iiRcade Reveals Open Accessory Initiative
Added Compatibility with Accessories via USB and Bluetooth
Announced during a live stream and detailed in a press release, iiRcade has revealed plans for what’s being called an “open arcade accessory platform initiative” that will allow for additional compatibility of things like controllers such as trackballs and spinners. This will be done through USB on the new Gold Edition of the arcade cabinet as well as Bluetooth; older models lacking USB ports will be able to connect through Bluetooth.
The platform is still aiming for games to be compatible with the standard joystick and buttons, which has led to some unique control schemes for certain games. For example, in one of the few FPS games on iiRcade, the Player 2 stick is used for camera control. However, opening up the platform for other accessories could lead to things like additional player support, accessibility solutions, immersion devices, and more. One could assume that support for controllers of the main consoles might be included eventually. Ultimately, this could lead to more games being added to the platform, especially four-player beat-em-ups like the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
“We’re very excited to announce this open initiative to expand the gaming experience on iiRcade by allowing iiRcade gamers to use off-the-shelf accessories that are compatible with iiRcade system. It’s a request from our iiRcade community that we’ve had for some time now and we’re glad to be able to implement our community’s request to give our users more options to play their favorite arcade games. This is another proof that we are listening to our community.” - Jong Shin, founder & CEO of iiRcade
With this news, the recent online play update, and a model improvement it looks like the iiRcade is developing further as a gaming platform. We certainly have lots of features on our wishlist and there are a ton of games we’d love to play on the system but the stream of news and communication coming out of the company is a positive sign for things to come.
Could the iiRcade become the ultimate in-home arcade solution? It just might.
Learn more about the iiRcade system in our hardware review or through the official website. Featured image courtesy of listing photos for iiRcade Gold Edition - Space Invaders.
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