperia Play like phone. Not an addon that turns the thing into an Xbox Duke like controller.
belardo 4 years ago

Looks like SteamBOX controller.

Ya know... the Android body (google) needs to standardize joypads, while they can.
K-beam 4 years ago

@itchyisvegeta:
I am fully with you in this one. If you can't wait, go for the Sony Xperia mini Pro, much cheaper and although not as convenient, your NES games would play quite well.
bustapr 4 years ago

it certainly is different, but I dont like this different. there is a convenience to having a d-pad, but there really isnt any convenience to 2 left analog sticks.
therealduckofdeath 4 years ago

@K-beam. I have one of those "phones" as a backup phone. What games can you play on it? Mine hangs for 30 seconds just if I get a call on it...
therealduckofdeath 4 years ago

@bustapr, the analogue sticks are on each side.
fulle 4 years ago

I haven't seen a circle D-Pad design that's quite like that one. Interesting. I'm curious on how it performs.
therealduckofdeath 4 years ago

Anonymous said:

I haven't seen a circle D-Pad design that's quite like that one. Interesting. I'm curious on how it performs.

I agree it's not a very practical design, unless it uses something like dip switches in combination with some sort of angular guide under the pad, but, I guess they wanted it to look different from the standard XBOX-like designs.
rwinches 4 years ago

From the PR:
'Users can also connect Galaxy devices to their TV through an HDMI cable or AllShare Screen Mirroring for video game console experience from their living room.'
somebodyspecial 4 years ago

Google needs to block the next OS from running on Galaxy devices or at the least never use their chips again. We are fast approaching a moment where Samsung might start dictating OS things to google. We would rather have google start using everyone BUT samsung in order to stop them from running the show. If google doesn't start making a few other phone makers more powerful we'll end up with Apple and Samsung dictating everything. Not to mention if they get much more power (and money) we will be seeing them completely take down Intel. When Samsung is making 8B a quarter and you only make 10-12B per year they will out FAB you. They can spend Intel's entire profits on FABS and still take home 20B in cash for the year. How long do you think you can have the #1 fabs when someone else makes 3x the cash you do?

I'd like to have more choices in the future than just apple/samsung but we're quickly headed to that reality. Not sure if google can legally make their next OS not work on GS5 (or whatever), but they surely can choose to NOT use any samsung products going forward for tablets, phones etc.

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