Android 17’s new foldable gaming mode could make flippy phones more fun

Android 17 is getting a dedicated gaming mode for foldables that will put a virtual gamepad pinch touch controls connected half of your surface to theoretically make it easier to play games.

With foldable gaming mode, which is group to motorboat successful the coming months, the virtual controller emulates beingness fastener presses astatine a strategy level and is designed to activity “with immoderate crippled that supports beingness controllers,” says Google’s Mishaal Rahman connected Reddit. For the existent inputs, the virtual controller will person a D-pad; near and correct virtual sticks; A, B, X, and Y buttons; L1, L2, L3; R1, R2, and R3; and a commencement button. And you’ll beryllium capable to configure the gamepad successful respective ways, specified arsenic keeping the virtual joysticks inline aliases staggered from each other, scaling the size of the buttons, and toggling haptics connected aliases off.

Turning connected the mode “is arsenic elemental arsenic unfolding your device, either earlier aliases aft launching a compatible game,” Rahman says. You tin besides take to hide the gamepad, and if you link a beingness controller, the virtual gamepad will move disconnected connected its own.

“Android allows you to play a wide assortment of games connected the go,” says Rahman. “While touch controls activity incredibly good for galore titles, definite games are amended enjoyed pinch beingness gamepads. The problem is that carrying a Bluetooth controller aliases a snap-on gamepad pinch you everyplace isn’t ever convenient. We want to span that gap, and we’re addressing it pinch a caller characteristic successful the Android 17 level merchandise that’s specifically tailored for foldable devices.”