Android 17 Gets a Dedicated Gaming Mode for Foldables with Virtual Controller

Android 17 is set to launch a new gaming mode specifically for foldable devices, featuring a virtual gamepad with touch controls on half of the screen. The goal is to make it easier to play games without carrying an external controller.

The virtual controller emulates physical button presses at a system level and is designed to work "with any game that supports physical controllers," according to Google's Mishaal Rahman on Reddit. The virtual gamepad includes a D-pad, left and right virtual joysticks, A, B, X, Y buttons, L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, and a start button. Users can configure the layout, such as aligning the joysticks inline or staggered, resizing buttons, and toggling haptics on or off.

Activating the mode is straightforward: "as simple as unfolding your device, either before or after launching a compatible game," Rahman says. The gamepad can be hidden, and if a physical controller is connected, the virtual gamepad automatically turns off.

"Android allows you to play a wide variety of games on the go," says Rahman. "While touch controls work incredibly well for many titles, certain games are better enjoyed with physical gamepads. The problem is that carrying a Bluetooth controller or a snap-on gamepad with you everywhere isn't always convenient. We want to bridge that gap, and we're addressing it with a new feature in the Android 17 platform release that's specifically tailored for foldable devices."

The feature is expected to roll out in the coming months.