This Case Will Turn Your IPhone Into a Retro Console
Retro game emulators have finally hit the App Store, and they’re thriving. Apps like Delta and RetroArch allow users to play old retro Nintendo and console games with ease. Retro gaming software is surprisingly mature; The hardware side, however, has some work to do.
Playing retro games using touch controls leaves a lot to be desired, and you can’t always carry a game controller with you wherever you go. That’s where Bitmo Lab’s new Gamebaby controller housing comes in.
This is an iPhone case divided into two parts. The bottom is a game controller that supports Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and NES games. According to Gamebaby, the layout supports more than 7,000 games that use the Game Boy button layout. (This only works when you play games in a portrait orientation.) The body features a D-pad, A/B, Start, Select, and shoulder buttons for more advanced gaming.
First, you mount it like a regular iPhone case. The bottom part, which imitates a Game Boy controller, is easily removable. You can then flip it over and attach it to the front of your iPhone, and it secures in place with a convenient latch.
This is a purely mechanical case: no Bluetooth support, no Wi-Fi, no charging cable. On the back of the buttons you’ll find soft silicone pads that will press the touchscreen buttons for you. All the magic happens thanks to special Delta skins for Game Boy controllers. The location of the touch screen buttons is determined automatically.
Since these aren’t real electronic buttons, don’t expect super-fast response or huge tactical feedback. (When you play old Pokemon games, that’s not exactly the feeling you’re looking for anyway.)
The case is currently only available in one color and is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max (hopefully other smaller iPhones will be supported soon). Gamebaby is available for pre-order at an early bird price of $24.99; When it officially launches, it will retail for $39.99. You can order Gamebaby directly from their website , and they plan to release the product in the first half of 2025.
The Gamebaby isn’t the only interesting gaming controller coming out this year. At CES 2025, Lifehacker’s Michelle Erhardt experimented with MCON , a MagSafe-compatible slide-out controller case for the iPhone and other smartphones. The MCON will be the first case to be available in this slim form factor and feature a full controller, plus D-pad and joysticks.