Horipad MFi Controller Available August 31st from Hori

Hotly anticipated PlayStation-style iOS controller to be released August 31st for $79

Details about Hori’s upcoming MFi controller are finally starting to take shape. We’ve learned that Hori intends to launch the controller for $79 on August 31st, with worldwide availability. There had been some concerns that the Horipad would be exclusive to Japan, but that turns out not to be the case.

The Horipad, head-on

The Horipad was revealed during the launch of the Japanese version of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS. Since then, it’s quickly been one of the most hotly anticipated of the upcoming controllers, especially among fans of the PlayStation controller layout.

Hori Horipad MFi Controller Release Date Images - Box Art — The package we’ll soon be seeing in Apple Stores everywhere

Throughout the course of E3, TouchArcade managed to get a hands-on with the Horipad, and they were impressed with the build quality. That isn’t particularly surprising, as Hori is generally regarded as a quality brand, at least in terms of their fighting game joysticks and accessories.

Hori Horipad MFi Controller Release Date Images - Stand — Stand your iPhone or iPad up while you play

Hori has opted to include a stand with the Horipad, allowing players to mount their iPhones and iPads on a table or desk while playing. While perfectly suitable for iPad users, this is perhaps less useful for iPhone owners. Many upcoming controllers from other manufactures incorporate some form of clip on the controller itself, allowing the iPhone to be held in place during play, rather than requiring the player to stay close to a stationary table or surface.

The Horipad, in profile

The layout of the Horipad borrows heavily from the PlayStation Dual Shock design, with two analog sticks parallel to one another beneath a d-pad and face buttons on the home row. Notably, the actual design of the analog sticks is much closer to those of the Xbox 360 than of the Dual Shock, with the sticks featuring a concave center instead of a rubberized convex one. Also notable is the rear of the device, which eschews the modern practice of using triggers for the lower shoulder controls, instead opting for the PlayStation 2 style design of using buttons for the R2 and L2 controls.

The Horipad looks like it will be a worthy contender for iOS gamers looking for a more substantial Bluetooth gamepad than the diminutive SteelSeries Stratus controller. Assuming Hori keeps to the August 31st release window, they might just beat their competitors to market with the first full wireless gamepad. Judging from the demands I’ve been hearing, there are a lot of gamers willing to jump on such a product.